Zeoliet katalysatoren voor CO2 reductie naar dimethylether

Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) targets CO2-lean production of chemical commodities from just CO2 as building block, often combined with green hydrogen as energy source. The first step of CO2 hydrogenation to methanol, an interesting CCU avenue, uses an existing catalyst. An additional in-situ dehydration of methanol to dimethyl ether (DME) can shift the thermodynamic equilibrium, converting more CO2. Furthermore DME as product is more energy dense, less-toxic and more suitable for downstream processing than methanol. Development of a one-step thermocatalytic CO2-to-DME process requires an innovative bifunctional catalyst for operation at lower temperatures (200-230°C). The catalyst needs to combine metal (hydrogenation) and acidic functionalities (dehydration) in a hybrid material. Innovative metals (and oxide), avoiding CO formation, will be synthesized in combination with nanosized, hydrophobic small-pore zeolites with balanced acidity. Tuning towards such specific zeolitic materials, the applicants expertise, is predicted to maximise contact degree (synergy), while also avoiding H2O-induced deactivation. Catalyst performance is tested in-house and advanced characterisation (partially abroad) will be undertaken to obtain a rational understanding of the catalyst. A performant hybrid catalyst would increase the technology readiness level (currently TRL4) for the one-step CO2-to-DME, awaiting the arrival of cheap (surplus) green electricity (H2).