SusChEM: GOALI: A Membrane Contactor Based Reactive Separation Process for Fuel Alcohol Production for Distributed-Type Applications

将分散的农业废物生物质资源转化为液体运输燃料，可为农村社区带来巨大的潜在经济利益，并可改善全球环境可持续性。拟议项目旨在开发一种将废弃生物质转化为酒精燃料的新工艺，该工艺适合小规模操作，采用的加工步骤比现有方法少，产量更高，能源效率和固有安全性更高。研究团队与工业合作伙伴Sheeta Global Technology Co.合作，开发和测试拟议的生物质酒精转化技术。本研究项目的重点是开发一种新型的膜接触器反应器，该反应器将甲醇合成与使用无机膜和离子液体流的产物原位分离相结合。主要研究目标是开发一种简单、安全、高产的醇合成工艺，该工艺利用生物质作为原料，具有比现有方法使用更少的加工步骤、最小化产物分离要求、需要更便宜的反应器、更有效地管理热量以及需要更便宜的原料气的优点。 膜接触器反应器的设计通过用无机膜分离两种组分来防止离子液体与催化剂的直接接触。该膜被设计成仅允许产物甲醇通过，同时防止其他气态化合物通过。 因此，通过与催化剂反应的离子液体的任何潜在损失被最小化，并且携带产物的液体流不被催化颗粒细粉污染。该项目的成功完成可能会导致与工业伙伴合作进行中试规模的测试。除了对研究生和本科生进行研究培训外，还计划让本科生参与开发实践教学模块，这些模块将用于中学的推广。 这些外展活动将与南加州大学的数学、工程、科学成就（梅萨）计划合作，为代表性不足和弱势群体的学生提供服务。

The conversion of distributed biomass resources from agricultural waste into liquid transportation fuels can have significant potential economic benefits to rural communities and also can improve global environmental sustainability. The proposed project aims to develop a novel process for converting waste biomass to alcohol fuels that is suitable for small-scale operations, employs fewer processing steps than existing methods, and produces higher yields with improved energy efficiency and inherent safety. The team of researchers collaborates with an industrial partner, Sheeta Global Technology Co., to develop and test the proposed biomass to alcohol conversion technology. This research project focuses on the development of a novel membrane contactor reactor that integrates methanol synthesis with in situ separation of the product using an inorganic membrane and an ionic liquid stream. The main research objective is to develop a simple, safer, high-yield alcohol synthesis process that utilizes biomass as a feedstock and has the advantage of using fewer processing steps than existing methods, minimizing product separation requirements, needing less expensive reactors, managing heat more effectively, and requiring less expensive feed gas. The design of the membrane contactor reactor prevents direct contact of the ionic liquid with the catalyst by separating the two components with an inorganic membrane. The membrane is designed to allow only the product methanol to pass through while preventing passage other gaseous compounds. Therefore, any potential loss of the ionic liquid through reaction with the catalyst is minimized, and the liquid stream that carries the product is not contaminated with catalytic particle fines. Successful completion of the project may lead to pilot-plant scale testing in collaboration with the industrial partner. In addition to training graduate and undergraduate students in research, there is a plan to engage undergraduate students in the development of hands-on teaching modules that will be used for outreach to middle schools. These outreach activities would serve students from underrepresented and disadvantaged groups in collaboration with USC's Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program.