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

将分散的生物质资源从农业废物转化为液体运输燃料可以给农村社区带来巨大的潜在经济效益，还可以改善全球环境的可持续性。拟议的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，比现有方法使用更少的加工步骤，并产生更高的产量，同时提高能源效率和固有安全性。研究团队与工业合作伙伴Sheeta Global Technology Co.合作，开发和测试拟议中的生物质转化为酒精的技术。该研究项目致力于开发一种新型的膜接触式反应器，该反应器将甲醇合成与使用无机膜和离子液体流进行产品的原位分离相结合。主要研究目标是开发一种简单、安全、高产的酒精合成工艺，该工艺以生物质为原料，具有使用比现有方法更少的加工步骤、最大限度地减少产品分离要求、需要更便宜的反应器、更有效地管理热量和需要更昂贵的原料气等优点。膜接触器反应器的设计通过用无机膜分离离子液体和催化剂来防止离子液体与催化剂直接接触。这种膜被设计成只允许产物甲醇通过，而阻止其他气体化合物通过。因此，离子液体通过与催化剂反应的任何潜在损失都被降到最低，携带产品的液体流不会被催化微粒污染。该项目的成功完成可能会导致与工业伙伴合作进行中试工厂规模的测试。除了对研究生和本科生进行研究培训外，还有一项计划是让本科生参与开发实践教学模块，这些模块将用于扩展到中学。这些外展活动将与南加州大学的数学、工程、科学成就(MESA)项目合作，为来自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.