Understanding sustainable catalytic processes on complex melts to produce chemicals and power

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Progress and Literature As a signatory to the 2015 Paris Agreement1, Canada is committed to preventing the release of 52 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2). However, Canadian per capita CO2 emissions are still among the highest of any country, largely driven by high industrial and transportation emissions2. Canada also has more than 300 years' worth of natural gas3 and the economic impact and feasibility challenges of leaving those assets stranded in a carbon-free world are significant. New technologies are urgently required to produce CO2-free fuels and chemicals, thereby reducing industrial and transportation emissions. The development of novel catalysts will enable processes to achieve this requirement. Specifically, (1) the pyrolysis of methane produces CO2-free hydrogen, and (2) the CO2-reforming of methane produces syngas from a greenhouse gas which can be converted to chemicals, diesel, or gasoline; however, both processes have historically been limited by catalyst carbon fouling. Recently, I reported that molten metals and molten salts could be used in bubble columns to overcome carbon fouling. Carbon floated to the surface to be continuously removed and unique electronic properties were reported. Application to other reactions has not been reported and more research on the reaction mechanisms is required for further development. Objectives and Methodology My long-term research objective is to engineer new catalysts to produce CO2-free fuels and chemicals including hydrogen, syngas, and diesel fuel to combat Canada's high per capita CO2 footprint. I have 3 short-term objectives over the 5-year term. 1: Study mechanisms in controlled reaction environments on molten catalytic surfaces 2: Use liquid catalysts to control the reaction environment for CO2-reforming 3: Understand catalyst surface coverage using in-situ spectroscopy Two exciting strategies will be used: (1) eliminate the production of CO2 in new processes, and (2) convert stoichiometric quantities of CO2 into useful products. With the former, solid carbon will be produced instead, which is more readily stored in perpetuity than gaseous CO2. Methane pyrolysis will be studied in which solid carbon is produced from low cost natural gas, biogas, flare gas, or landfill gas along with CO2-free hydrogen. CO2-reforming will also be examined. HQP In order to realize these approaches, I will train and mentor 3 PhD students and 12 undergraduate students over 5 years in the development of new catalysts. I intend to train a diverse group of HQP and will be conscious of using equitable and inclusive recruitment and mentoring practices. Impact The commercial implementation of the processes in this program will result in clean fuels and chemicals for transportation, industrial and residential heating, and other commercial applications, ultimately to affordably reduce Canada's CO2 production.