Reaction Engineering for a New Era of Green Chemical Processes

鉴于当今的环境挑战，化学反应工程正在获得新的相关性，因为它可以提供工具来产生清洁能源和实施绿色化学过程。反应工程需要开发以下方面的独特解决方案：(a) CO2捕集，(b)替代资源制氢，以及(c)有机污染物光催化转化和COVID-19等病毒灭活的空气处理。拟议的研究将利用申请人专利技术中可用的原型，例如(a) CREC立管模拟器- mark II， (b)用于水和空气处理和制氢的Photo-CREC光催化反应器，以及(c) CREC- gs Optiprobes。这些独特的装置可用于建立：(a)催化剂性能，(b)动力学速率模型，(c)气固反应器流体动力学，以及(d)光子利用效率。研究将利用基于统计的动力学和参数估计。这些研究将通过结合(a)本征动力学，(b)吸附和(c)颗粒内扩散来得出速率方程。本提案的具体短期研究目标可概括为：(a)主题1：利用高效氧载体建立化学环燃烧成核和基于核的动力学，(b)主题2：结合eolic能量的光催化生产氢，(c)主题3：确定有机污染物光催化转化和病毒灭活的热力学和量子效率，(d)主题4：发展动力学和反应器模型，通过使用环境友好型催化剂将生物质废物转化为绿色燃料，以及(e)主题5：发展用于微藻培养和二氧化碳捕获的新型光反应器。这项研究的长期目标是创造和应用创新技术，以保护环境和提高加拿大人的福祉，并最终提高世界人口的福祉。这些目标本质上是包容性别和种族的，通过实现这些目标，本研究旨在对自然和人类产生有益的全球影响。申请人将与一个性别平衡、种族和文化多元化的HQP团队一起领导这个项目，这将对EDI精神和NDG的范围做出重大贡献。

In light of today's environmental challenges, chemical reaction engineering is gaining a renewed relevance, given that it can provide the tools to generate clean energy and to implement green chemical processes. Reaction engineering is called to develop unique solutions for (a) CO2 capture, (b) hydrogen production from alternative resources, and (c) air treatment for the photocatalytic conversion of organic pollutants and the inactivation of viruses such as COVID-19. The proposed research will take advantage of the prototypes available from the applicant's patented technologies such as (a) the CREC Riser Simulator-Mark II, (b) the Photo-CREC Photocatalytic reactors for water and air treatment and hydrogen production, and (c) the CREC-GS Optiprobes. These unique devices can be used to establish: (a) catalyst performance, (b) kinetic rate models, (c) gas-solid reactor fluid dynamics, and (d) photon utilization efficiency. Studies will be developed by using statistically based kinetics and parameter estimation. These studies will lead to rate equations by incorporating (a) intrinsic kinetics, (b) adsorption, and (c) intraparticle diffusion. The specific short term research objectives of this proposal can be summarized as (a) Theme 1: the establishment of nucleation and nuclei-based kinetics for chemical looping combustion, using highly efficient oxygen carriers, (b) Theme 2: the photocatalytic production of hydrogen integrated with eolic energy, (c) Theme 3 : the determination of thermodynamics and quantum efficiencies, for the photocatalytic conversion of organic pollutants and for virus inactivation, (d) Theme 4: the development of kinetics and reactor models, for the conversion of biomass waste into green fuels, by using environmentally friendly catalysts, and (e) Theme 5: the development of new photoreactors for microalgae culture and CO2 Capture. The long-term goal of this research is to create and apply innovative technologies, for the protection of the environment and the enhancement of the well-being of the Canadian and ultimately, the world population. These objectives are intrinsically gender and race inclusive and by achieving them, this research is aiming to have a beneficial global impact on nature and humankind. The applicant will be leading this program with a gender balanced, ethnic and culturally diverse HQP team, which will significantly contribute to the EDI ethos and the scope of the NDG.