STTR Phase I: Development of Modular Reactors to Convert Methane to Alcohols at Low Temperatures

这个小企业技术转让（STTR）第一阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发负担得起的和有效的新的化学工艺，将天然气转化为醇，这将减少甲烷的排放，并有助于减少二氧化碳（CO2）的排放。 以负担得起的价格捕获甲烷排放并将其转化为醇类，预计将产生环境效益，并提供一个有商业价值的市场，可在发生甲烷燃烧和排放的偏远地区开发。 甲烷的直接释放或燃烧导致温室气体排放。目前燃烧的甲烷排放量的10%的转化可以满足全球甲醇需求，这是一个估计为550亿美元/年的行业。最近的一项全球甲烷评估显示，在这十年中，人类造成的甲烷排放量可以减少近45%。该项目将对甲烷排放量最高的地区产生影响，如石油和天然气生产区。 STTR第一阶段项目开发了一种基于模块化反应器的高风险技术，该反应器利用新型电极和电池结构直接捕获甲烷并将其转化为醇和氢。 利用新开发的方法，该项目将证明在大气压力和低温下将甲烷转化为增值燃料的可行性。拟议的技术侧重于在模块化设备规模上应用过程强化，适用于在气体排放或燃烧的偏远地点之间部署和运输。模块化反应堆是紧凑的、集成的和可运输的。它们具有大的调节比，可以在不同的进料速率和气体组成下连续操作。这些反应器有可能转化高比例的甲烷，从而减少对除气捕获的要求。该项目将使用先进的增材制造、电化学建模、气体传感和工艺放大。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is to develop affordable and efficient new chemical processes for the conversion of natural gas to alcohols, which will reduce the emissions of methane and help mitigate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The affordable capture and conversion of methane emissions to alcohols is expected to have environmental benefit and provide a commercially valuable market that can be developed for remote areas where flaring and venting of methane occurs. The direct release or flaring of methane results in greenhouse gas emissions. The conversion of as little as 10% of the currently-flared methane emissions can satisfy the global methanol demand which is an estimated $55 billion/year industry. A recent Global Methane Assessment showed that human-caused methane emissions can be reduced by close to 45% in this decade. This project will have an impact in areas where the highest methane emissions occur, such as oil and gas producing regions. This STTR Phase I Project develops a high-risk technology based on modular reactors that utilize novel electrodes and cell architecture to directly capture and convert methane to alcohols and hydrogen. Using newly developed methods, the project will demonstrate the feasibility of affordably converting methane to value-added fuels at atmospheric pressure and low temperatures in the field. The proposed technology focuses on the application of process intensification at modular-equipment scales suitable for deployment and transport between remote locations where gas is being vented or flared. The modular reactors are compact, integrated, and transportable. They have a large turndown ratio and can operate continuously under varying feed rates and gas compositions. These reactors have the potential to convert a high fraction of methane, lessening the requirements for outgassing capture. This project will use advanced additive manufacturing, electrochemical modeling, gas sensing, and process scale up.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.