Multifunctional reactors and materials for clean energy

作为一种新兴的化学工程概念，“过程强化”正见证着力量的回归，其优先考虑的是赋予“在空间/时间/能源/原材料/环境方面的过程和工厂效率的巨大飞跃”，本质上“涉及使用多功能反应器、新操作模式或化学生产微技术的新设备和新生产方法的设计”。我们的发现基金（DG）的长期目标是在能源和环境领域设计微型/多功能工艺和材料，重点是化石燃料/生物质残留物的升级/转化，通过二氧化碳捕获/储存（CCS）减少温室气体排放，以及利用磁场评估“人工重力”。目前DG提案所关注的短期目标涉及与未来可持续技术发展相关的三个问题：1)使用纳米磁性酶载体和抑制剂清除树脂的仿生CO2捕集反应器，2)使用超导磁体的多相催化反应器中的人工重力，3)微滴床作为小分子化学的传热和传质密集装置。

"Process intensification" is witnessing a return in strength as an emerging chemical engineering concept whose priority is to impart "a quantum leap in process and plant efficiency with respect to space/time/energy/raw-materials/environment" and in essence "concerns the design of novel equipment and new production methods using either multifunctional reactors, new operating modes, or micro-technology for chemical production". Our long term objectives in the discovery grant (DG) aim at devising micro/ multifunctional processes and materials in the energy and environmental sectors with a focus on the upgrading/conversion of fossil fuel/biomass residues, the GHG mitigation through CO2 capture/storage (CCS), and evaluating the "artificial gravity" using magnetic fields. The short term objectives concerned by the present DG proposal target three problems related to the development of future sustainable technologies: 1) a biomimetic CO2 capture reactor using nanomagnetic-enzyme carriers & inhibitor-scavenging resins, 2) artificial gravity in multiphase catalytic reactors using a superconducting magnet, 3) microTrickle beds as heat & mass transfer intensive devices for the chemistry of small molecules.