The thermodynamics analysis and experimental validation for complicated systems in CO_2 hydrogenation process

Catalytic conversion of COinto chemicals and fuels is an alternative to alleviate climate change and ocean acidification.The catalytic reduction of COby Hcan lead to the formation of various products:carbon monoxide,carboxylic acids,aldehydes,alcohols and hydrocarbons.In this paper,a comprehensive thermodynamics analysis of COhydrogenation is conducted using the Gibbs free energy minimization method.The results show that COreduction to CO needs a high temperature and H/COratio to achieve a high COconversion.However,synthesis of methanol from COneeds a relatively high pressure and low temperature to minimize the reverse water-gas shift reaction.Direct COhydrogenation to formic acid or formaldehyde is thermodynamically limited.On the contrary,production of CHfrom COhydrogenation is the thermodynamically easiest reaction with nearly 100%CH4 yield at moderate conditions.In addition,complex reactions with more than one product are also calculated in this work.Among the considered carboxylic acids（HCOOH,CHCOOH and CHCOOH）,propionic acid dominates in the product stream（selectivity above 90%）.The same trend can also be found in the hydrogenation of COto aldehydes and alcohols with the major product of propionaldehyde and butanol,respectively.In the process of COhydrogenation to alkenes,low temperature,high pressure,and high Hpartial pressure favor the COconversion.CHis the most thermodynamically favorable among all considered alkynes under different temperatures and pressures.The thermodynamic calculations are validated with experimental results,suggesting that the Gibbs free energy minimization method is effective for thermodynamically understanding the reaction network involved in the COhydrogenation process,which is helpful for the development of high-performance catalysts.

Reaction of nitrous oxide with methane to synthesis gas:A thermodynamic and catalytic study

The aim of the present study is to explore the coherence of thermodynamic equilibrium predictions with the actual catalytic reaction of CH4 with N2O,particularly at higher CH4 conversions.For this purpose,key process variables,such as temperature(300℃-550℃) and a molar feed ratio(N2O/CH4 = 1,3,and 5),were altered to establish the conditions for maximized H2yield.The experimental study was conducted over the Co-ZSM-5 catalyst in a fixed bed tubular reactor and then compared with the thermodynamic equilibrium compositions,where the equilibrium composition was calculated via total Gibbs free energy minimization method.The results suggest that molar feed ratio plays an important role in the overall reaction products distribution.Generally for N2O conversions,and irrespective of N2O/CH4feed ratio,the thermodynamic predictions coincide with experimental data obtained at approximately 475℃-550℃,indicating that the reactions are kinetically limited at lower range of temperatures.For example,theoretical calculations show that the H2 yield is zero in presence of excess N2O(N2O/CH4= 5).However over a Co-ZSM-5 catalyst,and with a same molar feed ratio(N2O/CH4) of 5,the H2yield is initially 10%at 425℃,while above450℃ it drops to zero.Furthermore,H2yield steadily increases with temperature and with the level of CH4 conversion for reactions limited by N2O concentration in a reactant feed.The maximum attainable(from thermodynamic calculations and at a feed ratio of N2O/CH4=3) H2yield at 550℃ is 38%,whereas at same temperature and over Co-ZSM-5,the experimentally observed yield is about 19%.Carbon deposition on Co-ZSM-5 at lower temperatures and CH4 conversion(less than 50%) was also observed.At higher temperatures and levels of CH4conversion(above 90%),the deposited carbon is suggested to react with N2O to form CO2.