Projects / Programmes
Advanced hydrodesulphurisation with catalyst nanomaterials
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.02.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Chemical engineering |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T150 |
Technological sciences |
Material technology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.04 |
Engineering and Technology |
Chemical engineering
|
fuel cleaning, hydrodesulphurization (HDS), nanomaterials, catalysts
Researchers (12)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
Abstract. The proposed project deals with a new type of hydrodesulphurization (HDS) catalysts for deep desulfurization of fuels containing sulphur levels below 5 ppm or sulphur containing vapours during production processes. The project aims at development and production of ultra-efficient catalysts made from nanomaterials for extraction of organic sulphur compounds, especially nanowires (NW) of metal-oxides decorated with nickel or molybdenum nanopowders. The two main objectives are to demonstrate feasibility of Ni supported primarily on ZnO (or even Al2O3, MoO3) nanoparticle/nanowire powders towards ultra-deep HDS of diesels and kerosene or PPS vapours, and reduce sulphur levels below 5 ppm with continued activity over hundred hours as well as to test beneficial role of (Ni+Mo) support on ZnO NW powders and formulated with alumina or similar support. Successful data with HDS catalyst performance testing for deep desulfurization will allow to develop a high performance reactive HDS catalyst for a variety of fuel applications, natural gas or gas stream purification. This processing can then lead to highly clean and greener use of fossil fuels.
Significance for science
The proposed project deals with ultra-efficient and deep desulfurization or so called hydrodesulfurization (HDS) with the help of catalytic nanomaterial, which will enable desulfurization of fuels containing sulphur levels even below 5 ppm which are extremely difficult to remove or even complete elimination of sulphur from vapours, which are made during the production processes. In other words, we can establish first exceptional HDS catalysts for desulfurization. The origin of the study comes from the problem of the sulphur compounds residues which originate from organic sulphur compounds (mercaptans, thiophenes, organic sulphides and disulfids) left behind in sulphur-containing biological components, and contribute to environment pollution when burned and released in air, where they reform and cause acid rain. Removal of them would be very beneficial for environment protection.
The scientific aspect is based on combo system of a nanowire decorated with nanoparticle catalyst sites, where the sites are preserved, and nanowire acts as uptake reservoir. Later, this can be easily restored to original condition by cycling material with temperature and gases. The novel is large scale plasma preparation of such nanomaterials, which have larger area, constant performance and preserved number of catalyst sites. Moreover, mechanisms for nanomaterial catalysis and preservation of active sites are determined as well. The original contribution to science is also removal of sulphur atoms from compounds like mercaptanes, thiophense, etc, which is difficult to achieve by other means, and substitution of those atoms with other atoms like hydrogen or carbon. The expected is also higher %wt of sulphur uptake in relatively short time periods and faster flow rates, and much lower costs and reduced use of catalysts. The proposed systems can be applied to various other schemes, and cleaning systems at lower cost and higher efficiency.
Significance for the country
Industrial partner multinational company Kolektor Group has strong ties to automotive industry and looking for significant improvement and environment protection including their own production facilities by producing new technologies that might leave strong impact on future technologies. Their moto is “Driving the Future”. The resulting technology is highly competitive compared to wet chemical procedures (co-precipitation and hydrothermal type techniques). Market size for ZnO spherical powders billion € market where no ZnO NW powders are commercially available. The total global catalyst market is estimated to be 12B € and demand is expected to increase by 6% steady pace. Only US was in 2012 a 1.2B € and is expected to increase to 3.9B € by 2016, where 1B € is foreseen for HDS. Development of appropriate technological processing and preparation might lead to new patent applications and development of large market for the product. Moreover, a number of high-impact scientific publications in top rated journals is foreseen due to high interest in stated technology and scientific aspect of fuel/vapour conversion including their environmentally green impact. Here is also worth mentioning existing talks with Slovenian biggest oil and refinery company Petrol d.d. on potential co-use of developed technology, where they will offer support in fuel and natural gas samples and testing during the project duration.
Most important scientific results
Interim report,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Interim report,
final report
