Solar photo-thermal catalytic reactions to produce high value chemicals

Technical Report · Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10146947· OSTI ID:10146947

Prengle, Jr, H W; Wentworth, W E ^[1]

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1. Houston Univ., TX (United States)

This report presents a summary of the research work accomplished to date on the utilization of solar photo-thermal energy to convert low cost chemical feedstocks into high $-value chemical products. The rationale is that the solar IR-VIS-UV spectrum is unique, supplying endothermic reaction energy as well as VIS-UV for photochemical activation. Chemical market analysis and product price distribution focused attention on speciality chemicals with prices >$1.00/lb, and a synthesis sequence of n-paraffins to aromatics to partial oxidized products. The experimental work has demonstrated that enhanced reaction effects result from VIS-UV irradiation of catalytically active V2O5/SiO2. Experiments of the past year have been on dehydrogenation and dehydrocyclization of n-paraffins to olefins and aromatics with preference for the latter. Recent results using n-hexane produced 95% conversion with 56% benzene; it is speculated that aromatic yield should reach {approximately}70% by further optimization. Pilot- and commercial-scale reactor configurations have been examined; the odds-on-favorite being a shallow fluid-bed of catalyst with incident radiation from the top. Sequencing for maximum cost effectiveness would be day-time endothermic followed by night-time exothermic reactions to produce the products.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Houston Univ., TX (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-83CH10093
• OSTI ID: 10146947
• Report Number(s): NREL/TP-253-4275; ON: DE91002140
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: Apr 1992
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
AROMATICS
SYNTHESIS
HEXANE
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
SOLAR THERMAL CONVERSION
YIELDS
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
CATALYSIS
CATALYSTS
VANADIUM OXIDES
THERMODYNAMICS
BENZENE
CRESOLS
PHOTOTHERMAL CATALYTIC REACTIONS
HIGH VALUE CHEMICALS
SYNTHESIS PRODUCTS
HYDROCARBON REFORMING REACTIONS
140505
400500
PHOTOCHEMICAL, PHOTOBIOLOGICAL, AND THERMOCHEMICAL CONVERSION
PHOTOCHEMISTRY