Introduction Microwave irradiation provides a means for precise and site-selective activating of heterogeneous catalysts for organic reactions or materials processing. Microwave energy can be delivered directly to the reacting species and/or adsorbing catalyst where it influences localized electronic properties of the materials and reaction intermediates at interface. Microwave-enhanced thermocatalytic reactions offer potential benefits to the process industry by providing: 1) precise and selective heating, applying heat directly to the catalyst for better energy efficiency and improved selectivity 2) much more rapid heating than conventional means, and 3) reduced process footprint, enabling process intensification. This paper presents thermal and non-thermal effects of microwave catalysis on two reactions: (1)simultaneous conversion of CH4/N2 to form ammonia and ethylene under ambient pressure, and (2)process intensified natural gas dehydroaromatization. Methods Both variable frequency (5.65-6.65 GHz) and fixed frequency (2.45 GHz) microwave reactor systems were utilized in the research. Reactors are configured in fixed-bed and fluidized-bed mode. Microwave sensitive catalysts were synthesized according to our previous publications. Results and discussion Comparison of the aromatic production rate between the experiments carried out in a microwave reactor and a thermally heated fixed-bed reactor was carried out. Overall, the aromatics production rate in microwave reactor shows two orders of magnitude higher than that obtained in the thermally heated fixed-bed reactor under the same temperature of 400C. Deactivation by coke formation and regeneration of catalyst are major challenges facing methane or ethane dehydroaromatization. Conventionally, oxidative regeneration was adopted. However, due to highly exothermic oxidative regeneration, metal sintering would take place. Attempt was made to regenerate the catalyst using CO2 under microwave irradiation: CO2 + C= 2CO. This endothermic reaction can take place at 450C under microwave without causing metal sintering. The produced CO during regeneration can be utilized for other chemical synthesis. Recently, we have discovered that in a microwave catalytic reactor, CH4 and N2 can be activated simultaneously to form ammonia, ethylene and H2: 3CH4 + N2 = 2NH3 + C2H4 + H2

Microwave catalytic reactor for process intensified conversion of natural gas: Fundamentals of thermal and non-thermal effects

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.