Researcher(s)
- Auden Jones, Chemical Engineering, University of Delaware
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Dionisios Vlachos, Chemical Engineering, University of Delaware
- Yeonsu Kwak, Chemical Engineering, University of Delaware
- Quentin Kim, Chemical Engineering, University of Delaware
Abstract
Catalyst deactivation due to active site degradation poses a significant challenge in catalytic reactions, impacting both catalyst lifespan and efficiency. While microwave (MW)-induced heating has shown promise in mitigating catalyst deactivation, further research is needed to optimize catalyst reuse over multiple cycles. Our study focuses on enhancing MW-assisted heating for the regeneration of spent catalysts used in shale gas upgrading.
To investigate the potential benefits of MW-assisted heating in regeneration, we compared the parameters of MW and conventional heating (CH) regeneration methods and contrasted their performance. Our findings reveal that while the amount of coke burned is not significantly affected by the heating modes or temperature ramping rates, indicating complete coke removal under MW conditions, the working regeneration temperature and time play a crucial role in determining regenerated catalyst performance.
We explore various catalysts, methods, and conditions for both MW-assisted and CH regeneration processes, aiming to identify time- and power-efficient treatments for different scenarios. By integrating MW-assisted regeneration, we can potentially close the process cycle and enhance overall process viability.