Catalytic activation of C=O, C-H and C-C bonds: from catalyst design to scale-up

Converting CO2, methane, light alkanes, olefins and waste-derived feeds into fuels and chemicals depends on three bond activations: C=O (CO2 and oxygenates), C-H (methane and alkanes) and C-C (cracking, coupling and oligomerization). MuRE develops catalysts in which the state of the active metal is set by its support or framework: metal-organic frameworks as hosts or precursors (Cu, Pd and Zn in ZIF-8 for CO2 to methanol), alloys (Ni-Zn for dry reforming, Cu-Zn and Ga-promoted Cu for CO2 hydrogenation), and zeolites with controlled metal speciation and hierarchical porosity (ZSM-5 for ethylene oligomerization). A catalyst that works as milligrams of powder must then be shaped into extrudates, spheres, or coatings, with binders, and keep its activity, selectivity,y and mechanical strength at kilogram scale. This multiscale engineering of the catalyst body decides whether a catalyst reaches a pilot unit, and it is the second part of this project. Tasks, according to background: - Synthesis of MOF-derived, alloy, or zeolite catalysts. - Characterization: XRD, N2 physisorption, electron microscopy, XPS, H2-TPR, NH3 and CO2-TPD, FTIR of probe molecules. - Catalytic testing in fixed-bed reactors at pressure, with online analysis, and structure-activity relationships. - Shaping and scale-up: extrusion or granulation with binders, crushing strength, internal diffusion (Thiele modulus, effectiveness factor), and comparison of powder and shaped catalysts. The project is open to materials scientists, chemists, and chemical engineers.

- Synthesis of a set of catalysts with controlled composition or metal speciation. - Characterization data set and structure-activity relationships for one target reaction. - Catalytic performance data (conversion, selectivity, stability) under relevant conditions. - Shaped catalyst (extrudate or granule) with mechanical and catalytic comparison against the powder, and an assessment of diffusion limitations. - Internship report and presentation; contribution to a peer-reviewed publication where results allow.