Laboratory of Microwave Activation of Catalytic Processes

Scientific results:

• We have developed selective, high-performance and energy efficient methods of preparing (decomposing precursors, soft reconstruction, nonthermal effects) of heterogeneous catalysts with deposited nanoparticles of metals and oxides with the use of microwave activation. We have compared the properties and the structure of nanomaterials and catalysts treated in microwave fields with the properties of catalyst that have undergone traditional thermal activation. We have determined the influence of physical impact methods (microwave radiation) on the structure of heterogeneous catalysts with the use of methods of chemical and physical analysis (IR spectroscopy, XPS, XRD, SEM, TEM, TPR).
• Our researchers have studied catalysts based on non-noble metals (nanoparticles, core-shell systems, decoration of Fe, Cu, Ni, Co particles) containing minimum amounts of noble metals (Pt, Pd, Au, Rh, Ir, Ru). Microwave activation was used to increase the efficiency of a wide range of processes, including hydrogenation, ring opening in polycyclic compounds, dehydrogenation, СО₂ hydrogenation to produce СО and other valuable products, partial and full oxidation alkanes.
• Using several examples of producing nanoparticles, we have demonstrated the advantages of microwave-activated catalysts as well as the advantages of microwave activation of catalytic processes in-situ for a wide range of processes in comparison with thermally-activated catalytic processes.
• We have determined the nonthermal effects of significant increase of the activity of the processes of hydration determined under the influence of microwave radiation in the presence of hydrogen by the dissipative absorption of hydrogen.

The achieved results comply with world standards, while some of the results exceed this level (the use of the hydrogen spillover effect, nonthermal effects of microwave activation in catalytic processes with the participation of hydrogen, the use of microwave activation in a number processes in which these effects have never been studied – ring opening, conversion of СО₂ to methanol).

Implementation of research results:

We have developed efficient and cheap Zn-Cu-K catalysts for converiting СО₂ to methanol that is superior to the systems known in the practice and literature in terms of performance (by a factor of 1,5-2). Pilot testing of catalysts is currently being performed with the participation of JSC «Taneko» (Russia). A substantiation of the technological and economic feasibility of their production and application will be provided later.

Education and retraining of personnel:

• In 2021, two employees of the Laboratory completed interbships at the leading scientist Tapio Salmi’s main place of work, Åbo Akademi (Finland).
• Two Candidate of Sciences dissertations have been prepared and defended.
• Employees of the Laboratory presented keynotes at the one-day school and seminar «Application of microwave radiation in chemical processes» (31 October 2022, the N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences).

Collaboration:

• Nova Chemicals (Canada): as part of a contract, we have developed efficient and selective catalysts of partial oxidation (oxidation dehydrogenation) of ethane to ethylene.
• «Russian aluminum management» (Russia): as part of an agreement, we have developed a technology for detoxifying polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, including benzo(a)pyrene.
• PJSC «Tatneft» (Russia): agreement «Development of a combined process of butane aromatization and СО₂ hydrogenation while producing methanolс».
• Boreskov Institute of Catalysis of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia): agreement «Development and modernization of an amine system for CO₂ capture from technological gases».