Thermocatalytic conversion of Carbon dioxide into Ethanol and higher alcohols

Several studies have shown that the concentration of carbon dioxide(CO2) in the atmosphere is increasing to an alarming level. This increase in carbon dioxide concentration has shown a direct link between global warming and abnormal climatic pattern. The use of carbon dioxide as a source of fuel production will not only help in reducing the pollution level but can also show a new path to alternate fuel sources such as ethanol and dimethyl ether. 

Single-step conversion of methane into methanol

Methane is one of the most used and low carbon emission energy source. However, the biggest challenge in methane usage is its transportation. Gaseous methane transportation requires a capital cost intensive pipeline infrastructure. Single step methane to methanol conversion can be a cost-effective solution to this transportation problem. Along with the transportation issue, methane to methanol conversion can also provide economical use of unutilised methane gas in petrochemical plants. Furthermore, methanol itself is an important fuel and also a raw material of other useful chemicals. Currently, methanol from methane is produced in two step process. In the first step, methane is converted into syngas while in the second step, syngas is converted into methanol. As the first step of this process is very energy intensive, the overall efficiency of this process is low. To make methane conversion into methanol more economical, a single step process is required.

Development of new structured reactors for chemical process intensification

Because of their effective catalyst utilization, lower pressure drops, and better heat transfer capability, catalytic structured reactors can become a key aspect of chemical process intensification. Depending on the scale of operation, they can be either used as a micro-reactor for onboard hydrogen generation in mobile vehicles or can be a replacement for a packed bed reactor used in the steam reforming methane process, etc.

As the material of construction and design of these reactors have a significant effect on its efficiency, several kinds of structured reactors made from alumina, ceramic, copper and stainless steel with different geometrical designs have been tested by various researchers. The choice of the material of construction strongly depends on the chemical process requirement. The process like steam reforming of methane which requires very high temperature due to its endothermic nature, use of a metallic structured reactor can provide several benefits. Metallic structured reactors due to their high thermal conductivity provide better temperature distribution inside the reactor and result in better reactor efficiency.

Institute Seed Research Grant

IIT(BHU) Varanasi

2021-2022

Grant: 10,00,000 INR

Startup Research Grant(SRG)

Science and Engineering Research Board, Govt. of India, 2022-2024

Grant: 30,00,000 INR (approx.)

• CHE241: Industrial Pollution Control (2020-21 Even Semester)

• CHE451: Heterogeneous Catalysis (2021-22 Odd Semester)

• CHE211: Equipment Design (2022-23 Even Semester)

•  CHE451: Heterogeneous Catalysis (2022-23 Odd Semester)

• CHE241: Industrial Pollution Control (2022-23 Even Semester)

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• Mass Transfer Laboratory

• Instrumentation Laboratory

• Pollution Control Laboratory

Journal Publications

Sanjay Katheria, Abhishek Gupta, Goutam Deo and Deepak Kunzru, “Effect of calcination temperature on stability and activity of Ni/MgAl2O4 catalyst for steam reforming of methane at high pressure condition”, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 32 (2016) 14123-14132

Sanjay Katheria, Goutam Deo and Deepak Kunzru, “Washcoating of Ni/MgAl2O4 catalyst on FeCralloy monoliths for steam reforming of methane”, Energy&Fuels, 31 (2017) 3143-3153

Vinod K. Jaiswar1, Sanjay Katheria1, Goutam Deo and Deepak Kunzru, “Effect of Pt doping on activity and stability of Ni/MgAl2O4 catalyst for steam reforming of methane at high pressure condition”, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 42 (2017) 18968-18976 (1First two authors with equal contribution)

Sanjay Katheria, Goutam Deo and Deepak Kunzru, “Rh-Ni/MgAl2O4 catalyst for steam reforming of methane: Effect of Rh doping, calcination temperature and its application on metal monoliths”, Applied Catalysis A: General, 570 (2019) 308-318

Rajesh Thattarathody, Sanjay Katheria and Moshe Sheintuch, “Methylal steam reforming with Pt/Al2O3, Ni/Al2O3 and mixed Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts”, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 58 (2019), 21382-21391

Sanjay Katheria, Goutam Deo and Deepak Kunzru, “Kinetics of steam reforming of methane on Rh–Ni/MgAl2O4 catalyst”, Reaction Kinetics, Mechanisms and Catalysis, 130 (2020) 91-101

Conferences

Sanjay Katheria, Abhishek Gupta, Goutam Deo, Deepak Kunzru, "Effect of calcination temperature on stability and activity of Ni/MgAl2O4 catalyst for steam reforming of methane" European Congress on Catalysis (EuropaCat-XII), Kazan, Russia, Aug.30-Sep.4, 2015

Sanjay Katheria, Abhishek Gupta, Goutam Deo, Deepak Kunzru, "Washcoating of FeCralloy metal monoliths with Ni/MgAl2O4", CHEMCON, 2015, Guwahati, India, Dec.27-30, 2015

Prasoon Srivastava, Sanjay Katheria, Vinod Kumar, Goutam Deo, Deepak Kunzru, "Effect of adding noble and non-noble metals to Ni/MgAl2O4 catalyst on the high-pressure activity of steam reforming of methane", Asia-Pacific Congress on Catalysis (APCAT) 2017, Mumbai, India, Jan. 17-21, 2017

Sanjay Katheria, Goutam Deo, Deepak Kunzru, "Promotional effect of Rh on Ni/MgAl2O4 catalyst for steam reforming of methane: Effect of calcination temperature" South East Asia Catalysis Conference, Singapore, May 22-23, 2017

Room No. 215

First Floor, Department of Chemical Engineering & Technology,

Indian Institute Of Technology(BHU), Varanasi,

Varanasi-221005, Uttar Pradesh,

India

Email id: sanjay.che(at)iitbhu.ac.in

Contact Number: +91 951 915 2929