Catalysis is one of the longest-established uses for nano particles. Aluminium, iron, titanium dioxide, clays, and silica have all been used as catalysts in nanoparticle form for many years.
Nanocatalysis is a rapidly growing field which involves the use of nano materials as catalysts for a variety of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis applications. Heterogeneous catalysis represents one of the oldest commercial practices of nanoscience; nanoparticles of metals, semiconductors, oxides, and other compounds have been widely used for important chemical reactions.
Although surface science studies have contributed significantly to our fundamental understanding of catalysis, most commercial catalysts, are still produced by "mixing, shaking and baking" mixtures of multi-components; their nanoscale structures are not well controlled and the synthesis-structure-performance relationships are poorly understood. Due to their complex physico-chemical properties at the nanometer scale, even characterization of the various active sites of most commercial catalysts proves to be elusive.
Application:
Although surface science studies have contributed significantly to our fundamental understanding of catalysis, most commercial catalysts, are still produced by "mixing, shaking and baking" mixtures of multi-components; their nanoscale structures are not well controlled and the synthesis-structure-performance relationships are poorly understood. Due to their complex physico-chemical properties at the nanometer scale, even characterization of the various active sites of most commercial catalysts proves to be elusive.
Application:
Green diesel production using Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (FTS)
Process Improvements:
- Improving the FTS technology for production of high molecular weight waxes, followed by their hydrocracking to generate liquid fuels
- Improved efficiency of slurry and fixed-bed reactors, used in FTS from biosyngas
- Produce long, linear-chain paraffin waxes in fixed bed & slurry FTS reactors
Catalyst. - Nano Fe and Co powders (10-50 nm) are used as FTS catalysts in slurry reactors, promoted by other metals like Mn, Cu & alkalis
- Produced by thermal plasma chemical vapor deposition (TPCVD) and cluster spray techniques
- Minimize liquid-solid diffusion resistance
- Multi-walled carbon nanofilaments (MWCNF), produced by CO2 sequestration via dry reforming for gas-to-liquid FTS, with the iron carbide content rendering catalytic activity.