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Sustainable, energy-efficient hydrogenation processes for selective chemical syntheses.

Yao, Libo
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1626172267871778

Abstract Details

2021, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, Chemical Engineering.
The elevated environmental challenges caused by human activities have yielded a growing demand for more sustainable and environmental-friendly chemical synthesis processes. Hydrogenation reaction, an indispensable part of chemical industry which accounts for 10~20 % of total chemicals produced, can be a possible answer to that demand. Hence, the main topic in this dissertation is sustainable and energy-efficient chemical synthesis via hydrogenation processes. The research branches out 3 sub-topics: CO2 hydrogenation, CO electroreduction and plastic hydrogenolysis. For CO2 hydrogenation, In2O3-based catalyst composites were developed as selective catalysts for methanol/dimethyl ether synthesis, meanwhile their reaction mechanisms were uncovered via in situ IR. CO electroreduction using molybdenum phosphide catalyst leads to direct, selective formaldehyde synthesis under ambient condition for the first time. A spontaneous, full-cell CO reduction was demonstrated under zero energy input. A new non-thermal plasma-assisted plastic hydrogenolysis method was developed, leading to fast depolymerization and high yield of light hydrocarbons (C1-C3) for polyethylene and polystyrene. Capability of processing plastic wastes was also evidenced. There findings offer promising methods and strategies for achieving energy-efficient, cost-effective and sustainable chemical synthesis via hydrogenation of carbon-based feedstocks.
Zhenmeng Peng (Committee Chair)
Jie Zheng (Committee Member)
Qixin Zhou (Committee Member)
Steven Chuang (Committee Member)
Guo-Xiang Wang (Committee Member)
206 p.
Chemical Engineering
Hydrogenation, chemical synthesis, CO2 hydrogenation, CO electrochemical reduction, plastic hydrogenolysis

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Yao, L. (2021). Sustainable, energy-efficient hydrogenation processes for selective chemical syntheses. [Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1626172267871778

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Yao, Libo. Sustainable, energy-efficient hydrogenation processes for selective chemical syntheses. 2021. University of Akron, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1626172267871778.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Yao, Libo. "Sustainable, energy-efficient hydrogenation processes for selective chemical syntheses." Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1626172267871778

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

akron1626172267871778
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© 2021, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.