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The Changing Landscape of Hydrocarbon Feedstocks for Chemical Production Implications for Catalysis: Proceedings of a Workshop (2016) / Chapter Skim
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6 Summary of Key Points
Pages 79-82

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From page 79...
... Chief among these include lowering energy and resource intensive catalytic processes, with a particular focus on reduced carbon dioxide emissions. During the course of the workshop, several routes were identified by which methane or other light alkanes could be converted to higher-value chemicals.
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From page 80...
... These research opportunities include • A concerted basic research effort combining kinetics, spectroscopy, and theory aimed at increasing understanding of the catalytic pro cess on an atomic and molecular level that could be used to guide the development of catalysts with precisely tailored properties that can retain their integrity under industrial operating conditions. • Development of advanced analytical capabilities to enable the structural and chemical characterization of catalysts in a tempo rally and spatially resolved manner and under realistic operating conditions.
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From page 81...
... in alkane oxidation reactions and new processes for managing oxygen in a cost-efficient manner; • researching a detailed understanding of chemical looping and using that knowledge to develop novel catalysts and reactor designs to enable a more efficient approach to methane utilization; • exploration of biosynthetic routes for converting methane into entirely new materials with novel properties; • applying metabolic engineering to boost yields from microorgan isms capable of converting methane into chemicals with no carbon dioxide production; • investigating processes that couple biocatalysis with electrocataly sis to convert methane to chemicals without carbon dioxide or water production; • identifying single-site catalysts that enable continuous conversion of methane to methanol; and • studying metal-organic frameworks as potential solutions to the challenges of separating products from reactants in an energy- and cost-efficient manner. To realize the greatest potential of recently more available and increasingly lower-cost natural gas as a feedstock for chemical production requires finding new catalysts that exhibit higher stability and selectivity with fewer byproducts than those currently available.
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Key Terms

  • light alkanes
  • lighter feedstocks
  • research challenges
  • fewer byproducts
  • catalytic processes

  • catalytic conversion
  • converting methane
  • light alkane
  • opening chapters
  • reaction productivity

  • particular focus
  • routes involve
  • impressive research
  • withstanding impressive
  • production requires

  • engineering processes
  • ongoing research
  • lighter hydrocarbons
  • biosynthetic routes
  • abundant reserves

  • negative environmental
  • viable process
  • industrial operating
  • intensive catalytic
  • successful catalytic

  • earlier chapters
  • withstand real
  • robust catalysts
  • promising routes
  • reduced carbon


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