Semester
Fall
Date of Graduation
2021
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Type
PhD
College
Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
Department
Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
Committee Chair
Jianli (John) Hu
Committee Member
Debangsu Bhattacharyya
Committee Member
Jeremy Hardinger
Committee Member
Edward Sabolsky
Committee Member
Jessica Hoover
Abstract
The discovery of stranded natural gas around the world has made shale gas cheaper and widely accessible. This has driven the relevant research towards the direct utilization of Methane (CH4), a major component of natural gas. CH4 is a highly stable molecule, hence its activation and consequent formation of value-added chemicals in a direct and efficient manner is a relevant problem of the 21st century. All the commercial processes convert natural gas to chemicals indirectly, via the formation of syngas followed by several reactions. The conventional systems are energy intensive and one of the major contributors to green-house gas emissions. Additionally, the transportation of the stranded natural gas to the current processing plant face environmental challenges. The direct conversion of natural gas at the production stage can potentially save energy, eliminate undesired side-products and the cost of transportation. This can be only be achieved by building modular systems that are capable of process intensification. Microwave (MW) heated and MW enhanced-plasma reactors falls in line with the principles of process intensification. They offer fast process dynamics and flexibility, high product yield with least amount of unwanted by-products and low maintenance cost. This dissertation utilize MW heated and MW enhanced-plasma reactors to activate stable molecules (CH4 and N2) in a single-step direct reaction to simultaneously produce Ammonia and Ethylene. Simulations and in-situ studies are conducted to establish the feasibility and the mechanisms of the reaction system. The results from these studies are utilized to design and optimize heterogeneous catalyst, hence improving the reaction behavior and the product selectivity.
Recommended Citation
Tiwari, Sarojini, "Simultaneous Activation of Stable Molecules- Methane and Nitrogen- using Microwave reactor with and without Plasma- to Produce Ethylene and Ammonia" (2021). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 10275.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/10275
Embargo Reason
Publication Pending