LSU Partnership Works to Convert Synthesis Gas

June 25, 2007

LSU, in partnership with Clemson University Profs. Jim Goodwin and David Bruce, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Drs. Steve Overbury and Viviana Schwarz, and Conoco-Phillips’ Joe Allison and Vis Viswanathan, is working on the problem of converting synthesis gas.  Synthesis gas is a mixture of mostly carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which can be produced from coal, natural gas, and biomass to liquid ethanol.

Ethanol can then be converted into hydrogen to produce power in highly efficient fuel cells. Because ethanol is a liquid, it can be more easily transported than gaseous hydrogen, making it a logical choice for widespread use. In addition, ethanol can be blended with gasoline or diesel, which provides another market for this compound.

Dr. Jerry Spivey, James M. Shrivers Professor of Chemical Engineering, and his associates are creating new catalysts.  They use different metals and preparation procedures to make the catalysts.  One technique uses microporous solids and impregnates them with various components to create the catalysts.  Another technique starts out as a liquid, with the components in a suspension.  The fluids are removed leaving a gel, which is then processed to create solid catalysts.

The impregnation technique produces catalysts with different physical and chemical properties than the wet technique.  Because of the differences in these methods, even catalysts with similar components may produce different products. Dr. Spivey is also working with Challa Kumar at LSU’s CAMD facility to develop more advanced synthesis methods. Professor Spivey and PhD students Femi Egbebi and Nachal Subramanian at LSU are examining and quantifying the products of the reaction, to determine which combinations are most effective at producing the desired results and marketable by-products.

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