The deactivation of catalysts has a negative impact on the economic efficiency of a chemical plant due to the increased energy and reactant consumption during the production process and the downtime costs during catalyst replacement [1]. Simulation and optimization studies can help in the development of strategies to reduce these costs [2]. However, this requires knowledge of the reaction and deactivation kinetics. For the catalyst investigated in my research, a detailed description of the reaction kinetics is already available [3], but no detailed description of the deactivation kinetics.
I am therefore working on the following work packages in my research:
- Setting up a measuring stand to investigate catalyst deactivation
- Recording of detailed deactivation processes of a Ni/Al2O3 catalyst during CO2 methanation
- Development of deactivation kinetics
- Development of design and operating strategies based on simulation and optimization studies over the catalyst service life
References
[1] J. J. Birtill, Catal. Today 2003, 81 (4), 531 - 545.
[2] M. Xie, H. Freund, Chem. Eng. Sci. 2018, 175, 405 - 415.
[3] M. Langer, H. Freund, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2024, 63 (25), 10981 - 10996.
