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Conversion of Syngas to Fuels and Chemicals

Handbook of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

Abstract

This chapter examines the reaction pathways and the selectivity of the catalysts for the conversion of syngas to liquid hydrocarbons and ethanol fuels. Rh is by far the most active catalyst for ethanol synthesis. Co- and Fe-based catalysts exhibit excellent activity for hydrocarbon fuel synthesis from high H2/CO and low H2/CO ratio syngas, respectively. Regardless of the differences in the catalyst selectivity, all of these CO hydrogenation catalysts produce methane as one of the major products. So far, no approaches are effective in suppressing CH4 formation. Development of a cost-effective liquid-fuel process from syngas with a low net fuel cycle CO2 emission requires consideration of (1) the overall system, including the source of raw materials and by-products and (2) analysis of carbon footprint of each step from raw materials to the desired products and undesired by-products.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. First Energy Advanced Energy Research Center, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Whitby Hall 211, 44325-3906, Akron, OH, USA

    Steven S. C. Chuang

  2. Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, 170 University Ave, 44325-3909, Akron, OH, USA

    Long Zhang

Authors
  1. Steven S. C. Chuang
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  2. Long Zhang
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Correspondence to Steven S. C. Chuang .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Mississippi Dept. Chemical Engineering, University, Mississippi, USA

    Wei-Yin Chen

  2. Advanced Manufacturing Research Inst. Functional Assembly Technology Group, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Nagoya, Japan

    Toshio Suzuki

  3. und Technische Biowissenschaften, TU Wien Inst. Verfahrenstechnik, Umwelttechnik, Wien, Austria

    Maximilian Lackner

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Chuang, S.S.C., Zhang, L. (2015). Conversion of Syngas to Fuels and Chemicals. In: Chen, WY., Suzuki, T., Lackner, M. (eds) Handbook of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6431-0_41-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6431-0_41-2

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  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6431-0

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Conversion of Syngas with Carbon Dioxide to Fuels
    Published:
    05 August 2021

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6431-0_41-3

  2. Original

    Conversion of Syngas to Fuels and Chemicals
    Published:
    28 December 2015

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6431-0_41-2

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