Catalytic Hydrogenation of CO2 to Value-Added Light Olefins Using Fe-Mn Bimetallic Catalyst
Faculty Mentor
Cheng Zhang
Major/Area of Research
Chemistry (Health Science)
Description
INTRODUCTION: Mitigating CO₂ emissions remains a critical environmental challenge, exacerbated by global dependence on greenhouse gas-emitting processes for energy and industrial production. Catalytic hydrogenation of CO₂ to value-added compounds, such as light olefins (C₂–C₄=), offers a promising solution. These short-chain unsaturated hydrocarbons serve as essential industrial precursors for polymers, plastics, and other high-demand hydrocarbon-based materials.
METHOD: In this study, novel iron-manganese (Fe-Mn) bimetallic catalysts were synthesized by combining an iron organometallic complex with Mn(NO₃)₂ at molar ratios of 1:1, 3:1, 5:1, 10:1, 20:1, 30:1, and 50:1, followed by controlled thermal treatment to yield highly magnetic Fe-Mn catalysts. The resulting catalysts were then compressed to a uniform mesh size and evaluated for CO₂ hydrogenation in a flow bed reactor under controlled temperature conditions. Reaction products were analyzed using an online gas chromatograph (GC).
CONCLUSION: The Fe:Mn catalyst with a 30:1 molar ratio demonstrated the highest yield of light olefins. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing catalyst composition to enhance CO₂ hydrogenation efficiency and sustainable light olefin production.
Catalytic Hydrogenation of CO2 to Value-Added Light Olefins Using Fe-Mn Bimetallic Catalyst
INTRODUCTION: Mitigating CO₂ emissions remains a critical environmental challenge, exacerbated by global dependence on greenhouse gas-emitting processes for energy and industrial production. Catalytic hydrogenation of CO₂ to value-added compounds, such as light olefins (C₂–C₄=), offers a promising solution. These short-chain unsaturated hydrocarbons serve as essential industrial precursors for polymers, plastics, and other high-demand hydrocarbon-based materials.
METHOD: In this study, novel iron-manganese (Fe-Mn) bimetallic catalysts were synthesized by combining an iron organometallic complex with Mn(NO₃)₂ at molar ratios of 1:1, 3:1, 5:1, 10:1, 20:1, 30:1, and 50:1, followed by controlled thermal treatment to yield highly magnetic Fe-Mn catalysts. The resulting catalysts were then compressed to a uniform mesh size and evaluated for CO₂ hydrogenation in a flow bed reactor under controlled temperature conditions. Reaction products were analyzed using an online gas chromatograph (GC).
CONCLUSION: The Fe:Mn catalyst with a 30:1 molar ratio demonstrated the highest yield of light olefins. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing catalyst composition to enhance CO₂ hydrogenation efficiency and sustainable light olefin production.