Adsorption-Enhanced Reactions: Design, Engineering and Optimization

In adsorption-enhanced reactions, a reaction product is selectively separated from the reaction atmosphere by means of an adsorption process. For equilibrium-limited reactions, the separation of one of the reaction products increases the conversion and selectivity by shifting the equilibrium according to Le Chatelier’s principle. Moreover, it may help in preserving catalyst activity by removing an inhibiting reaction product. Recently, a wide range of exciting new scientific developments in this field have been spurred by the energy transition. These developments range from pre-combustion CO₂ capture, CO₂ valorization, biomass utilization, methanol economy and ammonia synthesis. Novel reactor concepts and hybrid materials (with adsorption and catalytic properties) have been developed and are increasingly being tested and scaled up in technology readiness. This research topic aims to bring together the leading developments in adsorption-enhanced reactions.

Adsorption-enhanced reactions are by nature complex systems to design, engineer and optimize: a balance is required among the functional materials and the reactor configuration. In addition to conventional features such as catalyst activity and selectivity and heat and mass transfer phenomena, the performance of an adsorption-enhanced process is ultimately determined by adsorbent capacity and selectivity, cyclic working capacity and regeneration conditions used. Catalysts for adsorption-enhanced processes generally work in conditions that are very different from conventional conditions. Heat and mass transfer limitations might lead to performance degradation or slip. Adsorbent capacity directly impacts the required regeneration frequency and achievable working capacity, whereas co-adsorption of reactants or of several reaction products will lead to compromising of the system performance. It is the goal of this Research Topic to bring together the latest developments in dealing with these aspects, specifically at the interfaces of materials science and chemical reactor engineering.

This Research Topic covers original research in the field. Relevant themes include, but are not limited to:

• High-temperature steam adsorbents for in situ steam removal
• High-temperature carbon dioxide adsorbents for in situ carbon dioxide removal
• High-temperature adsorbents for in situ water removal
• Reactive simulated moving bed technology and similar for reaction-separation in the liquid phase
• Catalyst development related to adsorption-enhanced reactions
• Hybrid catalyst-adsorbent material development
• Development of material with high adsorption capacity
• Modelling of transport phenomena
• Reactor design and engineering
• Process design and optimization
• Experimental validation