Adsorption-Enhanced Reactions: Design, Engineering and Optimization, Volume II

This Research Topic is Volume II of a series. The previous volume can be found here: 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, this in-situ separation shifts the equilibrium forward according to Le Chatelier’s principle, thereby increasing conversion and selectivity. Moreover, it may help in preserving catalyst activity by removing an inhibiting reaction product. Over the years, 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 valorisation, biomass conversion, methanol economy to ammonia synthesis. Novel reactor concepts (including combination with membranes) and hybrid materials (with adsorption and catalytic properties) have been developed and are increasingly being tested and scaled up in technology readiness, in fixed as well as in fluidized bed configurations. 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. The co-adsorption of reactants or of several reaction products may lead to a deterioration of the system performance. Adsorption-enhanced reaction processes require a rethinking of overall process, including feedstock pre-treatment and will materialise only if they indeed deliver the energetic and economic gains they currently promise. 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, chemical reactor engineering, process sustainability and economic viability.

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

• High-temperature adsorbents for in situ steam removal
• High-temperature adsorbents for in situ carbon dioxide removal
• Catalyst development related to adsorption-enhanced reactions
• Hybrid catalyst-adsorbent material development
• Integrated membrane concepts
• Development of material with high adsorption capacity
• Modelling of transport phenomena
• Reactor design and engineering
• Process simulation and optimization
• Experimental validation and pilot-scale testing
• Techno-economic evaluation
• Life-cycle assessment

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Adsorption-Enhanced Reactions, equilibrium-limited reactions, high-temperature adsorbents, modelling and design, environmental impact

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.