Publication

Toward Superior Hydroisomerization Catalysts through Thermodynamic Optimization

Berend Smit
2023
Journal paper
Abstract

The need to reduce the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of fuels and lubricants has renewed interest in hydroisomerization processes. Here it is shown how recognizing the signature of individual alkane hydrocracking pathways enables delineating changes to the alkane hydroisomerization and hydrocracking networks as a function of catalyst pore topology. Spacious pores allow indiscriminate access to both kinetically favored alpha,alpha,gamma-trialkyl alkane hydrocracking pathways and thermodynamically favored alpha,alpha- and alpha,gamma-dialkyl alkane hydrocracking pathways. Narrower pores enhance isomerization by slowing down access to the kinetically favored hydrocracking pathways. The narrowest pores enhance isomerization further by narrowing down the remaining hydrocracking pathways: MTT-and TON-type zeolites limit hydrocracking to only a low concentration of the few isomers that are commensurate with their respective topologies. This improved understanding of how catalyst pore topologies impact hydroconversion networks is guiding the design of more carbon efficient industrial hydroisomerization processes.

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Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture
The amount of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture is significant: The agriculture, forestry and land use sector contribute between 13% and 21% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Agriculture contributes towards climate change through direct greenhouse gas emissions and by the conversion of non-agricultural land such as forests into agricultural land. Emissions of nitrous oxide, methane make up over half of total greenhouse gas emission from agriculture. Animal husbandry is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.
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