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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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BETO 2021 Peer Review - ChemCatBio Data Hub 2.6.2.500

The goal of the ChemCatBio DataHub project is to accelerate the catalyst and process development cycle by developing transformational tools for prediction and collaboration in catalyst R&D. The project is currently focused on the development of the Catalyst Property Database (CPD), a free and public resource released in September 2020. The CPD was designed in response to the observation that when data, such as computed reaction energetics, is used in catalyst design, it is almost always generated by the researchers seeking to use it, even if similar data has been published previously. One barrier to data reuse that results in this duplication of effort is the difficult process of finding and applying published data, which can be slow, error-prone, and manual. The CPD seeks to overcome these challenges by creating a centralized, searchable database of quality catalyst property data. At present, the CPD contains computed adsorption energies for intermediates along catalytic pathways. During FY21 and FY22, development of the CPD continues with a focus on external users and meeting their requirements. A batch upload capability, training and curation procedures, user interviews, and a demonstration of the CPD's utility in accelerating catalyst research are planned. Overall, the Data Hub project and CPD aim to reduce the time and cost of catalyst research by harnessing the power of data in catalyst discovery.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

BETO 2021 Peer Review - Advanced Catalyst Synthesis and Characterization (ACSC) Project WBS 2.5.4.304; 303; 305

The Advanced Catalyst Synthesis and Characterization (ACSC) project, in close collaboration with the Chemical Catalysis for Bioenergy (ChemCatBio) Consortium enabling projects, CatCost, and the Engineering of Catalyst Scale-Up project, (1) provides fundamental insight into working catalysts leading to actionable recommendations for all of the ChemCatBio catalysis projects, (2) addresses overarching catalysis challenges central to the ChemCatBio Consortium, and (3) adapts and applies new synthesis methodologies and in situ/operando characterization capabilities to meet the evolving needs of the catalysis projects. The outcome is a transition from empirical catalyst development to rational design through the prediction of materials with targeted properties based on advanced characterization combined with computational modeling, and the synthesis of next generation catalysts with predicted structures that yield demonstrated improvements in catalytic performance. In FY18, the ACSC helped to demonstrate the utility of the complete catalyst and process development cycle for dimethyl ether to high-octane gasoline over metal-modified zeolite catalysts for the Upgrading of C1 Building Blocks project, and in FY21 will leverage capabilities, expertise, and computational models established for this effort to target next-generation catalysts for ethanol to distillates for the Upgrading of C2 Intermediates project with enhanced performance in half the time.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Comprehensive Characterization of Mixed Metal Oxide Catalysts for Enhanced Catalyst Lifetime During Bio-Based C2-C6 Oxygenates to Olefins Processes (CRADA CRD-18-00728 Final Report)

Participant has developed mixed metal oxide (MMO) catalysts to selectively convert biomass-derived C2-C6 oxygenates to olefins and then hydrocarbon fuels to meet DOE 2022 fuel targets. Selective conversion ethanol to isobutylene with MMO catalysts (ZnOZrOx) requires low ethanol feeds to maintain performance. Increasing the feed results in rapid catalyst deactivation. Participant has increased catalyst stability by adding additional metal oxides. However, variations in performance based on the level and type of additive and catalytic conditions have been observed. This project will use advanced catalyst characterization methods through the ChemCatBio Advanced Catalyst Synthesis and Characterization (ACSC) project to gain insight into key catalyst features and deactivation modes with the goal of tailoring catalyst composition to improve performance.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Techno-Economic Assessment for the Production of Hydrocarbon Fuels via Catalytic Upgrading of Furans

This technical report documents the techno-economic analysis (TEA) implications of a biochemical/catalytic pathway for the production of long-chain hydrocarbon fuels in support to the multi-lab Catalytic Upgrading of Biochemical Intermediates (CUBI) project within the Chemical Catalysis for Bioenergy Consortium (ChemCatBio). Two distinct conceptual biorefineries centered around the process encompassing sugar dehydration to furans, aldol condensation between furans and a ketone (methyl ethyl ketone [MEK]), and a final step of hydrotreating to obtain hydrocarbons in the C 14 -C 16 range are considered: an integrated plant that simultaneously produces both furans (furfural and HMF) and ketone (MEK via 2,3-butanediol [BDO]) from sugars and a dedicated facility focused on producing furans from corn stover hydrolysate and procuring the ketone externally. In either plant, the main coproducts are adipic acid (derived from lignin) and sodium sulfate. The results from the assessment are quite comparable to those reported in previous design case focused on biological conversion of sugars to fermentation intermediates with subsequent catalytic upgrading of those intermediates to hydrocarbon fuels, thus presenting another viable alternative pathway to achieve similar fuel cost targets through purely catalytic upgrading of sugars. Since this study considers long-term performance targets for the full pathway dedicated to sugar upgrading to fuels, the critical remaining research points needed to achieve future cost goals are also discussed. Finally, this report presents a single-point sensitivity analysis around selected parameters to identify the major cost drivers of the biorefineries and provides a qualitative discussion on additional opportunities for cost reduction within the proposed concepts, namely through adding value to furans, to coproducts that may be obtained following BDO dehydration, and to lignin through alternative pathways.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

BETO 2021 Peer Review - Electrocatalytic CO2 Utilization

The goal of the ChemCatBio DataHub project is to accelerate the catalyst and process development cycle by developing transformational tools for prediction and collaboration in catalyst R&D. The project is currently focused on the development of the Catalyst Property Database (CPD), a free and public resource released in September 2020. The CPD was designed to advance the state of the art for application of computational data. When computational data, such as computed reaction energetics, is used in catalyst design, it is almost always generated by the researchers seeking to use it, even if similar data has been published previously. One barrier to data reuse that results in this duplication of effort is the difficult process of finding and applying published data, which can be slow, error-prone, and manual. The CPD seeks to overcome these challenges by creating a centralized, searchable database of quality catalyst property data. At present, the CPD contains computed adsorption energies for intermediates along catalytic pathways. During FY21 and FY22, development of the CPD continues with a focus on external users and meeting their requirements. A batch upload capability, training and curation procedures, user interviews, and a demonstration of the CPD's utility in accelerating catalyst research are planned. Overall, the Data Hub project and CPD aim to reduce the time and cost of catalyst research by harnessing the power of data in catalyst discovery.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

BETO 2021 Peer Review - Catalytic Upgrading of Biochemical Intermediates (CUBI) 2.3.1.101-104

The Catalytic Upgrading of Biochemical Intermediates (CUBI) project is a multi-lab effort within ChemCatBio (CCB) that is focused on improving the catalytic upgrading of intermediates from biochemical deconstruction and/or biological conversion (i.e. fermentation) to fuels and chemical co-products. This is accomplished by developing catalysts with improved performance and durability, mitigating the impact of biogenically-derived inhibitors (including water), and evaluating intensified processes to reduce separations requirements and improve carbon utilization. Specific catalytic upgrading routes being developed are: 1) fermentation-derived 2,3-butanediol (BDO); 2) fermentation-derived carboxylic acids; and 3) lignocellulosic sugar-derived furfurals. These routes represent key technology pathways being investigated within BETO's biochemical conversion portfolio. By utilizing experimental and characterization capabilities and modeling tools across the 4 CUBI labs and collaborations with CCB Enabling Projects, the CUBI project is advancing catalytic upgrading process performance and robustness. Its impact is already well-established by several high-impact journal articles and patent publications, along with industrial engagement in related, competitively-awarded collaborations. The CUBI project will result in >25% MFSP cost reduction in the catalytic upgrading section of integrated biochemical conversion routes, as quantified by ongoing TEA modeling.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

BETO 2021 Peer Review - Overview of the Chemical Catalysis for Bioenergy Consortium

Catalysis plays a central role in converting biomass and carbon-rich waste feedstocks into fuels and chemicals; however, critical catalysis challenges exist that are limiting commercialization of emerging bioenergy technologies. By leveraging unique U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory capabilities and expertise, the Chemical Catalysis for Bioenergy consortium seeks to overcome these catalysis challenges and accelerate the catalyst and process development cycle. The foundation of the consortium consists of an integrated and collaborative portfolio of catalytic technologies and enabling capabilities, which positions ChemCatBio to address both technology-specific and overarching catalysis challenges across the development cycle from discovery to scale-up. The core catalysis projects target technological advancements for specific conversion processes, such as catalytic upgrading of biochemical process intermediates, catalytic fast pyrolysis, C1 and C2 upgrading, and electrochemical CO2 reduction, while the enabling technologies provide access to world-class capabilities and expertise in computational modeling, materials synthesis, advanced in situ and in operando catalyst characterization, and catalyst design tools.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Atomic Layer Deposition with TiO2 for Enhanced Reactivity and Stability of Aromatic Hydrogenation Catalysts

Hydrogenation of aromatic molecules in fossil- and bio-derived fuels is essential for decreasing emissions of harmful combustion products and addressing growing concerns around urban air pollution. In this work, we used atomic layer deposition to significantly enhance the hydrogenation performance of a conventional supported Pd catalyst by applying an ultrathin coating of TiO2 in a scalable powder coating process. The TiO2-coated catalyst showed substantial gains in the conversion of multiple aromatic molecules, including a 5-fold improvement in turnover frequency versus the uncoated catalyst in the hydrogenation of naphthalene. This activity enhancement was maintained upon scaling the coating synthesis process from 3 to 100 g. Based on the results from Xray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and computational modeling, the activity enhancement was attributed to ensemble effects resulting from partial TiO2 coverage of the Pd surface rather than fundamental changes to the Pd electronic structure. Additional durability testing confirmed that the TiO2 coating improved the thermal and hydrothermal stability of the catalyst as well as tolerance toward sulfur impurities in the reactant stream. Using an economic model of an industrial deep hydrogenation process, we found that an increase in catalyst activity or lifetime of 2× would justify even a relatively high estimate for the cost of TiO2 atomic layer deposition coatings at scale

atomic layer↗

Energy Material Network Data Hubs

In early 2015 the United States Department of Energy conceived of a consortium of collaborative bodies based on shared expertise, data, and resources that could be targeted towards the more difficult problems in energy materials research. The concept of virtual laboratories had been envisioned and discussed earlier in the decade in response to the advent of the Materials Genome Initiative and similar scientific thrusts. To be effective, any virtual laboratory needed a robust method for data management, communication, security, data sharing, dissemination, and demonstration to work efficiently and effectively for groups of remote researchers. With the accessibility of new, easily deployed cloud technology and software frameworks, such individual elements could be integrated, and the required collaboration architecture is now possible. The developers have leveraged open-source software frameworks, customized them, and merged them into a platform to enable collaborative energy materials science, regardless of the geographic dispersal of the people and resources. After five years in operations, the systems are demonstratively an effective platform for enabling research within the Energy Material Networks (EMN). This paper will show the design and development of a secured scientific data sharing platform, the ability to customize the system to support diverse workflows, and examples of the enabled research and results connected with some of the Energy Material Networks.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Advancing Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis Through Integrated Experimentation and Multi-Scale Computational Modeling

This webinar will highlight recent results from a multi-disciplinary research effort in which integrated reaction testing was coupled with particle- and reactor-scale computational modeling to advance catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) for the production of renewable hydrocarbon fuels. Data will be presented from a series of ex situ CFP experiments in which a fixed bed of Pt/TiO2 was utilized with co-fed H2 to upgrade woody biomass pyrolysis vapors. Further discussion will include the application of these data towards the development of (1) a multiscale simulation framework to de-couple apparent kinetics from both intraparticle and reactor-scale transport phenomena and (2) a finite element computational model to understand and predict thermal excursions during catalyst regeneration. Throughout the presentation, the speakers will emphasize synergistic outcomes derived from the collaborative approach and highlight ongoing research efforts to accelerate technology maturation.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗