Bala Subramaniam, University of Kansas
Session 3: Environmental Impacts
Bala Subramaniam
Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis
Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Energy intensity of Top 18 chemicals
Hydrogenation
Cracking
Oxidation
C+C bond formation
http://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/Chemical_Roadmap_2013_Final_WEB.pdf
• The US chemical industry uses approximately 5 Quads (quadrillion Btu)/yr or 5.9% of US energy use
- 18 products consume 80% of the energy & emit 75% of GHGs
• 90% of all chemical processes use catalysts
• Catalyst- and process-related improvements can reduce energy usage and environmental impacts
Chemical targets from shale gas components
Challenge: To develop novel catalytic technologies that are not only economically viable
but also exhibit high carbon atom economy
Quantitative sustainability analysis-aided discovery and development
Examples of resource-efficient alternative technology concepts for PET plastic precursors
• M. Ghanta, “Is the Liquid-Phase H2O2-based Ethylene Oxide Process More Economical and
Greener Than the Gas-Phase O2-based Silver-Catalyzed Process?” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2013
52 18.
- New technology eliminates CO2 as byproduct but uses H2O2 (more expensive oxidant)
- Is the process economically viable? Does H2O2 usage cancel CO2 elimination as byproduct?
- Yan et al., J. Catal., 2016 336, 75; Lu et al., App. Catal. A: Gen., 2016 515 51.
• M. Li et al., “Terephthalic Acid Production Via Greener Spray Process: Comparative
Economic and Environmental Impact Assessment with Mid-Century Process,” ACS Sus Chem
Eng. 2014 2 823.
- New technology eliminates hydrogenation step to purify crude TPA, reduces solvent burning
- TE/LCA analyses help show clear economic and environmental advantages
Summary
• Switching to NGL feedstocks presents an excellent
opportunity for developing new catalytic technologies that
reduce the impact of some of the most energy-intensive
chemical processes.
• Techno-economic and LCA analyses of novel catalytic
process concepts for shale gas utilization are essential to
rationally guide
- research and process design for practical viability
- business decisions by industry
• Resource-efficient catalytic technologies, that conserve
feedstock and energy, favor both economics (i.e., practical
viability) and sustainability.
• Sustainability as a business strategy makes good sense
Bala Subramaniam
Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis
Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Energy intensity of Top 18 chemicals
Hydrogenation
Cracking
Oxidation
C+C bond formation
http://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/Chemical_Roadmap_2013_Final_WEB.pdf
• The US chemical industry uses approximately 5 Quads (quadrillion Btu)/yr or 5.9% of US energy use
- 18 products consume 80% of the energy & emit 75% of GHGs
• 90% of all chemical processes use catalysts
• Catalyst- and process-related improvements can reduce energy usage and environmental impacts
Chemical targets from shale gas components
Challenge: To develop novel catalytic technologies that are not only economically viable
but also exhibit high carbon atom economy
Quantitative sustainability analysis-aided discovery and development
Examples of resource-efficient alternative technology concepts for PET plastic precursors
• M. Ghanta, “Is the Liquid-Phase H2O2-based Ethylene Oxide Process More Economical and
Greener Than the Gas-Phase O2-based Silver-Catalyzed Process?” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2013
52 18.
- New technology eliminates CO2 as byproduct but uses H2O2 (more expensive oxidant)
- Is the process economically viable? Does H2O2 usage cancel CO2 elimination as byproduct?
- Yan et al., J. Catal., 2016 336, 75; Lu et al., App. Catal. A: Gen., 2016 515 51.
• M. Li et al., “Terephthalic Acid Production Via Greener Spray Process: Comparative
Economic and Environmental Impact Assessment with Mid-Century Process,” ACS Sus Chem
Eng. 2014 2 823.
- New technology eliminates hydrogenation step to purify crude TPA, reduces solvent burning
- TE/LCA analyses help show clear economic and environmental advantages
Summary
• Switching to NGL feedstocks presents an excellent
opportunity for developing new catalytic technologies that
reduce the impact of some of the most energy-intensive
chemical processes.
• Techno-economic and LCA analyses of novel catalytic
process concepts for shale gas utilization are essential to
rationally guide
- research and process design for practical viability
- business decisions by industry
• Resource-efficient catalytic technologies, that conserve
feedstock and energy, favor both economics (i.e., practical
viability) and sustainability.
• Sustainability as a business strategy makes good sense