www.ocmol.eu Vaios I. Alexiadis*, Guy B. Marin* * Laboratory for Chemical Technology, Technologiepark 914, 9052, Ghent, Belgium http: // www.lct.Ugent.be Email : Vaios. [email protected] Scope : As the global energy demand and crude oil price rise, alternative production routes for the same hydrocarbon products are becoming more and more economically attractive. In this respect, synthetic fuels created from natural gas offer now an alternative to the traditional fuel supply mix. The OCMOL project aims at developing an innovative chemical route adapted to the exploitation of small gas reservoirs from both a technical and an economic point of view. The corresponding process is, among others, based on oxidative coupling of methane followed by its subsequent oligomerization to liquids. OCMOL process OCMOL workplan and publishable results Major technological challenges are addressed in the fields of : methane oxidative coupling (OCM) methane dry reforming (RM) ethylene oligomerization membrane/PSA separation oxygenate synthesis and oxygenate to liquids conversion Different separation scenarios were elaborated. Next to preferential oxidation of CO, selective adsorption has been selected as prime separation technique. A standard syngas to oxygenate catalyst was selected as a benchmark for the basic design of the global OCMOL process. Zeolites have been tested over a range of conditions for the conversion of oxygenates to C5+ hydrocarbons. A benchmark catalyst has been selected. S. Aguado et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 134 (2012) 14635-14637 OCMOL advantages Economic operation at low capacities ( ~ 100 kT/year), currently not present in the industry. Fully integrated industrial process, self-sufficient with the re-use and the recycling of by-products at every process stage. An operation at more uniform pressure levels, thus reducing the costs for compression. Flexibility of product streams (diesel/gasoline/petrochemicals) will allow maximum profitability by adapting the outcome to fluctuations in market demand. Close to zero CO2 emissions, contributing to face global warming. OCMOL consortium OCMOL project brings together 17 partners from different countries and with varied expertise in a competitive consortium. Modeling of the adsorption units has been performed. Composite membranes for dioxygen enrichment have been developed, tested and scaled-up. Their stability has been confirmed. SEMK modeling was applied to describe experimental data and to perform industrial reactor simulations. A selection of reactor technologies has been made. OCM comprehensive microkinetic model has been constructed, which can be used in the assessment of kinetic data acquired on an extended range of catalysts and allow scale up to anticipated industrial conditions. Selection of the most promising catalysts, after testing more than 100, has been made taking into account effects of the most problematic impurities in the feed. Testing of a pilot plant has been initiated. T.V. W. Janssens et al. , J. Catal., 308 (2013) 122-130 : CH4 conversion : C2 selectivity Closed: Li / MgO Grey : Sn – Li / MgO Open : Sr / La2O3 V. I. Alexiadis et al., App. Cat. B, 150-151 (2014) 496-505 100 + participations of OCMOL partners in scientific events 30 + publications in books and peer reviewed journals Final public FP7 joint event on 1st July 2014 in Ghent RM catalyst with good behavior with respect to coking has been developed, tested and optimized. The implementation of the envisaged reactors has been initiated. Possibility of OCM-RM autothermal operation has been confirmed. A. Martinez et al., App. Cat. A , 467 (2013) 509-518 SEMK model describing experimental data on a benchmark catalyst has been finalized, allowing the conceptual design of an industrial reactor. The OCMOL project is supported by the European Commission through the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development with up to 7.5 M€, out of a total budget of 11.5 M€. This 5 year project is running from 1st September 2009 and ends on 31st August 2014. Industrial Technologies 2014, Athens, 9-11/04/2014