Journal of Petroleum & Environmental Biotechnology

The progress of artificial photo synthesis chemical process project focusing on solar hydrogen production and CO2 utilization

5^th World Congress on Petrochemistry and Chemical Engineering

December 05-07, 2016 Phoenix, USA

Tohru Setoyama

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation Yokohama, Japan

Keynote: J Pet Environ Biotechnol

Abstract:

The artificial photo synthesis chemical process (ARPChem) project has run halfway around its 10 year term until 2016. This project is composed of three scientific programs as follows: Catalyst development for water splitting under sunlight to produce hydrogen; safety separation of hydrogen from hydrogen/oxygen mixture generated by water splitting; and Olefin production from CO2 and solar hydrogen. The goal of catalytic performance of water splitting under visible light is 10% as a sun light to hydrogen conversion (STH) and we have to establish a process having a sufficient scalability and a reasonable hydrogen production cost when compared to fossil-resource-based one. Here we propose a photo-catalyst sheet, which will satisfy these requirements in the future. MCC can contribute to the ARPChem project by extending its zeolite-related technologies. For example, we are investigating in the project, a safety hydrogen separation system from the mixture of H2 and O2, which is just in the middle of dangerous explosive zone. Molecular sieving by size recognition is very important to realize this technology. Another example is the catalysts for MTO reaction. SAPO-34 and ZSM-5 have been the only commercialized catalysts for MTO, while we are developing a new type of zeolite catalyst in the project. It has a remarkable durability even in a high temperature steam atmosphere. We would like to discuss not only the outline of ARPChem project but also the strategy for chemical industry in order to realize the drastic reduction of CO2 emissions from the view point of diversification of chemical resources such as utilization of CH4, CO2, and solar hydrogen. On the other hand, MCC has been developing other several technologies and processes related to synthesizing zeolitic materials. Representative examples of our activity are interconversion of olefins such as ETP (ethylene to propylene), BTP (propylene from methanol or higher olefins), adsorption heat pump (AHP, for desiccation and air conditioning by water vapor ad/de-sorption), zeolite membrane for gas separation, and SCR catalysts. Zeolite membrane is also applicable to the chemical processes under equilibrium control such as methanol synthesis and hydrogenation of CO2. We have developed a sealing methodology, which enables good sealing performance under practical operation conditions such as a high pressure and temperature.

Biography :

Tohru Setoyama is a Fellow and an Executive Officer at Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC). He has largely contributed to several commercialized catalytic processes and to the launch of several businesses related to inorganic functional materials. He is regarded as one of the key persons to bridge between academia and industry in Japan. Currently, he is a Project Leader of ARPChem Project supported by New Energy Development Organization (NEDO) and Program Officer of "Hyper nano space Design" project supported by Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).

Email: setoyama.tooru@mu.m-kagaku.co.jp