Research Triangle Institute

Southern Research Institute

Other

University of Pittsburgh

Ds2 Tech, Inc.

Santosh Kumar Gangwal

Raghubir Prasad Gupta

Brian Scott Turk

Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan

William Wismann

Scott M Harkins

Suresh C Jain

Thomas P Dorchak

Amit Goyal

Ryan Melsert

James G Goodwin, Jr

Apostolos A Nikolopoulos

Tim A Hansen

Mary Anne Dorchak

Andrew Lucero

Raghubir Prasael Gupta

A thermochemical energy storage system and method of storing thermal energy are disclosed. The energy storing system described herein comprises a reactor comprising a COsorbent comprising i) CaO and mayenite or ii) LiSiO, or a combination thereof, and b) a COsource, wherein the COsource is in fluid communication with the reactor to allow flow of CObetween the COsource and the reactor. Further, methods are disclosed for storing thermal energy through a wide temperature range.

High temperature thermochemical energy storage system

Nickel based catalyst structures are described herein that include a plurality of metal oxides formed as crystalline phases within the catalyst structures. Each metal oxide of a catalyst structure includes nickel and/or aluminum, where one or more metal oxides includes a nickel aluminum oxide, and the one or more nickel aluminum oxides is greater than 50% by weight of the catalyst structure. The catalyst structures further have surface areas of at least 13 m/g. The catalyst structures are resistant to high concentrations of sulfur and are effective in reforming operations for converting methane and other light hydrocarbons to hydrogen and one or more other components. For example, the catalyst structures are effective in coal and biomass gasification systems for the forming and cleanup of synthetic gas.

Sulfur resistant nickel based catalysts, methods of forming and using such catalysts

The disclosure relates to zinc oxide-based sorbents, and processes for preparing and using them. The sorbents are preferably used to remove one or more reduced sulfur species from gas streams. The sorbents comprise an active zinc component, optionally in combination with one or more promoter components and/or one or more substantially inert components. The active zinc component is a two phase material, consisting essentially of a zinc oxide (ZnO) phase and a zinc aluminate (ZnAlO) phase. Each of the two phases is characterized by a relatively small crystallite size of typically less than about 500 Angstroms. Preferably the sorbents are prepared by converting a precursor mixture, comprising a precipitated zinc oxide precursor and a precipitated aluminum oxide precursor, to the two-phase, active zinc oxide containing component.

Process for preparing zinc oxide-based sorbents

A sorbent for use in removing sulfur contaminants from hydrocarbon feedstocks is provided, wherein the sorbent contains zinc aluminate in an amount of at least 40 wt % (calculated as ZnAlO); free alumina in an amount of from about 5 wt % to about 25 wt % (calculated as AlO); and iron oxide in an amount of from about 10 wt % to about 30 wt % (calculated as FeO); wherein each of the free alumina and iron oxide are present in non-crystalline form as determined by X-ray diffraction analysis, and a method for producing the sorbent and method for using the sorbent to reduce sulfur contaminants in hydrocarbon feedstocks.

Regenerable sorbents for removal of sulfur from hydrocarbons and processes for their preparation and use

Zinc oxide-based sorbents, and processes for preparing and using them are provided. The sorbents are preferably used to remove one or more reduced sulfur species from gas streams. The sorbents comprise an active zinc component, optionally in combination with one or more promoter components and/or one or more substantially inert components. The active zinc component is a two phase material, consisting essentially of a zinc oxide (ZnO) phase and a zinc aluminate (ZnAlO) phase. Each of the two phases is characterized by a relatively small crystallite size of typically less than about 500 Angstroms. Preferably the sorbents are prepared by converting a precursor mixture, comprising a precipitated zinc oxide precursor and a precipitated aluminum oxide precursor, to the two-phase, active zinc oxide containing component.

Zinc-oxide-based sorbents and processes for preparing and using same

An attrition resistant precipitated bulk iron catalyst is prepared from iron oxide precursor and a binder by spray drying. The catalysts are preferably used in carbon monoxide hydrogenation processes such as Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. These catalysts are suitable for use in fluidized-bed reactors, transport reactors and, especially, slurry bubble column reactors.

Attrition resistant bulk iron catalysts and processes for preparing and using same

A method is provided for removal of sulfur gases and recovery of elemental sulfur from sulfur gas containing supply streams, such as syngas or coal gas, by contacting the supply stream with a catalyst, that is either an activated carbon or an oxide based catalyst, and an oxidant, such as sulfur dioxide, in a reaction medium such as molten sulfur, to convert the sulfur gases in the supply stream to elemental sulfur, and recovering the elemental sulfur by separation from the reaction medium.

Method of removing and recovering elemental sulfur from highly reducing gas streams containing sulfur gases

Zinc oxide-based sorbents, and processes for preparing and using them are provided, wherein the sorbents are preferably used to remove one or more reduced sulfur species from gas streams. The sorbents contain an active zinc component, optionally in combination with one or more promoter components and/or one or more substantially inert components. The active zinc component is a two phase material, consisting essentially of a zinc oxide (ZnO) phase and a zinc aluminate (ZnAlO) phase. Each of the two phases is characterized by a relatively small crystallite size of typically less than about 500 Angstroms. Preferably the sorbents are prepared by converting a precursor mixture, containing a precipitated zinc oxide precursor and a precipitated aluminum oxide precursor, to the two-phase, active zinc oxide containing component.

Zinc oxide-based sorbents and processes for preparing and using same

The desulfurization of petroleum distillates can be carried out by cyclic low-temperature adsorption of oxidized sulfur compounds with activated carbon followed by regeneration of the activated carbon using an organic solvent. The activated carbon used in the process is commercially available and its surface area that ranges from approximately 500 to 2000 m /g having a substantial portion of its pores in the range between 10 to 100 Angstroms.

Process for desulfurization of petroleum distillates

The demercaptanizaiton of petroleum distillates can be carried out by sorption of the mercaptan with activated carbon and oxidation of the sorbed mercaptan to disulfide at between approximately 20&deg; C. to 55&deg; C. The activated carbon used in the process is commercially readily available. Its surface area typically ranges from between approximately 500 to 1500 m /g and has substantial percentage of the pores in the 10 to 100 Angstrom range.

Process for the demercaptanization of petroleum distillates

A heavy metal poisoned, spent FCC catalyst is treated by chemically impregnating the poisoned catalyst with a new catalytic metal or metal salt to provide an attrition resistant catalyst or sorbent for a different catalytic or absorption processes, such as catalysts for Fischer-Tropsh Synthesis, and sorbents for removal of sulfur gasses from fuel gases and flue-gases. The heavy metal contaminated FCC catalyst is directly used as a support for preparing catalysts having new catalytic properties and sorbents having new sorbent properties, without removing or 'passivating' the heavy metals on the spent FCC catalyst as an intermediate step.

Attrition resistant catalysts and sorbents based on heavy metal poisoned

A method for producing elemental sulfur and reduced/oxidized sulfur compounds from sulfur containing gases. The method comprises mixing a primary gas stream of sulfur-containing gases with a secondary gas stream to produce a combined gas stream having a preselected stoichiometry and contacting the combined gas stream with a catalyst at a pressure of 7 to 100 atmospheres and a temperature of 540.degree. to 700.degree. C. The catalyst is selected from the group consisting of silica, titania, alumina, sodium/alumina, zinc titanate, alumina or titania promoted with transition metals nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, tungsten, alloys and mixtures thereof and mixture of such catalysts.

Method for producing elemental sulfur from sulfur-containing gases

The present invention provides a zinc titanate sorbent material useful in desulfurization applications. The zinc titanate material is in the form of generally spherical particles of substantially uniform chemical distribution. The sorbent material is capable of absorbing sulfur compounds from a gaseous feed in an amount of at least about 15 weight percent based on the weight of the sorbent. The sorbent material is prepared by a process including: (a) forming a zinc oxide/titanium dioxide dry blend, (b) preparing a substantially uniform aqueous slurry comprising the zinc oxide/titanium dioxide dry blend, organic binder, and at least about 1 weight percent inorganic binder based on the solids weight of the slurry, (c) spray drying the slurry to produce substantially spherical particles, and (d) calcining the particles at a temperature of between about 750.degree. C. to about 950.degree. C. The dry blend is formed by mixing between about 0.5 to about 2 parts zinc oxide having a median particle size of less than about 0.5 .mu., and about 1 part titanium dioxide having a median particle size of less than about 1 .mu.. The slurry contains substantially no free silica and may be prepared by the process including (1) preparing an aqueous solution of organic binder, (2) adding the dry blend to the aqueous solution of organic binder, and (3) adding the inorganic binder to the solution of organic binder, and blend. Additional reagents, such as a surfactant, may also be incorporated into the sorbent material. The present invention also provides a process for desulfurizing a gaseous stream. The process includes passing a gaseous stream through a reactor containing an attrition resistant zinc titanate sorbent material of the present invention.

Zinc titanate sorbents

A method for producing elemental sulfur and reduced/oxidized sulfur compounds from sulfur containing gases. The method comprises mixing a primary gas stream of sulfur-containing gases with a secondary gas stream to produce a combined gas stream having a preselected stoichiometry and contacting the combined gas stream with a sorbent/catalyst. The sorbent/catalyst is selected form the group consisting of silica, alumina, and other Claus-type catalysts, sodium/alumina, zinc ferrite, zinc titanate, and other mixed metal oxides, and mixtures thereof.

Highly durable and chemically reactive zinc titanate materials are prepared in a particle size range of 50 to 400 .mu.m suitable for a fluidized-bed reactor for removing reduced sulfur species in a gaseous form by granulating a mixture of fine zinc oxide and titanium oxide with inorganic and organic binders and by optional additions of small amounts of activators such as CoO and MoO.sub.3 ; and then indurating it at 800.degree. to 900.degree. C. for a time sufficient to produce attrition-resistant granules.

Growing community of inventors

Cary, NC, United States of America

Santosh Kumar Gangwal