A Breakthrough in Selective Combustion: New Catalyst Method Could Improve Industrial Efficiency

[anthonyermjyu]

For the first time, researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have developed a method to selectively burn a single molecule within a mixture of hydrocarbons—compounds composed of hydrogen and carbon. This breakthrough could enhance pollutant removal and boost efficiency across industries such as fuel production, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, and plastics.

The study, published in Science, details how the team used a bismuth oxide catalyst—a substance that accelerates chemical reactions—to selectively combust specific molecules within hydrocarbon mixtures. The researchers demonstrated that even small amounts of acetylene could be effectively removed from ethylene mixtures. This process is critical for preventing polymerization catalyst poisoning, a key step in producing polyethylene plastics, a global market exceeding 120 million metric tons annually.

"No one else has shown that you could combust one hydrocarbon present in low concentrations, in mixtures with others," said Aditya Bhan, a Distinguished McKnight University Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and lead investigator of the study.
A Unique Approach to Combustion

Traditionally, hydrocarbon combustion involves burning all components at high temperatures to generate heat. The key innovation in this study is the use of a catalyst that enables the selective combustion of specific molecules without affecting the others. Unlike conventional combustion, the bismuth oxide catalyst provides its own oxygen through a process known as chemical looping, rather than relying on an external oxygen source.

"We were able to take oxygen out of the catalyst and put it back in multiple times. The catalyst changes slightly, but its reactivity remains intact. Operating in this chemical looping mode avoids flammability concerns," explained Matthew Jacob, a Ph.D. candidate in chemical engineering at the University of Minnesota and first author of the paper.
Energy-Efficient Contaminant Removal

Removing trace contaminants like acetylene from gas mixtures has traditionally been energy-intensive and challenging. This new selective combustion method offers a more energy-efficient alternative.

"You want to do this process selectively. Removing acetylene and other trace hydrocarbon contaminants in this manner could be more energy efficient," said Matthew Neurock, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and senior co-author of the study. "You just want to be able to go into a gas mixture and remove certain molecules without affecting the rest."
A Broad Impact on Catalysis Research

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Catalysts play a vital role in modern society, enabling the production of fuels, chemicals, and plastics. Understanding how molecules interact with catalysts at the atomic level opens the door to refining industrial processes.

"If we can understand how a catalyst works at a molecular atomic level, we can adapt it to any particular reaction," said Simon Bare, a Distinguished Scientist at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory at Stanford University and co-author of the study. "This can help us understand how catalysts, which produce fuels and chemicals essential to modern life, respond to their environment."
Research Team and Support

In addition to Bhan, Jacob, Neurock, and Bare, the research team included graduate students Rishi Raj and Huy Nguyen, Professor Andre Mkhoyan from the University of Minnesota, and Javier Garcia-Barriocanal from the University of Minnesota Characterization Facility. Additional contributions came from Jiyun Hong, Jorge E. Perez-Aguilar, and Adam S. Hoffman of the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory at Stanford University.

This work was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Basic Energy Sciences and was conducted in collaboration with the University of Minnesota Characterization Facility and the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute.