Microwave Catalyst for CO2 Reforming

The patent replaces the traditional thermal field (heating system) with an electromagnetic field (microwave radiation system) to activate the catalyst and drive the reforming reaction. This substitution allows the reaction to proceed at lower temperatures while maintaining high CO2 conversion rates, directly resolving the contradiction between productivity and energy consumption.

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the catalyst system by using microwave irradiation to selectively heat the catalyst particles, creating localized high-energy zones that enable CO2 conversion at lower bulk temperatures. This parameter change allows the system to achieve high productivity without the high energy consumption associated with conventional thermal heating.

By replacing thermal heating with microwave irradiation, the patent achieves more uniform and controlled catalyst activation. The electromagnetic field selectively interacts with the catalyst material, providing energy exactly where needed without the thermal gradients that cause carbon deposition and catalyst deactivation, thus maintaining both high productivity and catalyst reliability.

The patent employs periodic microwave irradiation cycles that activate the catalyst in controlled intervals. This periodic action prevents continuous high-temperature exposure that leads to carbon buildup, allowing the catalyst to maintain its activity and stability over extended operation periods while sustaining high CO2 conversion rates.

The patent merges the CO2 capture function and CO2 conversion function into a single integrated catalyst-absorbent system. The metal species on the catalyst surface simultaneously capture CO2 from the gas phase and activate it for reforming reactions. This merging eliminates the CaCO3 blockage problem because the captured CO2 is immediately converted to products rather than accumulating as blocking carbonate deposits, thereby maintaining both high uptake capacity and long cycle stability.

The catalyst-absorbent system performs multiple functions simultaneously: CO2 capture, CO2 activation, and catalytic conversion. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain high CO2 uptake capacity over many cycles by continuously converting captured CO2 into useful products, preventing the capacity degradation that occurs in single-function calcium-based absorbent systems.

The patent combines CO2 capture and conversion in one system, eliminating the need for separate calcium-based absorbent preparation and regeneration steps that generate pollutant emissions. The integrated catalyst-absorbent system directly converts captured CO2 into useful chemical products, avoiding the formation and emission of harmful byproducts associated with traditional calcium-looping processes.

The patent converts the previously harmful CO2 byproduct into a valuable resource by using it as a reactant in the reforming process. The CO2 that would normally be emitted as pollution is instead transformed into useful chemicals and fuels, turning an environmental liability into an economic and environmental asset while eliminating pollutant emissions.