Titanium Dioxide Cobalt Catalyst for Butanol Production

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing butanol, such as ABE fermentation and chemical technologies, face challenges including low yield, high costs, end product inhibition, and environmental concerns, while existing catalysts for butanol production from ethanol have issues with metal nanoparticle stability and high metal usage.

Innovation Solution

A titanium-based bimetallic heterogeneous catalyst is developed, comprising a titanium dioxide support doped with cobalt cations and transition metal nanoparticles, which enhances selectivity, activity, and stability, and is used to produce butanol with a vapor pressure of less than 1.53 kPa and a purity of at least 96%, through a process that avoids the use of urea as a precipitating agent.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If ABE fermentation is used to produce butanol, then butanol can be obtained as a biofuel product, but the atom economy is very poor and production yield is low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebutanol production yieldVSAvoidatom economy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the fundamental reaction pathway from biological fermentation to chemical catalysis, altering reaction parameters including temperature (200-400°C), pressure (1-100 atm), and catalyst composition to achieve superior atom economy (90%+) and productivity compared to fermentation processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the biological fermentation system with a chemical catalytic system, substituting biological mechanisms with heterogeneous catalysis using bimetallic catalysts (e.g., Pt-Sn, Pd-In) supported on metal oxides, thereby eliminating limitations of fermentation such as low yield and poor atom economy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If chemical technologies like oxo-synthesis are used to produce butanol, then production efficiency improves, but environmental friendliness deteriorates due to petrochemical starting materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidenvironmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the feedstock parameter from petrochemicals to renewable biomass-derived syngas, while maintaining high productivity through optimized catalytic reaction conditions (temperature, pressure, gas composition) to achieve both efficiency and environmental sustainability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the typically harmful CO emissions into valuable butanol fuel through catalytic synthesis, transforming a greenhouse gas into a useful energy carrier and achieving carbon utilization rather than waste

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Productivity

If metal nanoparticles are deposited on reducible oxide support, then catalytic activity is enhanced, but nanoparticle stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecatalytic activityVSAvoidnanoparticle stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a composite catalyst structure combining bimetallic nanoparticles (e.g., Pt-Sn, Pd-In) with metal oxide supports, where the synergistic interaction between the two metals enhances catalytic activity while the oxide support provides stability, resolving the contradiction between activity and stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The metal oxide support acts as an intermediary between the bimetallic nanoparticles and the reaction environment, providing a stable platform that anchors the nanoparticles and prevents their aggregation or detachment, thereby maintaining both activity and stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The catalyst achieves efficient and cost-effective production of butanol with high purity and low vapor pressure, improving atom economy and stability, and can be used directly or blended with gasoline or diesel without vehicle retrofitting.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeterogeneous catalysis: Catalysis

Data Source

PatentUS20230390739A1Method for the production of butanol using a titanium-based bimetallic heterogeneous catalyst

Publication Date: 2023.12.07 TECHCYCLING LLC

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for the production of butanol using a titanium-based bimetallic heterogeneous catalyst comprising a support of titanium dioxide doped with cobalt cations and transition metal nanoparticles impregnated in the support. The method describes the production of butanol as a single product, it is environmentally responsible and cost-effective. The present invention also describes a manufacturing process of the titanium-based bimetallic heterogeneous catalyst with enhanced selectivity, activity, and stability, among other advantages.