Fuel synthesis (CKS & VKS)
Although electrification of the drive train in the passenger car mass market by means of batteries and electric motors is likely to progress rapidly in the coming years (due to advantageous political framework conditions), there will still be a high demand for green and sustainable fuels in sectors that involve the long-distance transport of large volumes (hard-to-decarbonize sectors). This applies to large cargo ships or long-haul aircraft, for example. Green and sustainable fuels can be synthesized on the basis of carbon dioxide – separated from the air, biogenic sources, or industrial waste gases – and green hydrogen. Examples of such fuels include methanol, ethanol, and dimethyl ether. Green hydrogen is produced through water electrolysis, which uses electricity from photovoltaic or wind systems. At IET-4, the scientific departments “Chemistry of Fuel Synthesis” and “Process Engineering Fuel Synthesis” focus on the synthesis of green, sustainable fuels. IET-4 thus contributes to reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the transport sector and to structural change in the Rhineland region.
Technologies for Catalyst Synthesis
The ‘Technologies for Catalyst Synthesis’ research group in the ‘Chemistry of Fuel Synthesis’ department is testing various routes for the synthesis of catalysts in the form of powders and pellets, which are used to produce sustainable chemicals. The development of a science based venture serves to transfer materials synthesis into practice.
Catalyst Characterisation
The research group ‘Catalyst Characterisation’ of the ‘Chemistry of Fuel Synthesis’ department applies a range of different instrumental methods (chemisorption, X-ray diffraction, photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, etc.) to investigate the chemical and physical properties of catalysts to produce sustainable chemicals. The findings improve our understanding of the activity and stability of the catalysts.
Catalyst Testing & Reaction Kinetics
The research group ‘Catalyst Testing & Reaction Kinetics’ of the ‘Chemistry of Fuel Synthesis’ department tests different catalyst materials in terms of their activity and stability to produce sustainable chemicals. Kinetic and mechanistic studies improve our understanding of the reaction processes and support the design of reactors for these reactions.
Process Development
The “Process Development” research group of the Process Engineering Fuel Synthesis department analyses a wide variety of processes for the production of sustainable products from green H₂ and CO₂ from a technical and economic perspective.
Reactors and Systems
The “Reactors and Systems” research group of the Process Engineering Fuel Synthesis department focuses on the development and experimental validation of individual components and systems for producing synthetic fuels.
Heads of departments
Dr. Joachim Pasel (Chemistry of Fuel Synthesis)
