Thermodynamic Analysis of CO2 Hydrogenation to Ethanol: Solvent Effects. Issue 6 (7th February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fu, Weijie; Tang, Zhenchen; Liu, Shuilian; He, Yiming; Sun, Ruiyan; Mebrahtu, Chalachew; Zeng, Feng
• Is Part Of: ChemistrySelect. Volume 8:Issue 6(2023)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2023-02-07
• Subjects: CO2 hydrogenation -- ethanol synthesis -- thermodynamics -- solvent; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1002/slct.202203385
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2365-6549

Abstract

Abstract: CO2 hydrogenation to ethanol presents an important way to reduce CO2 emissions and mitigate global warming. Since the solvent plays a key role in this reaction (i. e. in a batch reactor), the thermodynamics is investigated herein using an RGibbs model in Aspen Plus to illustrate the effects of solvents with various dielectric constant and vapor pressure. Accordingly, it is found that the solvents possessing a high dielectric constant together with low vapor pressure favor ethanol synthesis thermodynamically. Furthermore, mixing a solvent having a high‐dielectric‐constant and high vapor pressure with another solvent having a low‐dielectric‐constant and low vapor pressure promotes ethanol synthesis thermodynamically. Abstract : A solvent can be used to optimize the thermodynamics of ethanol synthesis by CO2 hydrogenation, increasing the CO2 conversion and the selectivity to ethanol.