Local Induction Heating Capabilities of Zeolites Charged with Metal and Oxide MNPs for Application in HDPE Hydrocracking: A Proof of Concept

Abstract

Zeolites are widely used in high-temperature oil refining processes such as fluid catalytic cracking (FCC), hydrocracking, and aromatization. Significant energy cost are associated with these processes due to the high temperatures required. The induction heating promoted by magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) under radio frequency fields could contribute to solving this problem by providing a supplementary amount of heat in a nano-localized way, just at the active centre site where the catalytic process takes place. In this study, the potential of such a complementary route to reducing energetic requirements is evaluated. The catalytic cracking reaction under a hydrogen atmosphere (hydrocracking) applied to the conversion of plastics was taken as an application example. Thus, a commercial zeolite catalyst (H-USY) was impregnated with three different magnetic nanoparticles: nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), maghemite (γ-Fe2O3), and their combinations and subjected to electromagnetic fields. Temperature increases of approximately 80 °C were measured for H-USY zeolite impregnated with γ-Fe2O3 and Ni-γ-Fe2O3 due to the heat released under the radio frequency fields. The potential of the resulting MNPs derived catalyst for HDPE (high-density polyethylene) conversion was also evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) under hydrogen atmosphere. This study is a proof of concept to show that induction heating could be used in combination with traditional resistive heating as an additional energy supplier, thereby providing an interesting alternative in line with a greener technology.

Time-dependent AC magnetometry and chain formation in magnetite: the influence of particle size, initial temperature and the shortening of the relaxation time by the applied field

“…This is relevant for applications with immobilized MNPs as tumour treatment by hyperthermia, catalytic reactions in solid matrix by inductive heating, etc. 30,31 , since at high fields the Brownian relaxation can jump to Neel relaxation, at least for certain particle size range.…”

Joule-Heated Catalytic Reactors toward Decarbonization and Process Intensification: A Review

“…As already discussed, electrification is a promising approach to providing energy to catalytic systems. Electrified cracking reactions offer considerable advantages over the traditional thermal heating solutions, such as more compact equipment and pollution-free operation due the removal of fuel combustion. , Moreover, as a result of rapid and selective heating, the direct electrification offers the possibility to enhance heat transfer, therefore to minimize the coke formation on the catalyst surface, one of the limiting factors in such processes. , It should be mentioned that such an electrification concept is not only advantageous for cracking of crude oil, but also applicable to other cracking reactions such as, biomass upgrading where energy is required to sustain the reaction. − …”