Light-assisted carbon dioxide reduction in an automated photoreactor system coupled to carbonylation chemistry

Abstract

Continuous-flow methodologies offer promising avenues for sustainable processing due to their precise process control, scalability, and efficient heat and mass transfer. The small dimensions of continuous-flow reactors render them highly suitable for light-assisted reactions, as can be encountered in carbon dioxide hydrogenations. In this study, we present a novel reactor system emphasizing reproducibility, modularity, and automation, facilitating streamlined screening of conditions and catalysts for these processes. Through meticulous control over temperature, light intensity, pressure, residence time, and reagent stoichiometry, we conducted hydrogenation of carbon dioxide, yielding selective formation of carbon monoxide and methane using heterogeneous catalysts, including a newly developed ruthenium nanoparticle on titania catalyst. Furthermore, we demonstrated the direct utilization of on-demand generated carbon monoxide in the production of fine chemicals via various carbonylative cross-coupling reactions.

Microfluidic platform for screening the activity of immobilized photocatalysts for degradation of organic water pollutants

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Eyke et al reported an automated multiphase platform equipped with 10 parallel reactor channels out of which a channel was adapted to screen photochemical reactions by integrating an LED board 3 . Moreover, a robotic platform with a capillary reactor irradiated by 6 LED modules was reported by Slattery et al 4 Considerably fewer studies described screening platforms in which heterogeneous photocatalysts are involved as slurry 10 , imprinted polymer nanoparticles 17 and immobilized on glass beads 18 .…”