Researchers from Kyushu University in Japan have developed a zeolite catalyst that can be heated using microwaves to convert waste oils into useful chemicals.
The team, led by Associate Professor Shuntaro Tsubaki from the Faculty of Agriculture, experimented with microwaves to heat zeolite catalysts to the required temperature.
The research shows that heating the zeolite material, known as Na-ZSM-5, could open doors to a more energy-efficient and sustainable chemical industry.
Synthesizing complex organic compounds, whether it be plastics, pharmaceuticals, or food additives begins with chemical precursors with simple structures.
Finding ways to efficiently and sustainably synthesize precursor chemicals is an extensively researched field. A commonly used method of synthesizing chemicals is via a process called reforming of naphtha. However, this process requires high amounts of energy and releases carbon dioxide.
Cooking oil waste and microalgal oils have been considered as alternative and inexpensive sources to synthesize simple chemicals.
These oils can be converted using a method called ‘catalytic cracking’ with the help of a material called zeolite, a porous natural material, commonly used as a catalyst or as an absorbent.
“Microwaves interact directly with materials and can selectively deliver energy to them, enabling significant energy savings compared to conventional heat-convective processes,” said Tsubaki.
“In particular, microwaves can accelerate gas–solid catalysis by passing straight through the gas phase and selectively heating the solid catalyst. They achieve this by forming spatial hot spots inside the catalyst bed.”
Microwave heating of catalysts could significantly improve catalytic biomass conversion and help in achieving the sustainability goals of the modern chemical industry.
“Our findings are expected to contribute to the further electrification of the chemical industry. Since microwaves can be generated from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, we can reduce the environmental impact of the synthesis of these fundamental chemicals,” said Tsubaki.
The researchers are planning on further enhancing microwave-driven catalytic processes, seeking to improve yield and energy efficiency while scaling up their capacity.
They hope their efforts could lead to a new era in sustainable chemical manufacturing.
For more information,visit: https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/
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