| Author: | Zhai, Yanjie |
| Title: | Catalysts design and reactor engineering for efficient electrochemical biomass hydrogenation |
| Advisors: | Zhang, Xiao (ME) |
| Degree: | Ph.D. |
| Year: | 2025 |
| Subject: | Electrocatalysis Biomass conversion Hydrogenation Chemical reactors Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations |
| Department: | Department of Mechanical Engineering |
| Pages: | xx, 154 pages : color illustrations |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | The continuous production of chemicals from biomass is becoming increasingly important in modern society, with applications spanning sustainable materials, pharmaceuticals, food, and more. Currently, the saturation or reduction of organic compounds primarily relies on catalytic hydrogenation processes powered by fossil fuels. However, these methods present significant environmental challenges, including high energy consumption, elevated operational costs due to the need for high temperatures and pressures, safety risks, and substantial carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. The rapid increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentrations has heightened global concern over climate change. This context underscores the critical necessity for more sustainable and efficient alternatives in biomass conversion, particularly those leveraging renewable resources. Recent advances in renewable energy technologies, particularly in harvesting green electricity from solar and wind, have enabled the emergence of electrocatalytic hydrogenation as a promising alternative. This method utilizes electrical energy to drive hydrogenation under milder conditions, effectively addressing many of the limitations of traditional techniques. Thus, saturation or reduction of organic compounds turns from traditional hydrogenation to more sustainable and efficient alternatives electrocatalytic hydrogenation. The electrocatalytic hydrogenation offers several advantages, including environmental sustainability, operational simplicity, and enhanced safety, aligning well with the goals of sustainable industrial development. Despite its promise, electrocatalytic hydrogenation still faces challenges such as low production rates, inefficient purification, and limited overall efficiency, which currently hinder its widespread adoption. This dissertation explores recent advancements aimed at overcoming these limitations, with a focus on enhancing electrocatalytic hydrogenation strategies for the sustainable production of high-value chemicals. This thesis centres on the integration of catalyst design with cell engineering to advance biomass electrocatalytic hydrogenation. By designing and synthesizing a range of catalysts, including copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), and ruthenium-cobalt oxide (Ru–Co3O4), as well as the design of novel porous solid electrolyte (PSE) reactor, I have demonstrated the continuous production of high-efficiency and high-purity succinic acid. These breakthroughs provide potential solutions to key limitations in the field and contribute to the sustainable use of succinic acid as a valuable biomass feedstock in sustainable chemical manufacturing. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | open access |
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