Thermal performance and surface analysis of steel-supported platinum nanoparticles designed for bio-oil catalytic upconversion during radio frequency-based inductive heating

• Published in: Energy conversion and management 2019-03, Vol.183, p.689-697
• Main Authors: Bursavich, Jacob, Abu-Laban, Mohammad, Muley, Pranjali D., Boldor, Dorin, Hayes, Daniel J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biodegradation; Biofuels; Biomass conversion; Catalysis; Catalysts; Catalytic upgrading; Coking; Electrical resistivity; Heating; Induction heating; Nanoparticles; Petrochemicals industry; Platinum; Pyrolysis; Radio frequency; Stainless steel; Stainless steels; Supported nanocatalyst; Surface analysis (chemical); Temperature gradients; Upconversion; Vapors; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0196-8904; 1879-2227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2019.01.025

[Display omitted] •Pt-steel catalyst is designed for RF induction-based biofuel upconversion.•High conductivity of steel balls resulted in rapid heating in induction reactor.•High heating rates with temperatures of steel balls reaching 300 °C in under 20 s.•Melting and degradation of the Pt nanoparticles with repeatedly heating at 525 °C. A catalyst is designed for use in radio frequency (RF) induction-based biofuel upconversion. Stainless steel spheres are functionalized with Pt-nanoparticles through the use of a silane linker. These spheres are characterized via XRD, FTIR, SEM/EDX and XPS followed by generation of heating profiles in an RF induction heater. The high electric conductivity of the steel balls results in rapid heating which creates a positive temperature gradient across the surface with temperatures of the steel balls reaching 300 °C in under 20 s. Using a minimum of 3% power (150 W), temperatures over 525 °C are achieved within 150 s in a single steel ball experiment. A steel bed experiment is performed to simulate an induction-based catalytic upconversion of biomass pyrolysis vapors which indicates that temperatures over 195 °C are achieved in as little as 300 s using 5% power (250 W). Melting and degradation of the Pt nanoparticles is evident with repeated heating at temperatures of 525 °C and above, fortunately, typical catalysts designed for upconversion of pyrolysis oils are operating well below these temperatures. This form of heating has a potential to mitigate the effects of coke deposition on catalyst surface, which is a pressing issue during up-conversion of pyrolysis oil and various petrochemical processes.