A One-Step, Gas-to-Liquid Chemical Converter

A One-Step, Gas-to-Liquid Chemical Converter


Program:
OPEN 2012
Award:
$1,557,753
Location:
Salt Lake City, Utah
Status:
ALUMNI
Project Term:
02/01/2013 - 02/15/2015

Technology Description:

Ceramatec is developing a small-scale reactor to convert natural gas into benzene—a feedstock for industrial chemicals or liquid fuels. Natural gas as a byproduct is highly abundant, readily available, and inexpensive. Ceramatec’s reactor will use a one-step chemical conversion process to convert natural gas into benzene. This one-step process is highly efficient and prevents the build-up of solid residue that can occur when gas is processed. The benzene that is produced can be used as a starting material for nylons, polycarbonates, polystyrene, epoxy resins, and as a component of gasoline.

Potential Impact:

If successful, Ceramatec’s one-step gas-to-benzene conversion process would reduce unnecessary waste and limit the environmental impact of flaring.

Security:

Increasing the utility of geographically isolated natural gas reserves would decrease U.S. dependence on foreign oil—the transportation sector is the dominant source of this dependence.

Environment:

Reactors that capture and convert natural gas into fuel or other useful chemicals would result in a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the refinery industry.

Economy:

The use of benzene-based industrial products and fuel mixtures could eventually result in lower costs for consumers, alleviating some of the pain at the pump and at the store counter.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. John Lemmon
Project Contact:
Dr. Pallavi Chitta
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
chittadolly@gmail.com

Partners

University of California, Berkeley
University of Utah

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Release Date:
03/02/2012