Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
University of Toronto
$324,000.00
Production of polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers (OME) from sustainable feedstocks
FY 2023-24
Summary
One of the Grand Challenges faced by Canadian energy and petrochemical industry is the need of large scale, commercially deployable technology for synthesizing renewable liquid energy carriers. Through this project, researchers from a broad discipline across the Universities, North-American National Laboratories, and Suncor join forces in developing catalytic technology for the production of oxymethylene ethers (OME) with three to eight monomer units from sustainable sources as direct blend-able and market-ready next generation fuel carriers. Adapting a multidisciplinary approach that integrates the discovery of new materials, characterizations, chemical kinetic tuning, reaction engineering, and process technology, the project will generate new knowledge on catalytic rate manipulation, finding ways to create C-O bond linkages which transform biomass derived syngas into long chain ethers, suitable for direct blending with diesel fuel. This pursuit requires targeting both the material chemistry and reaction engineering questions, that seek to direct the transfer of electrons, by creating highly specialized catalytically active sites and controlling their proximity. Together with microchemical reaction engineering technology, which intensifies the heat and mass transport, the goal is to demonstrate a continuous process for the production of oxymethylene ethers. Incorporating in this multidisciplinary research program is a comprehensive leadership and professional training module that places a strong emphasis in developing the technical and leadership competency of highly qualified personnel (HQP), with broad spectrum of skill-sets and experience at multi-institutions, through the direct interaction with industry and opportunity to physically work at world class research institutions through direct interaction with our collaborators. The personnel with these technical and professional competencies are very much sought after in the emerging Canadian green energy and chemical industries.
Program
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
543577-2019
Name nom
Chin, Ya-Huei Cathy YHC
Department département
Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry
Organization id
31
Institution établissement
University of Toronto
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2023
Competition year année de concours
2019
Award amount
324000
Program id
CRDPJ
Program name en
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement coopérative
Group en
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Group fr
PARTENARIATS DE RECHERCHE
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
300
Area of application group en
Energy resources
Area of application group fr
Ressources d'énergie
Area of application en
Energy resources (including production, exploration, processing, distribution and use)
Area of application fr
Ressources d'énergie (production, exploration, traitement, distribution et utilisation de l'énergie)
Research subject code
2300
Research subject group en
Fuel and energy technology
Research subject group fr
Fuel and energy technology (economic geology, use 4003)
Research subject en
Combustibles et technologie de l'énergie
Research subject fr
Combustibles et technologie de l'énergie (géologie économique, utiliser 4003)
Application title
Production of polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers (OME) from sustainable feedstocks
Keyword
Acid Catalyst; Bifunctional Materials; Diesel alternatives; Heterogeneous Catalysis; Hierarchical Catalyst; Kinetics; Oxymethylene Ether; Reaction Engineering; Spectroscopy; Sustainable Fuel
Application summary
One of the Grand Challenges faced by Canadian energy and petrochemical industry is the need of large scale, commercially deployable technology for synthesizing renewable liquid energy carriers. Through this project, researchers from a broad discipline across the Universities, North-American National Laboratories, and Suncor join forces in developing catalytic technology for the production of oxymethylene ethers (OME) with three to eight monomer units from sustainable sources as direct blend-able and market-ready next generation fuel carriers. Adapting a multidisciplinary approach that integrates the discovery of new materials, characterizations, chemical kinetic tuning, reaction engineering, and process technology, the project will generate new knowledge on catalytic rate manipulation, finding ways to create C-O bond linkages which transform biomass derived syngas into long chain ethers, suitable for direct blending with diesel fuel. This pursuit requires targeting both the material chemistry and reaction engineering questions, that seek to direct the transfer of electrons, by creating highly specialized catalytically active sites and controlling their proximity. Together with microchemical reaction engineering technology, which intensifies the heat and mass transport, the goal is to demonstrate a continuous process for the production of oxymethylene ethers. Incorporating in this multidisciplinary research program is a comprehensive leadership and professional training module that places a strong emphasis in developing the technical and leadership competency of highly qualified personnel (HQP), with broad spectrum of skill-sets and experience at multi-institutions, through the direct interaction with industry and opportunity to physically work at world class research institutions through direct interaction with our collaborators. The personnel with these technical and professional competencies are very much sought after in the emerging Canadian green energy and chemical industries.
