Atomistic understanding of biomass interaction with hydrotreating catalysts

There is an urgent need to develop catalysts optimized for renewable feedstocks.

The proposed project aims to enhance our fundamental understanding of the catalytic process of biomass on the atomic scale, to optimizethem for renewable feedstocks.

The project will provide new insights, on an atomistic level, into the interaction of biomass and the active site of the catalyst.

To do so, we need to study the catalyst in situ under realistic conditions (operando), to correlate the catalytic activity with the structure of the catalyst, which is possible by using X-ray spectroscopy.

By taking advantage of the unique properties of MAX IV, we will also study the chemical properties and functionality of the catalysts on an atomistic level with extremely high temporal resolution.

Within the fouryears of the project, the applicant and Ph.D. student will, therefore, use operando synchrotron X-ray spectroscopic techniques (XAFS and AP-XPS) to study simplified model systems to reach a detailed knowledge of the catalysts and their active phase during catalytic chemical processes of biomass.

The results will be correlated to industrial catalysts and enable us to tailor the catalysts on an atomistic level to be optimized for renewable feedstocks.

We foresee that the optimization of catalysts for bio-based feedstocks will have a significant impact on sustainable energy consumption by e.g., making biofuel production more efficient and environmentally friendly.