Center for Catalysis and Surface Science (CCSS) Seminar Series
Friday, October 30 | 12-1pm CT
Ryan Hall, 4003 | 2190 Campus Drive (Virtual Option via Zoom)
Join the Center for Catalysis and Surface Science (CCSS) for the Seminar Series. This month's speaker is Dr. Ramses Snoeckx.
About the Presentation
Speaker: Dr. Ramses Snoeckx.
Title: Electrons, kinetics, and entropy: unlocking the full potential of electrified gas conversion using plasma
Abstract: The use of biogenic and waste feedstocks is a promising strategy to improve the chemical sector’s supply chain resiliency and carbon intensity. To prioritize research efforts that transform these feedstocks into industrial chemicals, here we present a systematic analysis framework to consistently evaluate the economics and environmental impacts of >200 alternative production pathways for 51 organic commodity chemicals in the United States under an optimistic future scenario that reflects the potential upper-bound of process scalability and energy availability. Lower-impact and lower-cost alternative pathways were identified for all but three chemicals, with 75% using thermochemical routes and half leveraging existing manufacturing infrastructure. Implementing alternative pathways for just 11 chemicals could enable net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from chemical production by 2050, with 11% lower cost than business-as-usual, similar water requirements, quadrupled electricity demand, and use of most available woody biomass. Furthermore, we discuss ongoing efforts to expand on this analysis by incorporating additional supply chain parameters related to chemical “criticality.” Overall, these findings provide a quantitative roadmap toward a more sustainable chemical industry that harnesses alternative feedstocks.
Bio:
Dr. Ramses Snoeckx is an interdisciplinary researcher developing sustainable solutions for the electrification and decarbonization of industrial processes at the interface of chemistry, physics, and engineering. He has been leading projects in the field of energy and environmental science at institutions such as KAUST and the ETH Domain, and has held visiting positions at University College London and Seoul National University. Currently, he serves as a Scientist and Project Leader at Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology.
Dr. Snoeckx is a pioneer in the non-equilibrium chemical kinetics and thermodynamics of electrically sustained reactive flows. By combining experiments and modeling, his research advances the underlying reactions of plasma processes for green applications. He received his PhD in Chemistry (2017) summa cum laude with the congratulations of the examination committee from the University of Antwerp and has written the reference work on plasma technology for CO2 conversion.
In recognition of his early-career achievements in upcycling greenhouse gases, Dr. Snoeckx has been honored with the Young Investigator Award from the International Plasma Chemistry Society, the PSE Early Career Award from the European Committee on Plasma and Ion Surface Engineering, and he was selected as EES Catalysis Emerging Investigator.
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The mission of the Center for Catalysis and Surface Science (CCSS) is to promote interdisciplinary research fundamental to the discovery, synthesis, and understanding of catalysts and catalytic reactions essential to modern society. As a part of the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy, CCSS applies fundamental advances in catalysis science towards applications in alternative fuels, abatement of harmful emissions, resource recovery concepts, new processing routes, and many other strategies towards making chemicals more sustainable.
Tommy Baker
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