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Our main focuses lie on the catalytic advancement involved with the production of valuable chemicals from gases. Greenhouse gases such as methane and CO2, off- gases, and byproduct gases from steelmakers and chemical industry are regarded as important and abundant reactants. Methane, one of the main components and also a greenhouse gas, can be directly or indirectly converted into final chemicals such as olefins, aromatics, alcohols, synthetic fuels, electricity and so on. We conduct a methane activation  to produce light hydrocarbon chemicals such as acetylene, ethylene, and ethane by using a dielectric barrier discharge plasma bed. This plasma bed is characterized by low temperature and ambient pressure. Our main objective is to develop new kinds of catalysts especially designed for the non-thermal plasma conversion method. Through this, GHGs (greenhouse gases) could be converted into  the high value added products. 

Among them, olefins can be manufactured in a new ethylene production process combined with an ethane cracking center and the non-thermal plasma reactor. The TEA result showed that the production cost of ethylene was found comparable to those of NCC, methane pyrolysis, ECC and others. Besides, the cost is expected to be significantly lowered with renewable energy and the emission will be reduced a lot, too.   

If noble metal-incorporated 3DOM catalyst is used, CH4 and CO2 were simultaneously converted into green methanol and acetic acid for green transfortation fuel,  and monomer synthesis with low emission. Currently, we are trying to develop a uniqe and selective catalyst to achieve meaningful conversion and yield for green methanol, which can be synthesized from CCS-treated CO2 and wasted CH4 with the new type of catalyst and the non-thermal plasma technique based on renewable energy. 

In addition, we are also carrying out an indirect conversion of methane, which is characterized by generation of synthesis gas and additional successive synthesis step(s). One of the most important technologies is a gas-to-liquids, GTL. The first synthesis step of GTL process is called reforming, by which synthesis gas, whose components are mostly hydrogen and carbon monoxide, is generated. Partial oxidation, steam reforming, dry reforming are 3 representative reforming technologies. Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is the second step, where monomeric units (-CH2-) are formed and they polymerize to form mostly long chain hydrocarbons, and there are some olefins and alcohols as well. In this step, highly porous material-supported  cobalt- or iron-based catalysts are widely used. For better dispersion and reduction properties, we are still developing new nanostructured and ordered mesoporous catalysts. 

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3DOM catalyst for green methanol synthesis

We are always recruiting student candidates  for integrated (master & doctoral), master, and doctoral courses. In addition, we need a qualified researcher in postdoctoral position. 

(1) 석박통합과정, 석사과정, 박사과정 학생 상시 선발중이니 지도교수나 랩멤버를 통해 지원정보를 얻기 바랍니다.

(2) 훌륭한 포닥 연구원을 모집합니다.