Laboratory of Petrochemical Technology (LPT), Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH)

The aim of the work in Laboratory of Petrochemical Technology (LPT) is to improve and develop new thermochemical (catalytic) processes with low energy and environmental footprint through an integrated, mainly experimental approach. Of particular interest are the conversion of alkanes to alkenes and alternative fuels, the synthesis of high added value products from biomass-derived components and the conversion of natural gas to alternative fuels. Research efforts are also directed towards high temperature CO2 capture from the flue gases of energy–intensive processes. Our research involves a synergistic combination of efforts in the areas of solids synthesis (catalysts), characterization and evaluation. Several preparation techniques are applied, such as impregnation methods, co-precipitation, sol-gel, combustion synthesis etc. A wide range of physicochemical and spectroscopic methods are applied to determine the textural (N2 adsorption – BET), structural (XRD, FTIR, SEM, HR-TEM) and physicochemical (ICP, Temperature-programmed reduction/oxidation/desorption etc) properties of the catalysts during preparation and before/after reaction. The performance is evaluated in lab scale test units with fixed and fluidized bed reactors equipped with on-line analytical equipment. The units are also suitable for the kinetic investigation of reactions and the development of mechanistic kinetic models. Apart from kinetic modelling, the computational activities of LPT include also reactor design and process simulation of the studied processes.

Contribution to the project

The Laboratory of Petrochemical Technology of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki led by Professor Angeliki Lemonidou is the CO22MeOH project coordinator and is responsible for overall management. The research activities of the laboratory are focused on the development of technologies for CO2 capture from the flue gases of cement industry and more specifically on the use of high and intermediate temperature solid sorbents via Carbonate Looping technology. The carbonation reaction is strongly exothermic and can be carried out at low (<200°C), intermediate (200–400°C), or high temperatures (>400°C), depending on the type of solid material used. The main research objective is the development solid CO2 sorbents based on low cost natural minerals after appropriate modifications to stabilize their structure in repeated carbonation/calcination cycles. The materials will be tested in terms of sorption capacity and cyclic stability initially in a thermobalance and in a next step, the promising ones, in lab– and pilot–scale continuous flow units.

Selected publications of the LPT research team

T. Papalas, I. Polychronidis, A.N. Antzaras, A.A. Lemonidou, Enhancing the intermediate-temperature CO2 capture efficiency of mineral MgO via molten alkali nitrates and CaCO3: Characterization and sorption mechanism, Journal of CO2 Utilization, 50 (2021), 101605

Τ. Papalas, Α.Ν. Antzaras, Α.Α. Lemonidou, Evaluation of Calcium-Based Sorbents Derived from Natural Ores and Industrial Wastes for High Temperature CO2 Capture, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 59 (2020) 9926-9938

Τ. Papalas, Α.Ν. Antzaras, Α.Α. Lemonidou, Intensified steam methane reforming coupled with Ca-Ni looping in a dual fluidized bed reactor system: A conceptual design, Chemical Engineering Journal, 382 (2020) 122993

A.Ν. Antzara, A. Arregi, E. Heracleous, A.A. Lemonidou, In-depth evaluation of a ZrO2 promoted CaO-based CO2 sorbent in fluidized bed reactor tests, Chemical Engineering Journal, 333 (2018) 697–711

D. Ipsakis, E. Heracleous, L. Silvester, D.B. Bukur, A.A. Lemonidou, Reduction and Oxidation Kinetic Modeling of NiO-based Oxygen Transfer Materials Chemical Engineering Journal, 308 (2017) 840–852

A. Antzara, E. Heracleous, A.A. Lemonidou, Energy efficient sorption enhanced-chemical looping methane reforming process for high-purity H2 production: Experimental proof-of-concept, Applied Energy, 180 (2016) 457–471

Z. Skoufa, A. Antzara, E. Heracleous, A.A. Lemonidou, Evaluating the activity and stability of CaO–based sorbents for post–combustion CO2 capture in fixed–bed reactor experiments, Energy Procedia, 86 (2016) 171–180

A. Antzara, E. Heracleous, D.B. Bukur, A.A. Lemonidou, Thermodynamic analysis of hydrogen production via chemical looping steam methane reforming coupled with in situ CO2 capture, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 32 (2015) 115–128

A. Antzara, E. Heracleous, A.A. Lemonidou, Improving the stability of synthetic CaO–based CO2 sorbents by structural promoters, Applied Energy 156 (2015) 331–343

A. Antzara, E. Heracleous, A.A. Lemonidou, Development of CaO–based Mixed Oxides as Stable Sorbents for Post–Combustion CO2 Capture Via Carbonate Looping, Energy Procedia, 63 (2014) 2160–2169

S.D. Angeli, C.S. Martavaltzi, A.A. Lemonidou, Development of a novel-synthesized Ca-based CO2 sorbent for multicycle operation: Parametric study of sorption, Fuel, 127 (2014) 62–69

C.S. Martavaltzi, T. Pefkos, A.A. Lemonidou, Operational window of sorption enhanced steam reforming of methane over CaO-Ca12Al14O33, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 50(2) (2011) 539–545

C.S. Martavaltzi, A.A. Lemonidou, Hydrogen Production via Sorption Enhanced Reforming of Methane: Development of a novel hybrid material-reforming catalyst and CO2 sorbent, Chemical Engineering Science, 65(14) (2010) 4134–4140

C.S. Martavaltzi, E.P. Pampaka, E.S. Korkakaki, A.A. Lemonidou, Hydrogen production via steam reforming of methane with simultaneous CO­2 capture over CaO-Ca12Al14O33, Energy and Fuels, 24(4) (2010) 2589–2595

C.S. Martavaltzi, T. Pefkos, A.A. Lemonidou, Parametric study of the CaO–Ca12Al14O33 synthesis with respect to high CO2 sorption capacity and stability on multicycle operation, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 47(23) (2008) 9537–9543

C.S. Martavaltzi, A.A. Lemonidou, Development of new CaO based sorbent materials for CO2 removal at high temperature, Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 110 (2008) 119–127