Prem Kumar Seelam

Hycamite TCD Technologies Oy · R&D

Sustainable Hydrogen and Carbon nanomaterials

Hydrogen has been recognized as a clean energy source to meet the climate change targets in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Indeed, hydrogen application in the industrial, residential, and transportation sectors can help to achieve net-zero emissions by mid-century because when it burned results in zero carbon emissions. Currently, hydro...

Understanding the relationship between the structure and the activity of the catalyst relies on the shape–controlled synthesis of nanostructures is crucial importance. The vapor phase oxidation of benzyl alcohol (BnOH) process over morphologically designed shape–selective manganese oxide nanorods (MnO2NR) and nanospheres (MnO2NS) catalysts are stud...

Zeolite-supported tungsten oxide catalysts were studied in the gas phase esterification of lactic acid with alcohols in different reaction conditions. Two different types of commercial zeolites pore topology and acidity strength were investigated. The Y & mordenite zeolite-supported catalysts were prepared by wet impregnation method by varying the...

Vapor phase benzyl alcohol (BnOH) oxidation reaction is investigated over a pre–synthesised morphologically designed shape controlled spherical silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) decorated on manganese oxide nanorods (α–MnO2NRs) in the presence of air. The combination of silver nanoparticles and the α–MnO2NRs interface enabled the increased oxygen vacanc...

Nickel modified strontium hydroxyapatite (Ni/Sr-HAP) supported catalysts are studied in selective methanation of CO/CO2. In this work, a new type of nano rod-shaped strontium hydroxyapatite-based catalysts with two different sizes and aspect ratios were prepared by sol–gel method and in next step, Ni precursor was wet impregnated i.e., denoted as N...

Transformation of levulinic acid (LA) to γ-valerolactone (GVL) via hydrogenation is a greener approach in synthesising the eco-friendly GVL fuel additive. In this work, highly active and stable pre-synthesized copper nanoparticles (CuNP S) are embedded and distributed into the ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) support material by the chelate-assisted...

In this work, we designed versatile heterogeneous nanocatalysts based on palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) decorated on metal oxides supports (i.e., PdNPs/γ-Al2O3, PdNPs/WO3 and PdNPs/Nb2O5) by step-wise controlled synthesis of novel monodispersed ∼2 nm PdNPs at room temperature and then impregnated over metal oxides. PdNPs supported catalysts were c...

The nanoparticles surface area, intrinsic sites, exposed microcrystal shapes and lattice planes are some of the key factors in nanocatalysis. The influence of nanoparticles shape dependent had been profound effect on its catalytic activity. This study is focused on the synthesis of morphologically shape-controlled silver (Ag) nanoparticles supporte...

Glycerol is an important by-product (biowaste) from biodiesel production. Transformation of glycerol into value-added compounds is critical in improving the overall efficiency of the biodiesel production. In this work, a sustainable and cleaner production of 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) by vapor phase hydrogenolysis of glycerol was performed over tita...

In this work, biomass-based platform molecule lactic acid conversion to acrylic acid has been studied. A series of lanthanum phosphate (LaP) catalysts prepared by varying the lanthanum to phosphorus (La/P) mole ratio (i.e., 0.2, 0.35, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0) and also prepared at different calcination temperatures (i.e., 400, 500, 600, and 800 °C) were i...

P.K. Seelam, P. Balla, P. Vijayanand, U. Lassi. Novel designed nickel supported over nano rod-shaped strontium modified hydroxyapatite catalysts for selective methanation of CO and CO2. Nordic symposium of catalysis, Espoo, Finland Poster-1, 6-8 Jun 2022. Link: https://19nsc.fi/programme.html

P.K. Seelam, P. Balla, S. Ginjupalli, R. Pethan, V. Perupogu, U. Lassi. Copper nanoparticles encapsulated in a porous carbon as an efficient catalyst for the upgradation of γ-valerolactone to 1,4-pentanediol by selective hydrogenation. Nordic symposium of catalysis, Espoo Finland, Oral A-22, 6-8 Jun 2022. Link: https://19nsc.fi/programme.html

In this study, we designed a heterogeneous graphene oxide (GO) grafted on chitosan decorated with MnO2 nanorods (α-MnO2NRs/GO-Chit) composite materials and its ability to remove the cationic and anionic toxic dyes from wastewaters were analysed. The synthesised materials presented an effective stabilization of active MnO2 nanorods (NRs) on the GO-C...

Rice - derived high surface area ZnO support (HSA-ZnO) is prepared by a novel thermal decomposition technique using rice grains as a sacrificial exo-template and zinc acetate trihydrate as an ZnO precursor. Further, copper supported HSA-ZnO catalysts with different copper loadings (4, 8, 12 and 16 wt.%) were prepared by using wet impregnation metho...

Catalytic hydrogenation of levulinic acid (LA) to γ-valerolactone (GVL) was investigated over four different types of mesoporous silica (SBA-15, MCM-48, MCM-41, and KIT-6) supported copper (5 wt.%) catalysts. The Cu was incorporated into mesoporous silica supports by a sequential impregnation method. A detailed investigation of the support structur...

Sustainable catalysis is the key for the future progress toward biorefinery and bioeconomy. In this work, we designed and developed an inexpensive and eco-friendly [email protected] catalyst for selective hydrogenation of biomass-based platform molecules. A facile synthesized Ni nanoparticles encapsulated in a stabilized carbon support derived from...

Catalytic hydrogenation of levulinic acid (LA) to γ-valerolactone (GVL) was investigated over four different types of mesoporous silica (SBA-15, MCM-48, MCM-41, and KIT-6) supported copper (5 wt.%) catalysts. The Cu was incorporated into mesoporous silica supports by a sequential impregnation method. A detailed investigation of the support structur...

Geopolymers have not been extensively employed as catalytic materials despite of their zeolite-resembling Si–Al structure. Geopolymerization offers a novel way for preparation of catalysts and possibility to use waste or industrial side-stream derived raw material as a resource for catalyst manufacturing. This work concentrates on metakaolin-based...

Designing and developing non-noble metal-based heterogeneous catalysts have a substantial importance in biomass conversion. Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley (MPV) reaction is a significant pathway for eco-friendly catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) of biomass derived furfural into furfuryl alcohol. In this work, a series of copper-supported hydroxyapat...

Developing future energy systems will be based on low-carbon and emission-free sustainable energy sources. Hydrogen (H2) and fuel cells (FCs) simultaneously play a significant role in solving problems related to climate change and energy usage. Hydrogen is a clean energy vector and among the main solutions for the decarbonization strategy. The hydr...

Dry reforming (DR) processes consist of a reaction between an adequate feedstock and carbon dioxide to produce syngas. In the case of a renewable feedstock (biogas, bioalcohols, wood tar,…), the DR processes become very interesting since they consume greenhouse gases (CO 2 , CH 4 ,…) and produce hydrogen and syngas mixtures that can be considered a...

In this work, Cu nanoparticles (Cu NPs, 2‐20 nm) supported on Hydrotalcite catalysts exhibit enhanced selectivity for γ‐valerolactone (GVL) during hydrogenolysis of levulinic acid (LA). At 260 °C, over 3 wt% Cu achieved 87.5% of LA conversion with a maximum GVL selectivity (95%). In contrast, LA hydrogenolysis over 3Cu/Hydrotalcite catalyst is high...

Highly dispersed copper oxide species supported on a Y-zeolite with different Si/Al ratios (5.1, 12, 30, and 60) were synthesized by an incipient wet impregnation method. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption (BET), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron s...

Various MxOy-Al2O3 oxides (M =Zr, Mg, Ni, Ce, La), prepared by a sol-gel method, were used as supports for rhodium catalysts in methane and ethanol dry reforming. After calcination, the Rh/MxOy-Al2O3 catalysts present BET surface areas between 85 and 208 m(2) g(-1). For the CH4 dry reforming, the highest yields in hydrogen are obtained in the follo...

The treatment of volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions is a necessity of today. The catalytic treatment has already proven to be environmentally and economically sound technology for the total oxidation of the VOCs. However, in certain cases, it may also become economical to utilize these emissions in some profitable way. Currently, the most c...

Steam reforming of biofuels such as bioethanol offers a clean and sustainable route to improve hydrogen production capacity for the hydrogen economy. In this work, the influence of the carbon support type (carbon nanotube (CNT), activated carbon (AC) and graphitic carbon black (GCB)) and the addition of Pt (1, 1.5 and 2 wt. %) and ZnO (10 wt.%) to...

Three different metals (Pt, Pd and Ni) on multi-walled carbon nanotube and graphite supports were tested as catalysts in ethanol reforming experiments at low temperatures. The carbon nanotube based catalysts outperformed their counterparts supported on graphite in both ethanol conversion and hydrogen evolution. The palladium catalyst in both suppor...

Various MxOy-Al2O3 oxides (M = Zr, Mg, Ni, Ce, La), prepared by a sol-gel method, were used as supports for rhodium catalysts in methane and ethanol dry reforming. After calcination, the Rh/MxOy-Al2O3 catalysts present BET surface areas between 85 and 208 m2 g−1. For the CH4 dry reforming, the highest yields in hydrogen are obtained in the followin...

The energy demand worldwide is increasing constantly. The tightening legislation concerning greenhouse emissions emitted and the depletion of fossil fuels are forcing the energy producers to research novel solutions to fulfil these demands. Hydrogen is one solution as an energy carrier, since it is a carbon free fuel. There are many ways to produce...

Process intensification (PI) is the future direction for the chemical and process industries and in this chapter, two key technologies to achieve this are discussed: microreactors and so-called membrane microreactors (MMRs). There is great potential to enhance the overall efficiency of microreactors by integrating them with membrane technologies to...

Membrane reactors with a catalyst bed are designed to be used in various reactions, such as hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, oxidation and reforming reactions. The catalyst can be introduced into the reactor as a bed in several ways in the form, for example, of pellets, extrudates or tablets; or it can be incorporated in the reactor as a catalytic m...

The Carbon Dioxide Capture & Conversion (CO2CC)

The aim of this work is to explore the potentiality of a porous stainless steel (PSS) supported Pd-based membrane reactor (MR) for hydrogen production via bio-ethanol steam reforming reaction (BESR). Bio-ethanol may be produced from fermentation of cheese by-product waste, which contains major impurities like acetic acid and glycerol. In this work,...

In this work, the performances of WGS reaction carried out in a porous stainless steel (PSS) supported Pd-based membrane reactor (MR) have been experimentally investigated in terms of conversion, hydrogen recovery and hydrogen purity of permeate stream. A 20 μm thick Pd-based membrane prepared by electroless plating and a high temperature Fe–Cr bas...

Glycerol as a byproduct of biodiesel production represents a renewable energy source. In particular, glycerol can be used in the field of hydrogen production via gas phase reforming for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) applications. In this work, glycerol steam reforming (GSR) reaction was investigated using a dense palladium–silver membr...

Hydrogen production by steam reforming of ethanol (SRE) was studied using steam-to-ethanol ratio of 3:1, between the temperature range of 150–450 °C over metal and metal oxide nanoparticle catalysts (Ni, Co, Pt and Rh) supported on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and compared to a commercial catalyst (Ni/Al2O3). The aim was to find out the suitability of C...

This study focuses on the influence of oxygen addition on ethanol steam reforming (ESR) reaction performed in a dense Pd–Ag membrane reactor (MR) for producing hydrogen directly available for feeding a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). In particular, oxygen addition can prevent ethylene and ethane formation caused by dehydration of et...

Lactose oxidation to lactobionic acid was investigated over palladium forms of Beta and MCM-22 zeolites. Different support acidity and the method of palladium introduction were applied. It was observed that the catalyst preparation methods, as well as acidity, influence the activity and selectivity. Pd-H-MCM-22 zeolites were more active, than palla...

Isomerization of n-butane to isobutane was investigated over H- and Pt- modified MCM-22, ZSM-5 and Beta zeolite catalysts. The acidic properties of catalysts, Pt- modification and modes of catalyst pre-treatment were observed to influence the conversion of n-butane, yield and selectivity to isobutane. The H-MCM-22 catalyst having larger amount Brön...