Catalytic and Electrocatalytic Systems and Processes

Research Catalytic and Electrocatalytic Systems and Processes

The aim of the research group “Catalytic and Electrocatalytic Systems and Processes” (Prof. Franken) is to develop and explore novel catalyst and process systems to improve the sustainability of the chemical industry. A special focus is on the sustainable production of basic chemicals with CO₂ as feedstock (Powert-to-X), the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through exhaust gas treatment or ways to directly process CH₄ into liquid energy carrier or reusable basic chemicals. For this purpose, both the catalyst and the process are mutually adapted to achieve the most efficient result. Typically, this is done in a cyclic process on three levels: 1) The catalyst synthesis and optimization of the properties by adjusting the composition, properties and surface. 2) Process optimization through process engineering analysis of the operating parameters and kinetic considerations. 3) Gaining understanding by in-situ and operando characterization of the catalysts during different operating parameters. The findings at all levels are used iteratively to advance understanding-based catalyst and process optimization.

Team

Want to join the team? For motivated students we have always topics for Master/Bacherlor or Mini Projects available. Contact Prof. Franken directly.

Ongoing projects

Publications

2021 - Present

2023

Haagen V., Iser J., Schörner M., Weber D., Franken T., Wasserscheid P., Schühle P.:
Synthesis of methanol by hydrogenolysis of biobased methyl formate using highly stable and active Cu-spinel catalysts in slurry and gas phase reactions
In: Green Chemistry (2023)
ISSN: 1463-9262
DOI: 10.1039/D2GC04420J

2022

Haagen V., Schörner M., Albert J., Franken T., Schühle P.:
Highly Selective Synthesis of Methanol from Glucose in a Two‐Step Process
In: Chemie Ingenieur Technik 94 (2022), p. 1322-1322
ISSN: 0009-286X
DOI: 10.1002/cite.202255070
Heinlein M., Franken T.:
Synthesis and Red/Ox Reversibility of a Novel Copper‐Iron‐Aluminum Spinel Precursor for Low‐Temperature Water‐Gas‐Shift Reaction
In: Chemie Ingenieur Technik 94 (2022), p. 1374-1374
ISSN: 0009-286X
DOI: 10.1002/cite.202255150
Wang M., Dimopoulos Eggenschwiler P., Franken T., Agote-Arán M., Ferri D., Kröcher O.:
Investigation on the Role of Pd, Pt, Rh in Methane Abatement for Heavy Duty Applications
In: Catalysts 12 (2022), Article No.: 373
ISSN: 2073-4344
DOI: 10.3390/catal12040373
Weber D., Wadlinger KM., Heinlein M., Franken T.:
Modifying Spinel Precursors for Highly Active and Stable Ni‐based CO2 Methanation Catalysts
In: ChemCatChem (2022)
ISSN: 1867-3880
DOI: 10.1002/cctc.202200563

2021

Franken T., Roger M., Petrov AW., Clark AH., Agote-Arán M., Krumeich F., Kröcher O., Ferri D.:
Effect of Short Reducing Pulses on the Dynamic Structure, Activity, and Stability of Pd/Al2O3 for Wet Lean Methane Oxidation
In: ACS Catalysis 11 (2021), p. 4870-4879
ISSN: 2155-5435
DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.1c00328
Wang M., Dimopoulos Eggenschwiler P., Franken T., Ferri D., Kröcher O.:
Reaction pathways of methane abatement in Pd-Rh three-way catalyst in heavy duty applications: A combined approach based on exhaust analysis, model gas reactor and DRIFTS measurements
In: Chemical Engineering Journal 422 (2021), p. 129932
ISSN: 1385-8947
DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2021.129932

2014 - 2020

2020

Franken T., Heel A.:
Are Fe based catalysts an upcoming alternative to Ni in CO2 methanation at elevated pressure?
In: Journal of CO2 Utilization 39 (2020), Article No.: 101175
ISSN: 2212-9820
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcou.2020.101175
Franken T., Terreni J., Borgschulte A., Heel A.:
Solid solutions in reductive environment – A case study on improved CO2 hydrogenation to methane on cobalt based catalysts derived from ternary mixed metal oxides by modified reducibility
In: Journal of Catalysis 382 (2020), p. 385-394
ISSN: 0021-9517
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2019.12.045
Titus J., Harth F., Eckert R., Mei BT., Franken T.:
German Catalysis Society Meeting: Exploring the Various Facets of Catalysis
In: ChemCatChem 12 (2020), p. 394-396
ISSN: 1867-3899
DOI: 10.1002/cctc.201902185

2019

Franken T., Vieweger E., Klimera A., Hug M., Heel A.:
Sulphur tolerant diesel oxidation catalysts by noble metal alloying
In: Catalysis Communications 129 (2019), Article No.: 105732
ISSN: 1566-7367
DOI: 10.1016/j.catcom.2019.105732
Terreni J., Trottmann M., Franken T., Heel A., Borgschulte A.:
Sorption-Enhanced Methanol Synthesis
In: Energy Technology 7 (2019), Article No.: 1801093
ISSN: 2194-4288
DOI: 10.1002/ente.201801093

2018

Franken T., Heel A.:
Katalysatoroptimierung durch Umwandlung einer unerwünschten Phase in eine wertvolle Co-basierte Katalysatorvorstufe für eine verbesserte Methanisierung von CO2
DECHEMA-Jahrestagung der Biotechnologen 2018 (Frankfurt am Main, 24. August 2022 - 24. August 2018)
In: Volume 90, Issue 9 Special Issue:ProcessNet-Jahrestagung und 33. 2018
DOI: 10.1002/cite.201855054

2016

Delmelle R., Duarte RB., Franken T., Burnat D., Holzer L., Borgschulte A., Heel A.:
Development of improved nickel catalysts for sorption enhanced CO2 methanation
In: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 41 (2016), p. 20185-20191
ISSN: 0360-3199
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.09.045
Franken T., Mani CM., Palkovits R.:
Crystalline ordered mesoporous Cu0.25Co2.75O4 prepared with selected mesoporous silica templates and their performances as DeN2O catalysts
In: Microporous and Mesoporous Materials 221 (2016), p. 91-100
ISSN: 1387-1811
DOI: 10.1016/j.micromeso.2015.09.019

2015

Franken T., Palkovits R.:
Investigation of potassium doped mixed spinels CuxCo3-xO4 as catalysts for an efficient N2O decomposition in real reaction conditions
In: Applied Catalysis B-Environmental 176-177 (2015), p. 298-305
ISSN: 0926-3373
DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2015.04.002

2014

Palkovits R., Franken T.:
Synthese effizienter DeN2O-Katalysatoren mit erhöhter spezifischer Oberfläche hergestellt über harte Templatierung
In: Chemie Ingenieur Technik 86 (2014), p. 1610-1610
ISSN: 0009-286X
DOI: 10.1002/cite.201450262