Nanotek & Expo

Biography

Biography: Farid Akhtar

Abstract

Nanoporous materials such as zeolites, metal organic frameworks, activated carbons and aluminum phosphates are suitable for catalysis and gas separation applications. These high surface area materials are invariably produced in particulate form and need to be assembled into mechanically strong hierarchically porous macroscopic structures such as structured monoliths, honeycombs and laminates for industrially important catalysis and gas separation applications. Structuring of nanoporous powders enables an optimized structure with high mass transfer, low pressure drop, efficient heat management, and high mechanical and chemical stability. Important properties of the nanostructured adsorbents structures will be discussed with a focus on CO2 separation e.g. from power-plant flue gas. A versatile nanostructurization approach to process nanoporous powders into hierarchically porous monoliths with high CO2 capture capacity, CO2 over CH4 and CO2 over N2 selectivity, rapid uptake and release kinetics and high mechanical strength will be discussed. A figure of merit criterion will be defined to evaluate the performance of these structured adsorbents. Finally, the concepts of adsorption and diffusion, mass and heat transfer will be combined in a discussion of the optimal porous architecture and geometry of nanostructured adsorbents.