Catalytic Conversion of Carbonaceous Materials to Fuels and Chemicals

Dear Colleagues,

To meet more and more stringent environmental regulations, the utilization of various carbonaceous materials (X) such as coal, natural gas, biomass, biogas, organic wastes, and CO₂ in fuels and chemicals urgently require cleaner technologies. Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS), water–gas shift reaction (WGS), reforming reaction, etc. are catalytic processes to convert X to ultra-clean liquid or hydrogen fuels (XTF) and various chemicals (XTC), and continuously attract significant interest worldwide because these technologies can provide scientific basis to meet substantially increased energy demands, particularly in the nations which possess low oil reserve but with abundant other types of fossil fuels.  

The FTS plus wax upgrading, WGS and wet/dry reforming reactions, as the heart of the XTF/XTC process, produce various types of fuels and chemicals including gasoline, diesel, kerosene, jet fuel, lubricants, waxes, methanol, ethanol, higher alcohols, and hydrogen. Despite vast number of basic studies on the XTF/XTC topics, many issues related to the catalyst structure-performances, reaction mechanisms, kinetics, product upgrading, and reactor efficiency still remain unsolved. This Special Issue focuses on recent advances in experimental and theoretical research in XTF/XTC catalysts, catalysis, and chemical reactor technology, including (i) development of improved catalysts (heterogeneous and liquid crystal types) or novel reactor technologies for directly making gasoline, diesel fuels, or chemicals from syngas or hydrogen fuel from steam gas, methane, and oxygenates; (ii) experimental or theoretical studies on catalyst structural characteristics and catalytic performance, reaction mechanisms, and kinetics; (iii) FTS product upgrading; and (iv) techno-economic analysis and life-cycle analysis related to XTF/XTC.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Reactions.

Dr. Wenping Ma
Prof. Dr. Ajay K. Dalai
Guest Editors

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• carbonaceous materials
• catalytic conversion
• catalysis
• novel catalyst studies
• novel reactor studies
• liquid fuel synthesis
• oxygenate synthesis
• hydrogen fuel
• techno-economic studies
• life-cycle analysis