2023 AIChE Annual Meeting

Synthesis and Characterization of Combustion-Generated Particles for Nanostructured Materials

Biogas, a gas produced through the anaerobic digestion of organic waste, offers a sustainable alternative to natural gas. However, the usability of biogas is hindered by excess gasses, including carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. Developing a method to remove this excess gas is necessary to utilize biogas as a sustainable natural gas alternative.

The overarching goal of this project is to utilize flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) for synthesizing an efficient adsorbent for carbon dioxide (CO2). FSP, a technique that sprays a liquid precursor mixture into a flame to synthesize small particles, was chosen for its ability to produce products with fewer impurities than wet chemistry methods. It also can synthesize only the desired product, reducing the need for costly separation processes.

The project focused on optimizing an updated spray nozzle system within the burner and evaluating its performance compared to an earlier design. The nozzle configuration was modified using mechanical adjustments, and operational settings, including liquid flow rate and air pressure, were examined to determine the optimal conditions for droplet formation. The similarity between the two designs was quantified by analyzing the adsorbents from the updated system and comparing them to those from the previous design using a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS).