Laboratory of Chemical Reaction Engineering

The research focus of the group is on controlling the transport trajectories in chemical reactors by structuring at different length and time scales. Therefore, porous catalysts and multiphase reactors are structured and systematically studied under dynamic operation conditions. The inherent interplay between transport properties and structure is evaluated by combination of physical as well as numerical experiments with emphasis on syngas reactions for chemical energy conversion and storage. Hence, the chemical utilization and storage of hydrogen (H₂) and turning carbon dioxide (CO₂) into value is the major focus of our research activities.

The expertise in the group covers synthesis and characterization of porous, solid catalysts, experimental evaluation of chemical reactors, modeling and simulation of multiphase reactors as well as unsteady-state process operation.

Head of Laboratory: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Robert Güttel

Projects Equipment and Services Publications Theses Learning Resources How to find us

Power-to-X processes are key to use hydrogen (H₂) as energy carrier and as raw material in the chemical value chain. By hydrogenating carbon dioxide (CO₂) or nitrogen (N₂) available world wide via separation from air, a sustainable production of chemicals and transportation of H₂ across the the globe is possible. We focus our research to develop catalysts and reactors for enhanced Methanation, Fischer-Tropsch and Ammonia synthesis processes.

Key Publications:

1. Cholewa, T., Steinbach, B., Heim, C., Nestler, F., Nanba, T., Güttel, R., Salem, O. (2024). Reaction Kinetics for Ammonia Synthesis using Ruthenium and Iron based Catalysts under Low Temperature and Pressure Conditions. Sustainable Energy & Fuels, accepted. doi:10.1039/D4SE00254G
2. Schumacher, J., Meyer, D., Friedland, J., Güttel, R. (2023). Methanation of CO/CO₂ mixtures: Evaluation of pellet size effect on methane formation rate and reactant selectivity. Chemical Engineering Journal, 142451. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2023.142451, preprint:10.26434/chemrxiv-2023-0fqvw
3. Gäßler, M., Stahl, J., Schowalter, M., Pokhrel, S., Rosenauer, A., Mädler, L., Güttel, R. (2022). The Impact of Support Material of Cobalt-Based Catalysts Prepared by Double Flame Spray Pyrolysis on CO₂ Methanation Dynamics. ChemCatChem, e202200298. doi:10.1002/cctc.202200286
4. Cholewa, T., Semmel, M., Mantei, F., Güttel, R., Salem, O. (2022). Process Intensification Strategies for Power-to-X Technologies. ChemEngineering 6 (1) 13. doi:10.3390/chemengineering6010013
5. Straß-Eifert, A., Sheppard, T.L., Becker, H., Friedland, J., Zimina, A., Grunwaldt, J.-D., Güttel, R. (2021). Cobalt-based Nanoreactors in Combined Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis and Hydroprocessing: Effects on Methane and CO₂ Selectivity. ChemCatChem 13 (24) 5216-5227. doi: 10.1002/cctc.202101053
6. Straß-Eifert, A., van der Wal, L., Hernandez, Mejia, C., Weber, L., Yoshida, H., Zecevic, J., de Jong, K., Güttel, R. (2021). Bifunctional Co-based Catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis: Descriptors affecting the product distribution. ChemCatChem 13 (11) 2726-2742. doi: 10.1002/cctc.202100270
7. Sánchez, A., Milt, V.G., Miró, E.E., Güttel, R. (2020). Ceramic fiber-based structures as catalyst supports: a study on mass and heat transport behavior applied to CO₂ methanation. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 59 (38) 16539-16552. doi: 10.1021/acs.iecr.0c01997
8. Theurich, S., Rönsch, S., Güttel, R. (2020). Transient Flow Rate Ramps for Methanation of Carbon Dioxide in an Adiabatic Fixed-Bed Recycle Reactor. Energy Technology, 8 (3) 1901116. doi:10.1002/ente.201901116

Unsteady-state reactor operation is one of the main challenges for the efficient utilization of renewable ressources in the chemical value chain, since it requires a deep understanding of the involved processes at multiple time and length scales (doi: 10.1002/nadc.20204097163). From scientific viewpoint the systematic analysis of reactor dynamics provides a high information density, which can only be evaluated by sophisticated combination of physical and numerical experimentation. The project aims at developing such methods in order to allow for application in Power-to-X processes.

Key Publications:

1. Gäßler, M., Stahl, J., Schowalter, M., Pokhrel, S., Rosenauer, A., Mädler, L., Güttel, R. (2022). The Impact of Support Material of Cobalt-Based Catalysts Prepared by Double Flame Spray Pyrolysis on CO₂ Methanation Dynamics. ChemCatChem, e202200298. doi:10.1002/cctc.202200286
2. Friedland, J., Turek, T., Güttel, R. (2022). Linking gas-phase balance and surface processes with pulse series reaction. ChemCatChem, e202200298 doi: 10.1002/cctc.202200298
3. Schumacher, J., Meyer, D., Friedland, J., Güttel, R. (2022). Evaluation of the application of different diffusion models for the methanation of CO/CO₂ mixtures. Results in Engineering 13, 100355. doi:10.1016/j.rineng.2022.100355
4. Friedland, J., Turek, T., Güttel, R. (2022). Study on the tolerance of low-temperature CO-methanation with single pulse experiments. Chem. Eng. J. 443, 136262. doi:10.1021/acs.iecr.1c04547, preprint: 10.26434/chemrxiv-2022-54jpx
5. Meyer, D., Friedland, J., Schumacher, J., Gäßler, M., Güttel, R. (2022). Hydrogenation of CO/CO₂ mixtures under unsteady-state conditions: Effect of the carbon oxides on the dynamic methanation process. Chemical Engineering Science 250, 117405. doi:10.1016/j.ces.2021.117405, preprint: 10.26434/chemrxiv-2021-pzfrv
6. Meyer, D., Friedland, J., Schumacher, J., Güttel, R. (2021). The periodic transient kinetics method for investigation of kinetic process dynamics under realistic conditions: Methanation as an example. Chemical Engineering Research and Design 173, 253-266. doi:10.1016/j.cherd.2021.07.011, preprint: 10.26434/chemrxiv.14653395.v1
7. Theurich, S., Rönsch, S., Güttel, R. (2020). Transient Flow Rate Ramps for Methanation of Carbon Dioxide in an Adiabatic Fixed-Bed Recycle Reactor. Energy Technology, 8 (3) 1901116. doi:10.1002/ente.201901116
8. Matthischke, S., Rönsch, S., Güttel, R. (2018). Start-up time and load range for the methanation of carbon dioxide in a fixed-bed recycle reactor. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 57 (18) 6391–6400. doi:10.1021/acs.iecr.8b00755
9. Meyer, D., Friedland, J., Kohn, T., Güttel, R. (2017). Transfer Functions for Periodic Reactor Operation: Fundamental Methodology for Simple Reaction Networks. Chemical Engineering & Technology 40 (11) 2096-2103. doi:10.1002/ceat.201700122
10. Güttel, R. (2013). Study of Unsteady-State Operation of Methanation by Modeling and Simulation. Chemical Engineering & Technology 36 (10) 1675-1682. doi:10.1002/ceat.201300223

The spatial structuring of catalysts and reactors is possible on different length scales, which offers the opportunity to intensify heterogeneously catalyzed reactions (doi: 10.1002/ente.201500257). Therefore, we work on the development of nanostructured core-shell catalysts for syngas reactions (Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, CO/CO₂ methanation), which are robust under the harsh reaction conditions and thus stable for long operation periods. Furthermore, these materials are proven to allow tuning the product selectivity for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. In order to transfer the promising features into application, we also immobilize the novel materials on support structures, such as honeycombs or ceramic fibers.

Key Publications:

1. Zambrzycki, C., Güttel, R. (2022). Transient behavior of CO and CO2 hydrogenation on Fe@SiO2 core-shell model catalysts – A stoichiometric analysis of experimental data. Reactions 3 (3) 374-391. doi:10.3390/reactions3030027
2. Sánchez, A., Milt, V.G., Miró, E.E., Güttel, R. (2022). Simulation study of ceramic fibrous structured catalysts for CO2 methanation - Enhancement of the performance and comparison to pellet catalysts. Topics in Catalysis 65, 1317-1330. doi:10.1007/s11244-022-01675-6
3. Sánchez, A., Milt, V.G., Miró, E.E., Güttel, R. (2022). Impact of heat transport properties and configuration of ceramic fibrous catalyst structures for CO2 methanation: A simulation study. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 10 (2) 107148. doi:10.1016/j.jece.2022.107148
4. Straß-Eifert, A., Sheppard, T.L., Becker, H., Friedland, J., Zimina, A., Grunwaldt, J.-D., Güttel, R. (2021). Cobalt-based Nanoreactors in Combined Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis and Hydroprocessing: Effects on Methane and CO₂ Selectivity. ChemCatChem 13 (24) 5216-5227. doi: 10.1002/cctc.202101053
5. Straß-Eifert, A., van der Wal, L., Hernandez, Mejia, C., Weber, L., Yoshida, H., Zecevic, J., de Jong, K., Güttel, R. (2021). Bifunctional Co-based Catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis: Descriptors affecting the product distribution. ChemCatChem 13 (11) 2726-2742. doi: 10.1002/cctc.202100270
6. Straß-Eifert, A., Sheppard, T.L., Damsgaard, C.D., Grunwaldt, J.-D., Güttel, R. (2021). Stability of Cobalt Particles in and outside HZSM‐5 under CO Hydrogenation Conditions Studied by ex situ and in situ Electron Microscopy. ChemCatChem 13 (2) 718-729. doi: 10.1002/cctc.202001533
7. Sánchez, A., Milt, V.G., Miró, E.E., Güttel, R. (2020). Ceramic fiber-based structures as catalyst supports: a study on mass and heat transport behavior applied to CO₂ methanation. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 59 (38) 16539-16552. doi: 10.1021/acs.iecr.0c01997
8. Kirchner, J., Zambrzycki, C., Baysal, Z., Kureti, S., Güttel, R. (2020). Fe based core-shell model catalysts for the reaction of CO₂ with H₂. Reaction Kinetics, Mechanisms and Catalysis 131 (1) 119-128. doi:10.1007/s11144-020-01859-9
9. Ilsemann, J., Straß-Eifert, A., Friedland, J., Kiewidt, L., Thöming, J., Bäumer, M., Güttel, R. (2019). Cobalt@Silica core-shell catalysts for hydrogenation of CO/CO₂ mixtures to methane. ChemCatChem 11, 4884-4893. doi:10.1002/cctc.201900916
10. Güttel, R., Turek, T. (2016). Improvement of Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis through Structuring on Different Scales. Energy Technology 4 (1) 44-54. doi:10.1002/ente.201500257
11. Kruse, N., Machoke, A. G., Schwieger, W., Güttel, R. (2015). Nanostructured Encapsulated Catalysts for Combination of Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis and Hydroprocessing. ChemCatChem 7 (6) 1018-1022. doi:10.1002/cctc.201403004

Gas-liquid reactions for stoichiometric conversion and heterogeneously catalyzed reactions are of great importance in the chemical industry. For very fast kinetics and highly exothermic reactions the design of suitable reactors with superior efficiency is highly demanding, as convective and conductive heat and mass transfer depend on often chaotic hydrodynamics. The aim is the development of experimental equipment and simulation models to gather reliable kinetic data for reactor design and scale up.

Key Publications:

1. Becker, H., Ziegenbalg, D., Güttel, R. (2023). Discriminating photochemical and photothermal effects in heterogeneous photocatalysis. Catalysis Science & Technology, 13, 645-664. doi: 10.1039/D2CY01864K
2. Sánchez, A., Milt, V.G., Miró, E.E., Güttel, R. (2022). Impact of heat transport properties and configuration of ceramic fibrous catalyst structures for CO₂ methanation: A simulation study. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 10 (2) 107148. doi: 10.1016/j.jece.2022.107148
3. Friedland, J., Güttel, R. (2021). Challenges in transfer of gas-liquid reactions from batch to continuous operation: Dimensional analysis and simulations for aerobic oxidation. Journal of Flow Chemistry 11 (3) 625-640. doi:10.1007/s41981-021-00176-z
4. Friedland, J., Brandt, A., Leopold, K., Güttel, R. (2021). Atomization of gold nanoparticles in graphite furnace AAS: Modelling and simulative exploration of experimental results. Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy, 182, 106249. doi:10.1016/j.sab.2021.106249
5. Meyer, D., Schumacher, J., Friedland, J., Güttel, R. (2020). Hydrogenation of CO/CO₂ Mixtures on Nickel Catalysts: Kinetics and Flexibility for Nickel Catalysts. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 59 (33) 14668-14678. doi:10.1021/acs.iecr.0c02072
6. Lechner, M., Kastner, K., Chan, C. J., Güttel, R., Streb, C. (2018). Aerobic Oxidation Catalysis by a Molecular Barium Vanadium Oxide. Chemistry - A European Journal 24 (19) 4952-4956. doi:10.1002/chem.201706046
7. Lechner, M., Güttel, R., Streb, C. (2016). Challenges in polyoxometalate-mediated aerobic oxidation catalysis: catalyst development meets reactor design. Dalton Transactions 45, 16716-16726. doi:10.1039/C6DT03051C