Promotion of the Reverse Water-Gas Shift Reaction With Nanoscale Bimetallic Catalysts

Eltron Research, Inc.

Boulder, CO

Catalyst material and process converts C0₂ to CO and H₂O or synthesis gas and water for use as fuel or as a feedstock in various chemical processes.

• Down-selected catalysts. Identified preferred process conditions and reactor materials.
• Demonstrated bench scale reverse water gas shift (RWGS) with preferred catalyst.
• Synthesized catalysts on kg scale.
• Tested catalysts and process at the pilot scale (25X bench scale).
• Designed, fabricated, tested, and delivered a prototype RWGS unit to NASA.
• Identified processes integral with RWGS. Identified operating conditions for integration with such a process (Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis).
• Identified potential NASA (in situ resources utilization, ISRU) and commercial (carbon dioxide capture and utilization) applications.

• Reverse water gas shift (RWGS) is a chemical process that converts carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide and water. The catalysts developed are nanoscale metal particles supported on metal oxide materials and display unusual activity towards RWGS. The RWGS process utilizing these catalysts is applicable to a wider range of conditions than a process utilizing literature catalysts.

• The technology will find use in in situ resources utilization (ISRU) for converting Martian atmospheric CO₂ to useful fuel species and in supplying potable water on the Martian surface. The CO generated could also be used in other chemical processes, e.g., for synthesizing polymers.
• The RWGS process should be readily integrated into NASA ISRU Systems.

Return to NASA SBIR Success Listings

Curator: SBIR Support                 1/21/05