1. Applications of Life Cycle Analysis in the Production of PETE
Clint Chapman, Attie Pennybaker, Claudia Bode, and Bala Subramaniam
Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047
50 nm
What is PETE? Why is it important?
50 nm
In Lab Research Component
Acknowledgements
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation
grant EEC-1301051. Additional support provided by the Center for Environmentally
Beneficial Catalysis at the University of Kansas and the Southeast Kansas Education
Service Center-Greenbush.
References
1. Ghanta M, Fahey D, Subramaniam B. Appl Petrochem Res. 2014.
4(2): 167-179
2. Bala Subramaniam et al.. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2013, 52, pp 18-29
3. Bala Subramaniam et al.. Micro. And Meso. Materials. 2014, 190, pp
240-247
Introduction to Life Cycle Analysis
Harvesting of Ethylene Feedstocks
Production of Ethylene Oxide Terephthalic Acid
Are there any alternatives to the
rhenium catalysts?
0
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400
600
800
1000
1200
Ethanol Ethane Naptha
KgCO2equiv/tonneethylene
Feedstock
Gate to gate
Cradle to
gate
Figure 6. The process of performing
a life cycle analysis and how those
steps apply to a common process,
the production of paper.
Figure 7.
Analyzing gate-to-
gate versus cradle-
to-gate shows that
the real problem is
in harvesting the
feedstocks.
Figure 8. The
conventional process
has a higher production
cost than the CEBC
process, however it
results in less
greenhouse gas
emissions.
Figure 9. The CEBC spray process significantly cuts both
cost and greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating the
hydrogenation step.
Figure 2. A flow chart describing the inputs
and outputs associated with the CEBC
production of Ethylene Oxide.
 Studies predict 297.5
million tonnes of global
plastic consumption in
2015
• We have produced
more plastic in the
last 10 years then
was produced in the
last century
Figures 3, 4, 5 2,3
• Nb-TUD-1 showed highest activity.
 Metal leaching and H2O2 decomposition have
been observed
 Is catalyst acidity the main reason of H2O2
decomposition?
Are there more environmentally friendly
alternatives to these processes?
From: https://creeklife.com/blog/six-reasons-why-plastic-is-bad-for-the-environment
(From: http://www.mr-dt.com/materials/paperandboard.htm)
From: http://www.iftf.org/future-now/article-detail/our-plastic-century/
• Organic building block to chemical industry
• Most produced organic compound worldwide at 133 million tonnes
per year1
Production of Ethylene from Various Feedstocks
• Conventional method requires harsh conditions, higher production
costs and greenhouse gas emissions
• CEBC spray method cuts out hydrogenation section, resulting in lower
operating costs as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Terephthalic Acid
Ethylene Oxide
• 20 million tonnes produced annually 2
• Burning of feedstock generates $1 billion in losses per year 2
• Emits $3.4 million tonnes of CO2 per year (566,000 cars)2
What is the current
production method?
0
10
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50
60
70
80
90
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4100
4200
4300
4400
4500
4600
4700
4800
4900
5000
5100
Nb-TUD-1(200) MTO (Re) Ag
H2O2selectivitytoproducts,%
EOproductivity,mgEO/h/gMetal