Abstracts:
Department lecture:
Projections of global energy demand are expected to hit 736 quadrillion BTUs by 2040, a 28% increase from 590 quadrillion BTUs today. Population and rising income are key drivers for global energy demand. Most of the near-term growth in energy demand will be met by projected growth in conventional fossil fuels such as petroleum, coal, natural gas and to an increasing extent from renewable energy such as wind and solar. Therefore, fulfilling future energy demand with renewable energy will be one of the biggest challenges to combat climate change.In order to achieve deeper integration of refining with petrochemicals we have developed a multi-zone catalytic cracking (MCC) process that converts crude oil and/ or low value refinery streams that end up as fuel to petrochemicals, olefins and aromatics (> 70% feed), without any liquid fuel. We have also developed a catalytic gasification technology that operates at much milder conditions that can convert pet coke/coal/biomass etc. to syngas with 25% lower opex and 40% lower capex compared to conventional slagging thermal gasification. We have also developed a CO2 purification technology from flue gas that is factor of 2 to 3 better than current generation amine based technologies.
At RIL, our aim is to develop end-to-end renewable energy generation, storage and utilization technologies. Our immediate efforts are directed towards development of low and high temperature PEM fuel cells for providing backup power to our Jio telecommunication towers. The hydrogen required for the same will be generated using methanol or natural gas,which in principle, can be produced from CO2 and biomethanation respectively, or directly from the sun using photoelectrochemical catalytic routes and storing it using liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC). RIL has also developed a green solution to India’s growing energy demand using organic waste as a resource, by developing catalytic hydrothermal liquefaction (RCAT-HTL) that converts wet biomass and organic waste into energy.
RIL’s synthetic biology division with strong internal capabilities in digital technology (JIO platform) also promise to create business opportunities in agriculture, environment protection, and human health.We have established a robust algae technology platform which will provide opportunities to significantly impact energy, food and nutrition to meet sustainability desires of modern society. New emerging areas of research include C-fiber, graphene, new age polymers such as DPE and CPVC, PBAT-technology and plastic waste to oil.