Skip to main content

PNNL

  • About
  • News & Media
  • Careers
  • Events
  • Research
    • Scientific Discovery
      • Biology
        • Ecosystem Science
        • Human Health
          • Cancer Biology
        • Integrative Omics
          • Advanced Metabolomics
          • Instrument Development & Deployment
          • Nanoscale Proteomics
        • Microbiome Science
          • Human Microbiome
          • Soil Microbiome
      • Chemistry
        • Catalysis
        • Chemical Physics
      • Computational Research
        • Artificial Intelligence
        • Computational Mathematics & Statistics
        • Graph and Data Analytics
        • High-Performance Computing
        • Software Engineering
        • Visual Analytics
      • Earth & Coastal Sciences
        • Atmospheric Science
        • Coastal Science
        • Ecosystem Science
        • Plant Science
        • Subsurface Science
        • Terrestrial Aquatics
      • Materials Science
        • Solid Phase Processing
        • Science of Interfaces
        • Precision Materials by Design
        • Materials in Extreme Environments
      • Nuclear & Particle Physics
        • Dark Matter
        • Neutrino Physics
        • Flavor Physics
        • Fusion Energy Science
      • Quantum Information Science
    • Energy Resiliency
      • Electric Grid Modernization
        • Distribution
        • Transmission
        • Grid Architecture
        • Grid Analytics
          • AGM Program
        • Grid Cybersecurity
        • Emergency Response
      • Energy Efficiency
        • Building Technologies
          • Advanced Building Controls
          • Building-Grid Integration
          • Advanced Lighting
        • Residential Buildings
          • Energy Efficient Technology Integration
          • Home Energy Score
          • Building America Solution Center
        • Commercial Buildings
        • Federal Buildings
          • Federal Performance Optimization
          • Resilience and Security
        • Building Energy Codes
        • Appliance and Equipment Standards
      • Energy Storage
        • Grid Energy Storage
        • Vehicle Energy Storage
      • Environmental Management
        • Environmental Remediation
        • Waste Processing
        • Radiation Measurement
      • Fossil Energy
        • Carbon Management
          • Carbon Capture
          • Carbon Storage
          • Carbon Utilization
        • Subsurface Energy Systems
        • Advanced Hydrocarbon Conversion
      • Nuclear Energy
        • Reactor Licensing
        • Reactor Operations
        • Fuel Cycle Research
        • Advanced Reactors
      • Renewable Energy
        • Hydropower
          • Environmental Performance of Hydropower
          • Hydropower and the Electric Grid
          • Hydropower Cybersecurity and Digitalization
          • Materials Science for Hydropower
          • Water + Hydropower Planning
        • Marine Energy
          • Environmental Monitoring for Marine Energy
          • Marine Biofouling and Corrosion
          • Marine Energy Resource Characterization
          • Testing for Marine Energy
          • The Blue Economy
        • Wind Energy
          • Distributed Wind
          • Offshore Wind
          • Uncertainty Quantification
          • Wildlife and Wind
          • Wind Data Archive and Portal
          • Wind Resource Characterization
        • Geothermal Energy
        • Solar Energy
      • Transportation
        • Vehicle Technologies
          • Emission Control
          • Energy-Efficient Mobility Systems
          • Lightweight Materials
          • Vehicle Electrification
        • Bioenergy Technologies
          • Algal Biofuels
          • Aviation Biofuels
          • Waste-to-Energy and Products
        • Hydrogen & Fuel Cells
    • National Security
      • Computing & Analytics
        • Artificial Intelligence
        • Computational Mathematics & Statistics
        • Graph and Data Analytics
        • High-Performance Computing
        • Software Engineering
        • Visual Analytics
      • Cybersecurity
        • Discovery and Insight
        • Proactive Defense
        • Trusted Systems
      • Nuclear Nonproliferation
        • Stakeholder Engagement
        • Technical Training
      • Weapons of Mass Effect
        • Explosives Detection
        • Chemical & Biological Signatures Science
        • Radiological & Nuclear Detection
    • Publications & Reports
    • S&T Capabilities
  • People
    • Inventors
    • Diversity
    • Lab Leadership
    • Lab Fellows
    • Staff Accomplishments
  • Partner with PNNL
    • Academia
      • Distinguished Graduate Research Programs
      • Internships
      • Visiting Faculty Program
      • Joint Appointments
      • Joint Institutes
    • Community
      • STEM Education
        • Resources
        • STEM Ambassadors in the Classroom
      • Philanthropy
      • Volunteering
      • Economic Impact
    • Industry
      • Available Technologies
      • Industry
      • Industry Partnerships
      • Licensing & Technology Transfer
      • Entrepreneurial Leave
  • Facilities & Centers
    • All Facilities
      • Atmospheric Radiation Measurement User Facility
      • Bioproducts, Sciences, and Engineering Lab
      • Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory
      • Institute for Integrated Catalysis
      • Marine and Coastal Research Laboratory
      • Radiochemical Processing Laboratory
      • Shallow Underground Laboratory
      • Systems Engineering Building
      • Wasteform Development Laboratory
      • PNNL Seattle Research Center
      • PNNL 5G Innovation Studio

Breadcrumb

  1. Research
  2. Energy Resiliency
  3. Fossil Energy
  4. Advanced Hydrocarbon Conversion

Advanced
Hydrocarbon
Conversion

Innovations in chemical
conversions and separations for
sustainable fossil fuel utilization

Andrea Starr | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

  • Electric Grid Modernization
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Energy Storage
  • Environmental Management
  • Fossil Energy
    • Carbon Management
    • Subsurface Energy Systems
    • Advanced Hydrocarbon Conversion
  • Nuclear Energy
  • Renewable Energy
  • Transportation
  • News & Updates
  • Publications
  • Projects

Cleaner, sustainable energy resources require new techniques to capture or separate greenhouse gas emissions in a cost-effective manner and to efficiently convert fossil hydrocarbons to electricity, fuels, or chemicals. To achieve these advances, PNNL applies its expertise in chemistry, materials science, catalysis and reaction engineering, molecular dynamics, computational fluid dynamics, process simulation, process scale-up and testing, and technoeconomic analysis.

Research managed for the DOE Office of Fossil Energy (DOE-FE) and other sponsors leverages the fundamental science capabilities PNNL stewards for the DOE Office of Science (DOE-SC)—before and during the transition to bench- and field-scale testing and deployment. For example, PNNL’s Institute for Integrated Catalysis works to marry discoveries developed under DOE-SC programs with programmatic missions within the applied offices, including DOE-FE.

Carbon Capture

PNNL identifies affordable and effective methods to separate and capture carbon dioxide (CO2) and other harmful gases, and to advance technologies to commercialization. Advanced separations work brings together PNNL laboratories, equipment, staff expertise, and processes to develop new technologies that can be scaled up, tested, and commercially deployed. This provides a disciplined evaluation of each technology as it moves through the stages of development, allowing researchers to screen and rapidly develop the best candidates.

An example of this process is CO2-Binding Organic Liquids (CO2BOLs), a class of compounds developed at PNNL. The resulting CO2BOLs solvent variants offer a robust solution for scrubbing carbon dioxide and other acid gases from the flue streams of coal-burning power plants, each requiring much less energy than traditional methods.

Fuel Cells

A fuel cell is a device that generates electricity by a chemical reaction. Solid-oxide fuel cells operate at higher temperatures and produce electricity more efficiently via hydrocarbon oxidation. Fuel cells offer a cleaner, more efficient alternative to burning fossil fuels and are being scaled up for stationary power generation applications.

PNNL leads the Core Technology Program for DOE’s Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) and is developing advanced materials with better fuel cell performance and affordability. PNNL also integrates fuel cells into sophisticated power systems for a variety of applications.

Coal Conversion

PNNL is developing more efficient ways to convert coal and other hydrocarbon sources, like biomass, directly into liquid fuels. These routes offer the potential to reduce emissions and displace oil imports with domestically sourced fuels. Researchers also are developing ways to convert coal and other hydrocarbons into a synthetic gas that can burn more cleanly or can be converted into other chemicals.

Recent News

MARCH 18, 2021
Web Feature

New Clean Energy Process Converts Methane to Hydrogen with Zero Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Read
Reactor testing for methane pyrolysis
MARCH 11, 2021
News Release

Cheaper Carbon Capture Is on the Way

Read
Chemical engineer Dushyant Barpaga observes the Laboratory Continuous Flow System, which researchers use to analyze the performance of CO2 capture solvents, like EEMPA, at small scales before testing at greater capacities.
SEPTEMBER 17, 2020
Web Feature

Not Your Average Refinery

Read
illustration of a world farms connected to mini refineries, renewable energy and transportation
SEE MORE RELATED NEWS

Related Capabilities

Chemical Engineering
Chemical & Molecular Science
Applied Materials Science & Engineering
SEE ADDITIONAL CAPABILITIES

Facilities

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Related Research

Transportation Hydrogen & Fuel Cells Bioenergy Technologies Catalysis Materials Science Chemistry

Related Links

Publications

Contacts

Casie Davidson
Manager, Carbon Management and Fossil Energy Market Sector
casie.davidson@pnnl.gov
509-372-6259
Charlie Freeman
Advanced Hydrocarbon Conversion, subsector manager
charles.freeman@pnnl.gov
509-375-6368

PNNL

  • Get in Touch
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Doing Business
    • Environmental Reports
    • Security & Privacy
  • Research
    • Scientific Discovery
    • Energy Resiliency
    • National Security
Subscribe to PNNL News
Department of Energy Logo Battelle Logo
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is managed and operated by Battelle for the Department of Energy
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn