Professor Liu Zhongwen from Shanxi Normal University presents an academic report at Shanxi University on Dec 5. [Photo/sxu.edu.cn]

At the invitation of Shanxi University, professor Liu Zhongwen from Shaanxi Normal University made an academic visit to SXU on Dec 5, according to officials.

At a meeting held at the Institute of Biomedicine, professor Liu presented an academic report entitled Reaction Mechanism of Carbon Dioxide as Weak Oxidant and Efficient Catalyst.

The event was attended by around 100 teachers and students from the College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, the Institute of Molecular and Crystallographic Research and the Institute of Resources and Environment.

In his report, Liu discussed the design of a Ni-based catalyst for methane-carbon dioxide pressure reforming and the application of a high-efficiency catalyst for the green process of ethylbenzene dehydrogenation by a weak carbon dioxide oxidant, moving from basic knowledge to the latest scientific frontiers.

Based on a background analysis of China's current resource reserves and energy structures, Liu also introduced the development prospects of carbon dioxide as a weak oxidant to prepare efficient catalysts.

Through studying the weakly oxidizing properties of carbon dioxide and exploring its resource utilization methods, it is proposed that CH4 and CO2 are used as greenhouse gases to synthesize a raw material gas suitable for the synthesis of oxygenated compounds. Liu explained that CO2 is not a "problem molecule", but a cheap carbon resource.

SXU officials said Liu’s research is of great significance to China's environmental protection, resource utilization and energy changes.