Center for Innovative and Strategic Transformation of Alkane Resources

The last 10 years have witnessed an unprecedented revolution in the domestic supply of shale hydrocarbon reserves with the potential to lower the cost of our nation’s electricity, power, chemicals, and fuels for the next 100 years. If new technologies can be developed, energy experts project the U.S. will transition from a net importer to net exporter of energy resources by 2030. In addition, substitution of natural gas for coal for electrical power generation has, and will continue, to be a major contributor to the reduction in U.S. greenhouse gas until economic, renewable energy future can be developed. CISTAR researchers and educators will help accelerate the transition by: Producing new, broadly disseminated and impactful science for energy and fuels technology from shale gas hydrocarbons; Generating intellectual property to support commercialization of new technologies; Demonstrating a combined experimental-computational approach to materials discovery that can be applied beyond hydrocarbon research; Providing leading-edge analysis of important environmental issues associated with shale gas upgrading; Developing a diversified, well-trained workforce of innovative students with technical and professional skills; and Informing the public about safe and environmentally responsible ways to use U.S. hydrocarbon resources.

Research Areas

The CISTAR team will develop innovative process designs for economic production of chemicals and transportation fuels from shale gas hydrocarbons. Researchers also will explore novel approaches for converting methane to chemical intermediates, which can then be used as a feedstock for conversion to liquid fuels.
New materials and fundamental understanding will be transferred from initial, proof of concept lab-scale experiments to full-size pilot scale operations with economic evaluations using systems-level lifecycle and environmental impact analysis to guide research and scale these innovative processes to field demonstrations with industrial partners.

Facilities & Resources

Partner Organizations

Purdue University
University of New Mexico
The University of Texas at Austin
Northwestern University
University of Notre Dame

Abbreviation

CISTAR

Country

United States

Region

Americas

Primary Language

English

Evidence of Intl Collaboration?

Industry engagement required?

Associated Funding Agencies

Contact Name

Fabio Ribeiro

Contact Title

Center Director

Contact E-Mail

fabio@purdue.edu

Website

General E-mail

Phone

(765) 494-1883

Address

207 S. Martin Jischke Drive
Room 203
West Lafayette
IN
47907

The last 10 years have witnessed an unprecedented revolution in the domestic supply of shale hydrocarbon reserves with the potential to lower the cost of our nation’s electricity, power, chemicals, and fuels for the next 100 years. If new technologies can be developed, energy experts project the U.S. will transition from a net importer to net exporter of energy resources by 2030. In addition, substitution of natural gas for coal for electrical power generation has, and will continue, to be a major contributor to the reduction in U.S. greenhouse gas until economic, renewable energy future can be developed. CISTAR researchers and educators will help accelerate the transition by: Producing new, broadly disseminated and impactful science for energy and fuels technology from shale gas hydrocarbons; Generating intellectual property to support commercialization of new technologies; Demonstrating a combined experimental-computational approach to materials discovery that can be applied beyond hydrocarbon research; Providing leading-edge analysis of important environmental issues associated with shale gas upgrading; Developing a diversified, well-trained workforce of innovative students with technical and professional skills; and Informing the public about safe and environmentally responsible ways to use U.S. hydrocarbon resources.

Abbreviation

CISTAR

Country

United States

Region

Americas

Primary Language

English

Evidence of Intl Collaboration?

Industry engagement required?

Associated Funding Agencies

Contact Name

Fabio Ribeiro

Contact Title

Center Director

Contact E-Mail

fabio@purdue.edu

Website

General E-mail

Phone

(765) 494-1883

Address

207 S. Martin Jischke Drive
Room 203
West Lafayette
IN
47907

Research Areas

The CISTAR team will develop innovative process designs for economic production of chemicals and transportation fuels from shale gas hydrocarbons. Researchers also will explore novel approaches for converting methane to chemical intermediates, which can then be used as a feedstock for conversion to liquid fuels.
New materials and fundamental understanding will be transferred from initial, proof of concept lab-scale experiments to full-size pilot scale operations with economic evaluations using systems-level lifecycle and environmental impact analysis to guide research and scale these innovative processes to field demonstrations with industrial partners.

Facilities & Resources

Partner Organizations

Purdue University
University of New Mexico
The University of Texas at Austin
Northwestern University
University of Notre Dame