RII Track-2 FEC: Catalysis for Renewables: Applications, Fundamentals and Technologies (CRAFT)

将植物基生物质（木质素）中的碳水化合物转化为乙醇和其他有用的产品是一个重要的领域，有望用于可再生能源生产。这项研究基础设施改善Track-2重点EPSCoR*合作（RII Track-2 FEC）奖的重点是开发将木质素有效转化为燃料和有用化学品的催化剂和技术。来自堪萨斯大学（KU）和南卡罗来纳大学哥伦比亚分校（USC）的研究小组正在这个项目中合作。此次合作协同结合了催化剂合成，高级表征和计算工作方面的专业知识，以设计新型催化剂并开发用于从木质素中分离有用产品的研究工具。该项目将为一名博士后和六名研究生提供多学科培训，并利用现有的本科生和教师研究经验（REU， RET）计划以及南加州大学工业/大学合作研究中心（I/UCRC）的理性催化剂合成，以吸引本科生，K-12教师和行业专业人士。技术描述这项多学科的工作旨在改进催化剂设计和化学分离方法，将生物质转化为燃料，有四个综合研究重点：(1)基于纳米颗粒金属支撑在不同基质上的催化剂系统的合成和表征；(2)催化剂表面性质和反应中间体的研究；(3)通过实验了解生物质模型分子与木质素的催化转化动力学；(4)通过计算模拟来解释实验结果，为新型高效催化剂的设计提供指导。该项目结合了南加州大学可再生燃料中心和堪萨斯大学环境有益催化剂中心的专业知识，用于木质素化合物解聚成环烃的多相催化剂的合成、表征和计算建模。将进行系统的实验和计算研究，以了解催化机制，反应动力学，并设计和评估木质素解构的有效催化剂。该项目采用团队方式指导初级教师、博士后和学生，并提供机会讨论时间管理、工作与生活平衡、拨款写作、战略规划、领导力培训等主题，并促进知识产权管理、实验室安全、伦理、外展和向公众传播科学等活动。评估员提供项目进展的形成性和总结性评估。*刺激竞争性研究的实验计划

Non-technical descriptionThe conversion of carbohydrates in plant-based biomass (lignin) to ethanol and other useful products is an important area that holds promise for renewable energy production. This Research Infrastructure Improvement Track-2 Focused EPSCoR* Collaboration (RII Track-2 FEC) award focuses on developing catalysts and technologies for the efficient conversion of lignin into fuels and useful chemicals. Research groups from the University of Kansas (KU) and the University of South Carolina at Columbia (USC) are collaborating in this project. This collaboration synergistically combines expertise of in catalyst synthesis, advanced characterization, and computational work to design novel catalysts and develop enabling research tools for the separation of useful products from lignin. The project will provide multidisciplinary training for a postdoc and six graduate students and leverage existing Research Experience for Undergraduates and Teachers (REU, RET) programs as well as Industry/University Collaborative Research Center (I/UCRC) for Rational Catalyst Synthesis at USC to engage undergraduates, K-12 teachers, and industry professionals. Technical descriptionThis multidisciplinary work aimed at improving catalyst designs and chemical separation methods for converting biomass into fuels has four integrated research thrusts: (1) synthesis and characterization of catalyst systems based on nanoparticulate metals supported on different substrates; (2) study of catalyst surface properties and reaction intermediates; (3) experiments to understand the catalytic conversion kinetics of biomass model molecules and lignin; and (4) computational simulations to interpret experimental results and provide guidance for the design of new, efficient catalysts. The project combines expertise at the Center for Renewable Fuels at USC and the Center of Environmentally Beneficial Catalyst at KU for the synthesis, characterization, and computational modeling of heterogeneous catalysts for the depolymerization of lignin compounds into cyclic hydrocarbons. Systematic experimental and computational studies will be performed to understand catalytic mechanisms, reaction kinetics, and to design and evaluate efficient catalysts for lignin deconstruction. The project employs a team approach to mentor junior faculty, postdoc, and students and offers opportunities to discuss topics such as time management, work-life balance, grant writing, strategic planning, leadership training, and facilitate activities on intellectual property management, lab safety, ethics, outreach and communicating science to the public. An evaluator provides formative and summative assessment of the project's progress.*Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research