International Collaboration in Chemistry: Tuning Catalyst Surfaces to Control Aldol Reactions in Biomass Conversion

NSF化学部的化学催化计划支持诺曼俄克拉荷马大学的Jentoft教授研究生物质转化的多相催化羟醛缩合反应。这项工作将与英国威尔士卡迪夫催化研究所的凯伦·威尔逊合作进行，他的研究将得到英国工程和物理科学研究理事会(EPSRC)的支持。羟醛缩合反应是将小分子含氧物从生物质转化为可替代燃料的关键化学转化，因为它增加了碳链长度，降低了氧含量。PI将合成一系列在酸碱性质、表面疏水性和形貌上不同的新材料。将测试在使用诊断反应物和生物油代表反应物的羟醛缩合反应中的催化性能。所获得的知识将使改进的固体羟醛缩合催化剂的开发成为可能，这种催化剂在侵蚀性介质中具有高选择性和稳定性。所研究的化学转化-羟醛缩合是生产第二代生物燃料的关键步骤，并在几个商业化学过程中发挥作用。拟议的研究将提供必要的基本见解，以开发高效催化这种转化的新材料，也就是说，不需要过多的能量投入或产生化学废物。该项目还将为相关研究人员提供跨学科的科学技术培训和国际交流经验。美国学生将有机会在加的夫催化研究所内进行研究并参与教育活动，加的夫催化研究所是英国卡迪夫大学成立的一个卓越中心。

The Chemical Catalysis Program in the NSF Division of Chemistry supports Professor Jentoft of the University of Oklahoma in Norman in investigating heterogeneously catalyzed aldol condensation reactions for biomass conversion. This endeavor will be undertaken in collaboration with Karen Wilson at the Cardiff Catalysis Institute in Wales in the UK, whose research will be supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council of the UK (EPSRC). Aldol condensation is a key chemical transformation for the conversion of small oxygenates from biomass to fungible fuels because it increases carbon chain length and reduces oxygen content. The PIs will synthesize families of novel materials that differ in acid-base properties, surface hydrophobicity, and morphology. The catalytic performance in aldol condensations using diagnostic and bio-oil-representative reactants will be tested. The acquired knowledge will allow the development of improved solid aldol condensation catalysts that are highly selective and stable in aggressive media.The investigated chemical transformation, aldol condensation, is a key step in the production of second generation bio-fuels and plays a role in several commercial chemical processes. The proposed research will provide the fundamental insight that is necessary to develop novel materials that catalyze this transformation with great efficiency, that is, without excessive energy input or generation of chemical waste. The program will also provide cross-disciplinary scientific and technical training and an international exchange experience for the involved researchers. US students will have the opportunity to perform research and participate in educational activities within the Cardiff Catalysis Institute, a center of excellence in the UK established at Cardiff University.