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市俄克拉荷马州大学的Jentoft教授研究生物质转化的非均相催化羟醛缩合反应。这项奋进将与英国威尔士卡迪夫催化研究所的Karen Wilson合作进行，其研究将得到英国工程和物理科学研究理事会（EPSRC）的支持。羟醛缩合是将生物质中的小分子含氧化合物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并降低了氧含量。 PI将合成具有不同酸碱性质、表面疏水性和形态的新型材料家族。 将测试使用诊断性和生物油代表性反应物在羟醛缩合中的催化性能。所获得的知识将允许开发改进的固体羟醛缩合催化剂，其在侵蚀性介质中具有高度选择性和稳定性。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，并在一些商业化学过程中发挥作用。拟议的研究将提供开发新材料所必需的基本见解，这些新材料可以高效地催化这种转化，也就是说，没有过多的能量输入或产生化学废物。该计划还将为参与研究人员提供跨学科的科学和技术培训以及国际交流经验。美国学生将有机会在卡迪夫催化研究所进行研究并参加教育活动，该研究所是在卡迪夫大学建立的英国卓越中心。

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.