Catalytic Approaches to Dehydrogenation, Energy Storage, and Carbon Management

在NSF化学部化学催化计划资助的这个项目中，南加州大学Loker碳氢化合物研究所的Travis威廉姆斯教授正在研究加氢和脱氢催化，旨在为二氧化碳利用、氢储存和精细化学品生产提供新的方法。催化剂是促进化学反应并在整个化学工业中使用的物质。该项目为几个重要的过程开发催化剂。这些包括用于从甲酸中去除氢的催化剂，其可以允许甲酸用作氢载体，另一种用于从甘油中去除氢，其可以允许从生物柴油精炼的废料中形成有价值的产品，第三种用于将二氧化碳转化为甲醇，一种重要的工业起始材料。该项目包括一个K-12外展计划，将当地高中学生带入研究实验室。首先，正在开发用于甲酸脱水的由螯合磷（P）-氮（N）配体负载的二铱催化剂。在相关的工作中，一系列的铱和钌的配合物含有双齿，含吡啶的配体正在开发作为催化剂的甘油转化为乳酸。最后，含有硼酸盐配体的钌配合物被设计用于二氧化碳还原。这些过程的机制正在确定化学，动力学和光谱研究，以优化催化过程。 选定的目标反应有可能获得商业许可或由其他人改编用于工业用途。 学生主持的座谈会程序暴露研究生，本科生和博士后学生各种职业的可能性。

In this project funded by the Chemical Catalysis program of the NSF Chemistry Division, Professor Travis Williams of the University of Southern California's Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute is studying hydrogenation and dehydrogenation catalysis that is directed toward new approaches for carbon dioxide utilization, hydrogen storage, and fine chemical production. Catalysts are species that facilitate chemical reactions and are utilized throughout the chemical industry. This project develops catalysts for several important processes. These include a catalyst for the removal of hydrogen from formic acid, which may allow formic acid to be used as a hydrogen carrier, another to remove hydrogen from glycerol, which may allow the formation of valuable products from waste materials of biodiesel refining, and a third to convert carbon dioxide to methanol, an important industrial starting material. This project includes a K-12 outreach program that brings local high school students into the research laboratory.The project has three target areas. First, a diiridium catalyst supported by a chelating phosphorus (P)-nitrogen (N) ligand is being developed for formic acid dehydration. In related work, a series of iridium and ruthenium complexes containing bidentate, pyridine containing ligands are being developed as catalysts for the conversion of glycerol to lactic acid. Finally, ruthenium complexes containing a borate ligand are being designed for carbon dioxide reduction. The mechanisms of these processes are being determined by chemical, kinetic, and spectroscopic studies in order to optimize the catalytic processes. The selected target reaction have the potential to be licensed commercially or adapted by others for industrial use. The student-hosted colloquia program exposes graduate, undergraduate, and postdoctoral students to a variety of career possibilities.