Catalytic Approaches to Dehydrogenation, Energy Storage, and Carbon Management

在这项由美国国家科学基金会化学部化学催化计划资助的项目中，南加州大学洛克烃研究所的特拉维斯·威廉姆斯教授正在研究加氢和脱氢催化，旨在寻找二氧化碳利用、氢气储存和精细化工生产的新方法。催化剂是促进化学反应的物种，在整个化学工业中都被使用。该项目为几个重要的过程开发催化剂。其中包括一种从甲酸中脱氢的催化剂，它可以使甲酸作为氢载体使用；另一种催化剂，它可以从甘油中脱氢，它可以从生物柴油精炼的废物中形成有价值的产品；第三种催化剂，将二氧化碳转化为重要的工业原料甲醇。该项目包括一个将当地高中生带入研究实验室的K-12外展项目。该项目有三个目标领域。首先，正在开发一种以磷(P)-氮(N)螯合配体为载体的用于甲酸脱水的双铱催化剂。在相关工作中，人们正在开发一系列含有双齿、吡啶配体的Ir和Ru配合物，作为甘油转化为乳酸的催化剂。最后，含有硼酸盐配体的Ru络合物正在被设计用于二氧化碳减排。这些过程的机理正在通过化学、动力学和光谱研究来确定，以优化催化过程。所选择的目标反应有可能被商业许可或被其他人改装用于工业用途。由学生主持的座谈项目使研究生、本科生和博士后学生接触到各种职业可能性。

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.