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Catalytic Processes and Materials (CPM)
Catalytic Processes and Materials (CPM)
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PhD defence Pengcheng Huang PhD defence Pengcheng Huang The effect of the solvent environment is important for the activity and selectivity of a catalytic reaction conducted in the liquid phase. One must carefully consider the potential interactions between the solvent molecules and the reacting species as these interactions can alter mass transfer rates, reaction kinetics, product selectivity, and catalyst stability as well as the properties of the solvent including density and viscosity. As a result, these so-called solvation effects can induce a significant change in the catalytic performance. However, finding the perfect “marriage” between the solvent, reaction, and catalyst is difficult as only a few solvents can deliver the desired performance. Essentially, the best solvents to stabilize the reactants and products in the bulk might not be the optimal solvation environment for the catalyst. A promising approach could be to decouple the local reaction environment of the active sites from that of the solvent in the bulk. This can be achieved with a polymer coating that can induce a solvation effect near the active site. In this thesis, a thermal-responsive polymer (p-NIPAM) that has a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) has been employed as polymer coating on a model Pd/SiO2 catalyst to validate this concept. The effect of the solvent and polymer-induced solvation effects on the reaction selectivity and activity have been studied using the nitrite and nitrobenzene hydrogenation reactions as probe chemistries.
PhD defence Maria Enes da Silva PhD defence Maria Enes da Silva This thesis presents a proof of concept of self-regulating mechanism by a heterogeneous catalyst in combination with stimuli responsive polymer. These polymers have the unique ability to reversibly change conformation from a swollen to a collapsed state in response to an environmental stimulus (e.g. temperature or pH). The conformation change of the polymer could allow to locally adjust the molecular diffusion of reactants, thereby changing the catalytic activity autonomously. Since the reaction will be intrinsically manipulated, implementing this concept to industrial processes will potentially alleviate the need for using external measures to control the reaction rate, such as passive cooling or using inert dilutants.
PhD defence Kevin Rouwenhorst PhD defence Kevin Rouwenhorst This PhD thesis presents an investigation into plasma-catalytic ammonia synthesis in a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor. Ammonia (NH3) can be synthesized from hydrogen gas (H2) and nitrogen gas (N2). Ammonia has current applications as intermediate for the fertilizer industry and the chemical industry. About 45% of the current pure hydrogen demand in industry is used for ammonia production. Future applications of ammonia include its use as zero-carbon fuel and as hydrogen carrier. Thus, ammonia may play a significant role in a decarbonized energy landscape.
Campus magazine nummer 7 Campus magazine nummer 7
Vidi Funding for Jimmy Faria Albanese and Roelof Rietbroek Vidi Funding for Jimmy Faria Albanese and Roelof Rietbroek Vidi funding by the Dutch Research Council for Scientific Research (NWO).
Dr Jimmy Faria Albanese, associate professor in the Catalytic Processes and Materials (CPM) department of the TNW faculty
Ammonia Energy Ammonia Energy Electrified Methane Reforming Could Reduce Ammonia’s CO2 Footprint
by Kevin Rouwenhorst (‘Haaksbergs broekie’ )
Paper Jimmy Faria selected as best Paper in ACS New Orleans Session Paper Jimmy Faria selected as best Paper in ACS New Orleans Session
New vacancies available (March 2021) New vacancies available (March 2021)
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