This is a past event
Sustainability is a crucial issue facing the chemical sector, where the application of catalysis to reduce energy requirements and achieve high selectivities is key to the application of “green chemistry”. Chemical reaction engineering in the twenty first century should address achieving maximum selectivity to high value products in order to optimise reactant consumption and minimise separation operations and disposal of unwanted by-products. It is now accepted that selectivity to key functionalities rather than reactant turnover is more challenging to achieve and control. In recent work, novel catalytic solutions to such selectivity challenge in hydrogenation applications have been developed by the utilisation of gold as catalysts. The selective action of supported gold in the hydrogenation of R?NO2, R-CH=O and R-C≡CH is examined (R- represents an aromatic ring), where the target products are important intermediates for industry. Hydrogenation activity requires the formation of gold particles at the nanoscale where the support is critical in determining ultimate catalytic performance. The crucial catalyst structural and surface properties required to achieve enhanced hydrogenation are also discussed.
- Speaker
- Dr Xiaodong Wang
- Hosted by
- School of Engineeering
- Venue
- FN2, Fraser Noble building
- Contact