Group News & Updates (January 2012...)
Welcome to our newest group members : graduate students Paul Pletcher and Andrew Preston. Paul is working on kinetics of olefin polymerization with Hf catalysts, and Andrew is investigating reductive dehalogenation using oxorhenium catalysts.
Aerobic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) using nanoparticulate catalysts: HMF can be obtained from biomass. Its oxidation to the diacid FDCA is interesting because FDCA can be used in making polyesters instead of the petroleum-based PTA. In collaboration with Professor Saha at the University of Delhi, we investigated a homogeneous Co/Zn/Br- system and a heterogeneous Au-TiO2 for the oxidation of HMF with air. This manuscript appeared in Catalysis Science & Technology . Read More>>
Aluminum converts biomass carbohydrates to furfurals: Visiting graduate student Yu Yang (from Key Laboratory, Sichuan University) and in collaboration with Prof. Hu developed an efficient biphasic system for extracting C5 and C6 sugars from various biomass feedstock (poplar, grass, etc.). The process uses aluminum hexa-aqua and water/THF solvent. This study appeared in Green Chemistry. Read More>>
Selective conversion of hemicellulose from biomass using maleic acid with microwave heating : Graduate students Eurick Kim and Shuo Liu in collaboration with Prof. Mosier in Ag and Biological Engineering (ABE) studied the selectivity and kinetics of making furfural from xylans using various biomass feedstock. This manuscript appeared in the ACS journal Energy & Fuels. Read More>>
Characterization of lignin compounds by mass spectrometry : Research with the Kenttamaa group resulted in the development of mass spectrometric techniques for structural characterization of lignin type compounds. This development will make analysis of reactions with lignin more accessible. This manuscript appeared in Fuel. Read More>>
A perspective article on our corrole and porphyrin work is published in Dalton Transactions: Read More>>
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