Catalysts
[Due to the increasing size of the archives, each topic page now contains only the prior 365 days of content. Access to older stories is now solely through the Monthly Archive pages or the site search function.]
Mazda Introducing Mazda3 with Low Precious Metal Three-Way Catalyst
November 25, 2008
 |
| Mazda’s new catalyst structure. Click to enlarge. |
Mazda Motor Corporation will introduce the new Mazda3 (known as Mazda Axela in Japan) 5-door hatchback at the Bologna Motor Show on 3 December. The introduction of the second generation Mazda3 5-door hatchback follows on the unveiling of the 4-door sedan version last week at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The gasoline-powered versions of the Mazda3 feature the first vehicle catalyst constructed with Mazda’s new catalyst structure for automotive exhaust systems that substantially reduces the amount of precious metals such as platinum and palladium that are required. (Earlier post.)
More... | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Researchers Discover New Class of Catalysts for Olefin Metathesis Reaction
November 17, 2008
A team of scientists from Boston College and MIT have discovered a new class of highly efficient and enantioselective chemical catalysts that promote the olefin metathesis reaction with an “unprecedented” level of control, opening up a new platform to researchers in medicine, biology and materials. The new catalysts can be easily prepared and possess unique features never before utilized by chemists, according to findings from a team led by professors Amir Hoveyda of BC and Richard Schrock of MIT. A report on the team’s findings was published 16 November in the online edition of the journal Nature.
Richard R. Schrock shared the 2005 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Yves Chauvin and Robert H. Grubbs for the development of the metathesis method in organic synthesis.
More... | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Nissan to Introduce New Ultra-Low Precious Metal Catalyst in the Cube
November 14, 2008
|
| The new ultra-low precious metal catalyst. Click to enlarge. |
Nissan Motor Co. will introduce its ultra-low precious metal catalyst on the new Cube for the Japan market, to be launched on 19 November. The new catalyst utilizes half the amount of precious metals compared with conventional catalysts. (Earlier post.)
A high percentage of world’s reserves of platinum (50%) and rhodium (80%) are used in the automotive industry as catalysts. The standard three-way catalyst (TWC) device for emissions treatment consists of a mixture of platinum (Pt), rhodium (Rh) and palladium (Pd).
More... | Comments (11) | TrackBack (0)
New Process for Direct Conversion of Glycerol to Methanol
November 06, 2008
 |
| The new process catalytically converts glycerol to methanol using hydrogen under mild conditions. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at Oxford University (UK) have developed a new method to produce methanol (CH3OH) directly from glycerol (C3H5(OH)3), a byproduct of the transesterification process that produces biodiesel.
The process, developed by Professor Edman Tsang and his group at the Department of Inorganic Chemistry, uses direct catalytic hydrogenolysis of glycerol under mild conditions: 100°C and hydrogen at 20 bar pressure. Earlier this year, Tsang’s research in new catalytic materials identified a supported precious metal which efficiently converts glycerol to methanol.
More... | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
Oxford Catalysts Acquires Velocys; Focus on Accelerating Commercialization of Small-Scale Synthetic Fuel Systems
November 03, 2008
 |
| The Oxford Catalysts-Velosys combination will target cost-effective small-scale synthetic fuels production. Click to enlarge. |
UK-based Oxford Catalysts Group PLC has acquired Velocys, Inc. from Battelle Memorial Institute for $35 million, $5 million of which is in cash. Velocys is a leader in the design and development of microchannel process technology for the production of synthetic fuels and commodity chemicals, with more than $160 million invested in its technology to date, primarily by industrial partners including Dow Chemical, Toyo Engineering and MODEC. (Earlier post.)
Oxford Catalysts (OC) has a platform catalyst technology that provides the increased activity required to unlock the benefits of such microchannel reactors. The companies have been collaborating since May 2007; in more than 3,500 hours of pilot testing, Velocys found that the OC Fischer-Tropsch catalysts were 15 times more productive than conventional fixed bed catalysts. Together, the catalyst and microchannel reactor technologies are capable of producing next-generation synthetic fuels more economically at smaller scales than possible with conventional systems, using feedstock sources including captured flare gas, gas that is currently reinjected, stranded gas reserves and biomass.
More... | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)
Real-Time Observation of Catalyst Activity Could Lead to More Tailored, Smarter Catalysts
October 21, 2008
 |
| Rhodium-palladium nanoparticles (left) and platinum-palladium nanoparticles (right), as revealed by transmission electron microscopy, morph as their surroundings change. Click to enlarge. Source: Berkeley Lab |
Using a state-of-the-art spectroscopy system at Berkeley Lab’s Advanced Light Source, a team of scientists from the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory observed as bi-metallic nanoparticle catalysts changed their composition in the presence of different reactants. Until now, scientists have had to rely on snapshots of catalysts taken before and after a reaction. A paper describing their work was published online 9 October in the journal Science.
The ability to observe nanoscale catalysts in action could lead to less-expensive and more efficient catalysts for applications from improved pollution control, fuel refining and hydrogen fuel cells, according to Berkeley Lab’s Miquel Salmeron and Gabor Somorjai, who led the work. It could also expedite the development of catalysts that mop up all the substances in a reaction except the desired product, the hallmark of “green chemistry” in which waste byproducts are minimized.
More... | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
DOE Selects Projects To Advance Nanomanufacturing; Catalysts, Coatings and Oher Nanostructured Materials
October 19, 2008
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has selected 20 project proposals for funding following its Nanomanufacturing for Energy Efficiency 2008 Research Call. The projects promise to make revolutionary improvements in a broad range of catalysts, coatings and other nanostructured materials for use in energy production, storage, and consumption applications that will reduce energy and carbon intensity in industrial processes.
An important next step in realizing the promise of nanotechnology is to improve production and manufacturing techniques for nanomaterials and nano-enabled products, many of which are “stuck at the lab scale.” The selected projects will advance the state of nanomanufacturing by improving the reliability of nanomaterials production and scaling-up manufacturing processes that use nanomaterials.
More... | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
Germany’s ERP Start Fund to Invest Up To €1M in Namos for Bio-Nanotech Automotive Catalysts
October 13, 2008
Namos GmbH,, a company developing surface solutions based on bio-nanotechnology, will receive up to €1 million (US$1.36 million) from the ERP Start Fund, a joint program of the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), the German government-owned development bank, and the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. The funds, to be provided in the form of an equity investment, will be disbursed in several tranches which are contingent on the achievement of specific milestones in product development.
Namos develops innovative coatings based on aqueous solutions, with a focus on nanostructured surfaces which offer uniquely advantageous characteristics. Rather than producing these with a large number of complex process steps, these are produced using biomolecules which organize themselves in certain ways into the desired structures.
More... | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
New Catalyst Converts CO2 to Useful Synthetic Chemicals
October 10, 2008
Researchers at RIKEN in Japan have developed a new copper catalyst that allows carbon dioxide to be converted into a variety of functionalized carboxylic acid derivatives—versatile synthetic chemicals. A paper on their work was published earlier this year in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition.
Industry has used carbon dioxide as a chemical building block—in the manufacture of aspirin, for example—but its use is limited by the difficulty of breaking open its strong carbon-oxygen double bonds. Carbon compounds activated by lithium or magnesium are often needed to attack and incorporate carbon dioxide successfully, but these reagents are extremely reactive and quite hazardous on a large scale.
More... | Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)
UOP, Albemarle and Petrobras to Cooperate on Catalytic Crude Upgrading for Heavy Oils
October 03, 2008
UOP LLC, Albemarle and Petrobras have signed a technology cooperation agreement to demonstrate and further the commercialization of UOP’s Catalytic Crude Upgrading (CCU) process technology. UOP developed the CCU process in 2005 as a cost-effective option to upgrade heavy crude oils and bitumen-derived crude.
Under the agreement, UOP will provide the technology, equipment and system design. Albemarle will provide an improved Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) catalyst to be used in the process. Petrobras, which has already run the process in its pilot plant, will offer knowledge and experience with FCC catalyst as well as heavy crude processing.
More... | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
New Process Combines Ionic Liquids and Solid Catalysts for Mild Pre-Treatment of Biomass
September 30, 2008
 |
| Main product and byproducts from the acid catalyzed hydrolysis of cellulose. Click to enlarge. Credit: Angewandte Chemie. |
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research (MPI für Kohlenforschung) at Mülheim, Germany, have combined ionic liquids and solid catalysts in a new mild pre-treatment process for cellulosic biomass.
With this process, cellulose undergoes selective depolymerization, yielding cellulose oligomers (cellooligomers) and subsequently sugars without any substantial formation of side products. Even wood, a lignocellulosic material, is hydrolyzed using this methodology.
More... | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
New Metal Carbide Catalyst for Cost-Effective Direct Conversion of Cellulose into Chemical Intermediate
September 22, 2008
 |
| Catalytic conversion of cellulose into polyols. Click to enlarge. Credit: Angewandte Chemie |
Researchers in the USA and China have developed a new inexpensive catalyst for the direct conversion of cellulose into ethylene glycol. As reported in the journal Angewandte Chemie, the catalyst is made of tungsten carbide and nickel on a carbon support.
The new process results in up to 29% yield over a tungsten carbide catalyst, and in up to 61% yield when the catalyst is promoted with a small amount of nickel. An attractive feature of this reaction is the low yields of other polyols with respect to ethylene glycol.
More... | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
New Solid Catalyst for Hydrolysis of Cellulose Performs as Well as Sulfuric Acid
September 08, 2008
Researchers at the Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed a solid carbon-based catalyst for the hydrolysis of cellulose into glucose, with performance comparable to that of sulfuric acid, but with lower environmental and financial costs. A paper on their work was published online in the Journal of the American Chemical Society on 29 August.
Converting cellulose to sugars (saccharides) is a critical step in most processes for the production of cellulosic ethanol via fermentation. A variety of approaches have been developed to hydrolyze cellulose to saccharides, including catalysis using mineral acids, enzyme-driven reactions, the use of supercritical water, and solid catalysts for hydrogenolysis. The Tokyo Tech team, lead by Professor Michikazu Hara, notes that sulfuric acid catalyzed hydrolysis of cellulose has received considerable attention and has been implemented on relatively large scales.
More... | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
Mitsui Chemicals to Build Pilot Facility to Study Process for Methanol Synthesis from CO2
August 27, 2008
 |
| MCI’s methanol synthesis process. Click to enlarge. |
Mitsui Chemicals Inc. (MCI) will begin construction of a pilot facility which will be used to continue the company’s efforts to develop a process to synthesize methanol from CO2.
MCI has been pursuing the development of a process for the synthesis of methanol (CH3OH)—later used in the production of olefins and aromatics—using the CO2 emitted from factories and hydrogen obtained from water photolysis. The effort is part of the company’s strategy to develop innovative processes to contribute to significant reductions of greenhouse gases.
More... | Comments (19) | TrackBack (0)
New Low-Cost Non-noble Metal Catalyst for Hydrogen Production from Biofuels
August 20, 2008
Researchers at Ohio State University (OSU) have developed a new cobalt-based catalyst for the steam reforming of bio-derived liquids into hydrogen with 90% yield, at 350°C (660°F), and without the use of precious metals such as platinum or rhodium.
Umit Ozkan, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at OSU, and her colleagues presented the research today at the American Chemical Society meeting in Philadelphia. Ozkan said that their catalyst costs around $9/kg ($0.25/ounce), while rhodium costs around $9,000/ounce ($317,466/kg).
More... | Comments (10) | TrackBack (0)
Oxford Catalysts Develops New FT Catalyst for Microchannel BTL Reactors
August 14, 2008
 |
| Oxford Catalysts’s OMX process produces a narrower particle size distribution of crystallites in the 8-15 nanometer diameter range which exhibit terraced surfaces—both features that enhance catalyst activity. Click to enlarge. |
Oxford Catalysts has developed a new metal carbide Fischer-Tropsch (FT) catalyst designed for use in microchannel reactors targeted for the small-scale, distributed production of biomass-to-liquids (BTL) fuels. (Earlier post.) Microchannel systems with the new catalyst can be upwards of 20 times more productive per kilogram of catalyst than conventional systems, according to the company.
With approximately one tonne of biomass required to produce one barrel of liquid fuel, the transportation of biomass to a large-scale, centralized plant poses a challenge to the economics of biomass-to-liquids production. One approach being taken to address this is the development of small-scale Fischer-Tropsch reactors to convert the waste on a distributed basis locally rather than at large collection centers.
More... | Comments (11) | TrackBack (0)
Researchers at MIT Develop New Water-Splitting Catalyst That Works Under Benign Conditions; a “Giant Leap”
July 31, 2008
Researchers at MIT—Prof. Daniel Nocera and Dr. Matthew Kanan—have developed a new water-splitting catalyst that is easily prepared from earth-abundant materials (cobalt and phosphorous) and operates in benign conditions: pH neutral water at room temperature and 1 atm pressure. A report on their discovery was published online 31 July 2008 in the journal Science.
The cobalt-phosphorous catalyst targets the generation of oxygen gas from water—the more complex of the two water-splitting half-cell reactions required (H2O/O2 and H2O/H2). Another catalyst generates the hydrogen. Although the new catalyst requires further work, it opens a very promising pathway for the development of systems that use artificial photosynthesis to store solar energy on a large scale in the form of O2 and H2 for subsequent use in a fuel cell.
More... | Comments (82) | TrackBack (0)
China Lake Researchers Develop Potential Biobutanol Pathway for Synthetic Jet Fuel
July 29, 2008
Researchers at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) at China Lake, California have developed an efficient batch catalysis process for the conversion of 1-butene (C4H8)—easily derived from butanol (C4H10O)—to a new class of potential synthetic jet fuel blends, with a specific focus on the requirements for the Navy’s JP-5. JP-5 has a significantly higher flash point (60°C) in comparison to the Air Force JP-8 and commercial jet fuel (~38°C).
The resulting product developed by the team of Michael Wright, Benjamin Harvey, and Roxanne Quintana is 100% iso-paraffinic, meets flash point and cold-flow requirements, and has a calculated power density (per volume) higher than similar fuels made by the GTL Fischer-Tropsch process. They report on their work in an ASAP paper published online 29 July 2008 in the journal Energy & Fuels.
More... | Comments (10) | TrackBack (0)
Scientists Determine Structure of Third Hydrogenase Enzyme; Insights Could Lead to Better Hydrogen Catalysts
July 26, 2008
 |
| Superimposed active-site structure of the three phylogenetically unrelated hydrogenases: [NiFe]-hydrogenase, [FeFe]-hydrogenase, and [Fe]-hydrogenase. Click to enlarge. Credit: Shima et al. (2008), Science |
Some microbes use hydrogenases (enzymes) in their energy metabolism to catalyze H2/H+ interconversion reactions (H2 ⇋ 2H+ +2e–); these hydrogenases are more efficient catalysts than platinum, which is commonly used industrially to catalyze hydrogenation. There are three known and phylogenetically unrelated types of hydrogenases: [NiFe]-hydrogenases, [FeFe]-hydrogenases, and [Fe]-hydrogenase.
The structures of the first two hydrogenases—which have a pair of metal atoms (either two iron atoms or an iron and a nickel atom) at their active sites—were known. Now, scientists in Germany have discovered the structure of the third type of hydrogenase—which has but the single iron atom at the active site—and shown that all three known hydrogenases have obvious structural similarities, including active sites that contain an iron atom linked to a CO group. Their work is reported in the 25 July issue of the journal Science.
More... | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
Researchers Develop Process for High-Yield Conversion of Lignin to Bio-Hydrocarbons and Methanol
July 18, 2008
 |
| Proposed routes for the conversion of lignin into alkanes and methanol. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at Peking University (PKU) and the Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimiques Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have developed a two-step process for converting lignin—a key component of plant cell walls—to alkanes (hydrocarbons) and methanol that obtains about 42 wt% C8–C9 alkanes, 10 wt% C14–C18 alkanes, and 11 wt% methanol—close to the calculated maximum.
The researchers, led by Professor Yuan Kou at the PKU Green Chemistry Center, published a report on their work 9 July in the journal ChemSusChem.
More... | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
Dow and NREL Partner on Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass to Ethanol and Other Chemical Building Blocks
July 16, 2008
 |
| Process flow diagram with research barriers for cost-competitive thermochemical ethanol production. Click to enlarge. Source: NREL |
The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) and the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are jointly developing and evaluating a thermochemical process that will convert biomass to ethanol and other chemical building blocks.
The process will gasify non-food biomass feedstock to produce a synthesis gas, which Dow’s catalyst technology will then convert into a mixture of alcohols—predominantly ethanol—that can be used as transportation fuels or chemical building blocks. The joint evaluation program will focus on improving the mixed alcohol catalyst, as well as demonstrating pilot scale performance and the commercial relevance of an integrated facility.
More... | Comments (17) | TrackBack (0)
Oxford Catalysts in Agreement for Small-Scale Fischer-Tropsch Applications
July 08, 2008
Oxford Catalysts Group PLC, a developer of novel catalyst technology (earlier post), has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a specialist technology developer for the deployment of Oxford’s proprietary catalysts in small scale Fischer-Tropsch (FT) applications, such as the conversion of bio-waste or flare gas into synthetic liquid fuels—a potential global market of more than 4 million barrels of oil equivalent per day.
FT catalysts are used in the process of converting natural gas, coal or biomass into clean-burning liquid fuels, such as sulfur-free diesel (GTL, CTL and BTL processes respectively). However, conventional FT technologies have been unable to scale down cost-effectively to date.
More... | Comments (12) | TrackBack (0)
Integrated Fuel Technologies Licenses Argonne-developed Diesel DeNOx Catalyst; 95-100% NOx Reduction
July 01, 2008
A new, patented catalyst developed by scientists at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory that can reliably and economically reduce between 95 and 100% of NOx emissions from diesel-fueled engines has been licensed to Integrated Fuel Technologies, Inc. (IFT), a start-up company based in Kirkland, Wash. The new in-line SCR deNOx system uses onboard diesel fuel as the reductant, rather than urea or ammonia as used in current SCR systems. (Earlier post.)
Argonne and IFT aim to have the technology—named Diesel DeNOx Catalyst—meet standards set by the California Air Resources Board, the strictest in the US. IFT plans to integrate the Diesel DeNOx Catalyst into its existing products that can be sold to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
More... | Comments (13) | TrackBack (0)
GreenField Ethanol and Enerkem Partner on Commercial MSW-to-Ethanol Facility in Alberta
June 29, 2008
 |
| Enerkem’s four-step process uses gasification and catalytic synthesis to convert waste to liquid fuels. Click to enlarge. |
The city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, has signed a 25-year agreement with GreenField Ethanol, Canada’s largest ethanol producer and Enerkem, the developer of a thermochemical (gasification and catalytic synthesis) process to produce synthetic fuels, for a facility to produce biofuels from municipal solid waste (MSW).
The C$70 million facility will initially produce 36 million liters (9.5 million gallons US) of ethanol per year, according to the partners. As part of the agreement, the City of Edmonton will supply a minimum of 100,000 tonnes of sorted municipal solid waste per year.
More... | Comments (36) | TrackBack (0)
Cornell Researchers Develop New Method for Self-Assembly of Metals Into Ordered, Porous Structures; Potential Benefit for Fuel Cells and Catalysts
June 28, 2008
 |
| Ligand-coated platinum nanoparticles (blue and gray balls) nestled amongst the block co-polymers (blue and green strands). The self-assembly of platinum nanoparticles through the use of ligands and polymers is the key first step to a new method for structuring metals developed by Cornell Researchers. Click to enlarge. Image courtesy of Scott Warren & Uli Wiesner, Cornell University |
Cornell University researchers have developed a method to self-assemble metals into complex configurations with ordered porous mesostructures with large and open pores by guiding metal particles into the desired form using soft polymers.
Applications that can exploit the ability to control the structure of metals at the mesoscale (2 to 50 nm) include making more efficient and less expensive catalysts for fuel cells and industrial processes, and creating plasmonic surface structures capable of carrying more information across microchips than conventional wires do. The researchers report on their work in the 27 June issue of the journal Science.
More... | Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)
China and US Researchers Make Progress With Catalyst for Conversion of Stranded Methane to Transportable Liquid
May 22, 2008
Researchers in China and the US have identified details of the structure of a known catalytic material that can turn methane into a safe and easy-to-transport liquid. The insight lays the foundation for converting stranded methane in oil fields into a variety of useful fuels and chemicals.
The catalyst—molybdenum oxide sitting on a zeolite mineral—converts methane gas into the more tractable liquid benzene. The process is not yet commercially viable, as the scientists do not yet understand enough about the molecular details to improve the catalyst. Now, researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics in Liaoning province have worked out some of the details that will help researchers zoom in on an efficient catalyst.
More... | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)
Research to Explore Polymer Catalytic Membrane Systems for the Capture and Recovery of CO2
May 06, 2008
A materials chemist working in the Organic Materials Innovation Centre (OMIC) at The University of Manchester (UK), has won £150,000 (US$296,000) of new funding to explore the use of a special polymer in a catalytic membrane system to capture and recover CO2 from power plants.
Dr. Peter Budd’s project, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), will explore the potential of composite membranes made from a polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM), and a synthetic catalyst.
More... | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Mazda Wins Award for Diesel Emissions Catalyst Research
April 28, 2008
Mazda Motor Corporation will receive the “Outstanding Technical Paper Award 2008” at the 58th Annual Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan (SAEJ) awards ceremony to be held in May. The company is being recognized for a method for the in-depth analysis of the combustion mechanism of catalysts in diesel particulate filters.
Mazda has been conducting research into more efficient combustion mechanisms to eliminate particulate matter from diesel engine exhaust emissions. Active regeneration of diesel particulate filters can use a variety of mechanisms to enable combustion to remove the particulate matter (soot) that accumulates in the filter. All the mechanisms, however, require extra fuel—although the amount will vary based on the strategy—which is one of the causes of impaired fuel economy.
More... | Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)
Rhodia Launches New Materials for NOx Reduction On Diesel Vehicles
April 15, 2008
International chemical company Rhodia is launching two sets of materials for the formulation of deNOx catalysts showing high performance and hydrothermal durability for NOx trap technologies. Rhodia presented the emissions control materials, along with new light weight materials for weight reduction, at this week’s SAE 2008 World Congress in Detroit.
Both NOx Storage Catalyst (NSC) and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technologies have shown limited efficiency at low temperature (<250°C) and poor durability due to the thermal deterioration at temperatures > 750°C with steam. Rhodia’s new materials address these limitations.
More... | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
Oxford Catalysts Research Finds Preparation Method Rather Than Metals Used has Greater Influence on HDS Catalyst Performance
April 12, 2008
While there is a growing global regulatory trend to ultra low-sulfur diesel and gasoline fuels with their concomitant improvements in emissions, the available crude fuel stocks are increasingly heavier and more sour (higher in sulfur). This combination puts a great deal of importance on high efficiency hydrodesulfurization (HDS) catalysts, especially for the upgrading of heavy oils and residua.
Experiments carried out at Oxford Catalysts suggest that the preparation method has a greater influence on the performance of HDS catalysts than the identity or combination of metals used. Oxford Catalysts offers a novel class of catalysts made from metal carbides which can match or exceed the benefits of traditional precious metal catalysts for applications such as Fischer-Tropsch processing or hydro-desulfurization (HDS) at a lower cost. (Earlier post.)
More... | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Hitachi Maxell Develops New Gold-Platinum Catalyst Enabling Higher Performance Fuel Cells
April 01, 2008
 |
| An electron microscope photograph of a gold-platinum (AuPt) catalyst deposited on a conductive carbon support. The dark grey or black areas are the gold-platinum catalysts, and the light grey areas are the carbon support. Click to enlarge |
Hitachi Maxell, Ltd. has developed a new gold-platinum (AuPt) nanoparticle catalyst 2 to 3 nanometers in size for polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Used in the oxygen reduction reaction at the cathode, the new AuPt catalyst generates approximately 4.8 times more oxygen reduction current per unit area than current commercial platinum catalysts.
Fuel cell developers are seeking to reduce the material cost of the devices by minimizing the utilization of platinum—generally used as a catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction—while further improving catalytic activity. Increasing surface area by reducing the size of the catalyst particles is one approach.
More... | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)
Shell and Virent Collaborating To Develop Biogasoline From Plant Sugars
March 26, 2008
|
| Virent’s BioForming platform can convert a wide range of biomass-derived feedstocks to fuels and chemicals. |
Shell and Virent Energy Systems, Inc., are collaborating on a joint research and development effort to convert plant sugars directly into “drop-in” gasoline and gasoline blend components, rather than ethanol. Such biofuels and components can be used at high blend rates in standard gasoline engines, and could potentially eliminate the need for specialized infrastructure, new engine designs and blending equipment.
Virent is exclusive licensee of an aqueous phase reforming (APR) process—developed by its co-founders Dr. Randy Cortright and Dr. Jim Dumesic at the University of Wisconsin - Madison—for the conversion of readily available biomass-generated sugar feedstocks to carbon-neutral hydrocarbon fuels or hydrogen. (Earlier post.) The sugars can be sourced from non-food sources like corn stover, switch grass, wheat straw and sugarcane pulp, in addition to conventional biofuel feedstock like wheat, corn and sugarcane. The BioForming process is Virent’s first commercial application of the APR pathway.
More... | Comments (13) | TrackBack (0)
Ohio Awards $17M in Advanced Energy Grants; Major Focus on Alternative Fuels
The Ohio Third Frontier Commission has awarded more than $12 million in grants to 17 Ohio-based entities to accelerate the development and growth of the advanced energy industry in Ohio. Awards for advanced energy were selected from the wind, solar, alternative fuel, energy storage and instruments, controls, and electronics sectors.
The eight alternative fuels projects (47% of the projects) captured more than $5.6 million of the funding (47%). Three energy storage projects (17.7%) netted almost $1.5 million (12.5%).
More... | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)
New Catalyst More Efficiently Removes CO from Hydrogen; Benefit for Fuel Cells
March 20, 2008
 |
| The new catalyst is a core of ruthenium surrounded by one to two layers of platinum atoms. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Maryland (UM) have designed from first principles a new type of chemical catalyst that efficiently oxidizes carbon monoxide (CO). CO is a contaminant in hydrogen produced via the reformation of hydrocarbons that poison the expensive platinum catalyst that runs the fuel cell reaction, thereby reducing the efficiency of fuel cells.
Writing in this week’s Advance Online Publication of Nature Materials, UW-Madison chemical and biological engineering Professor Manos Mavrikakis and UM chemistry and biochemistry Professor Bryan Eichhorn describe a new type of catalyst created by surrounding a nanoparticle of ruthenium (Ru) with one to two layers of platinum (Pt) atoms. The result is a robust room-temperature catalyst that improves the preferential oxidation (PROX) of CO in the presence of hydrogen.
More... | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Announces Inaugural Global Research Partnership Investigator Winners
March 15, 2008
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia has named the winners of its Global Research Partnership (GRP) Investigator competition. Twelve international scientists—among them Dr. Yi Cui at Stanford (silicon nanowires for li-ion batteries) and Dr. Bruce Logan at Penn State (microbial fuel cells)—were selected as KAUST GRP investigators for the 2007 round of nominations, which featured more than 60 submissions from 38 of the world’s leading research universities.
GRP investigators receive five-year individual grants to investigate a wide range of research topics. As an example, Dr. Logan’s grant is for $10 million.
More... | Comments (11) | TrackBack (0)
EPSRC Funds CO2 to Methane and Methanol Project
March 11, 2008
The UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is providing £167,530 (US$336,000) in funding for an 18-month research project that aims to develop an efficient, inexpensive aerogel photocatalytic diode that will reduce carbon dioxide and generate methane and methanol for use as fuels. The project begins 1 April 2008.
The project, left by Professor Andrew Mills at the University of Strathclyde, is in partnership with Johnson Matthey, a specialty chemical company with skills in catalysts, precious metals, fine chemicals and process technology.
More... | Comments (12) | TrackBack (0)
NSF Publishes Roadmap for Hydrocarbon Biofuels
February 28, 2008
 |
| Liquid biofuels can be produced through a wide range of processes. The two main types of catalysts used in these processes are either biological or chemical. As shown in the figure, the majority of the pathways to biofuels production use chemical catalysts. Click to enlarge. Source: J. Regalbuto, NSF |
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has published a roadmap for the production of hydrocarbon biofuels—liquid transportation fuels derived from lignocellulosic biomass that are close analogs for their petroleum-derived hydrocarbon counterparts.
The report—Breaking the Chemical and Engineering Barriers to Lignocellulosic Biofuels: Next Generation Hydrocarbon Biorefineries—is one of the outcomes of a workshop on the topic held last June with more than 70 leading biofuels scientists and engineers. The workshop was sponsored by NSF, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the American Chemical Society; it was chaired by George W. Huber, University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
More... | Comments (22) | TrackBack (0)
Researchers Discover How Certain NOx Reduction Catalysts Form; Potential Boost for Wider Use of Lean-Burn Engines
February 22, 2008
 |
| Researchers found that, in the presence of water, aluminum ions (gray) on the surface of alumina bond to six oxygen ions (red). Heating removes the water and leaves some aluminum ions with only five oxygen ions. This creates a bonding site for the NOx-removing catalyst barium oxide. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have recorded the first observations of how certain catalyst materials used in emission control devices are constructed. The discovery could help remove a barrier to widespread use of diesel and other fuel-efficient lean burn vehicle engines.
The PNNL team observed how barium oxide attaches itself to the surface of gamma-alumina. Barium oxide is a compound that absorbs NOx from tail-pipe emissions. Gamma alumina is a form of aluminum oxide that is used as a support for catalyst materials, such as barium oxide, that are the active ingredients in exhaust systems.
More... | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
Syntec Catalytic Synthesis Process Yields 105 Gallons of Alcohols Per Ton of Biomass
February 15, 2008
Syntec Biofuel Inc has achieved a yield of 105 gallons of alcohols (ethanol, methanol, n-butanol and n-propanol) per ton of biomass. In 2006, the company had targeted a yield of approximately 113 gallons per ton.
The Syntec Biomass to Alcohols (B2A) technology (earlier post), initially developed at the University of British Columbia, parallels the low-pressure catalytic synthesis process used by methanol producers. Syntec’s technology uses any renewable waste biomass such as hard or soft wood, sawdust or bark, organic waste, agricultural waste (including sugar cane bagasse and corn stover), and switch-grass to produce syngas.
More... | Comments (23) | TrackBack (0)
Researchers Find Unexpected Transient Mobility of Oxygen Atoms on Titanium Dioxide Catalyst
February 09, 2008
 |
| An oxygen molecule (yellow, top right) splits when encountering a vacancy on a titanium oxide surface. One atom fills the vacancy and the other can move a couple of spaces away (bottom right). Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) found unanticipated transient mobility of oxygen atoms disassociated by a titanium dioxide catalyst. While one of the two atoms of an oxygen molecule severed by the catalyst planted itself at the vacancy at the site of disassociation, the other moved away to bond at a neighboring site as an adatom—(“adsorbed atom”), an atom adsorbed on a surface that can migrate over the surface.
Researchers have yet to determine if this short-lived extra mobility plays a role in chemical reactions, but understanding the basic chemistry might be important in processes that break down pollutants or split water to generate hydrogen.
More... | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Researchers Develop System for Photocatalytic Production of Hydrogen Without Noble Metal Catalyst
January 26, 2008
 |
| The supramolecular system for photocatalytic H2 production uses Ruthenium (left) as the photosensistizer and cobaloxime catalytic centers (right). Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at the joint Laboratoire de Chimie et Biologie des Métaux (LCBM), CEA-CNRS-Université Joseph Fourier, have developed a new supramolecular system for the photocatalytic production of hydrogen that uses a cobalt-based catalyst rather than a noble metal catalyst. They reported on their work in the 4 January issue of the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition.
In researching the redirection of photosynthesis for hydrogen production, scientists have developed molecular systems capable of both photosensitization, which captures light energy, and catalysis, which uses the energy collected to liberate hydrogen from water. To date, according to the LCBM team, all such systems developed to produce or use hydrogen rely on noble metals such as platinum for catalysts.
More... | Comments (9) | TrackBack (0)
GEO2 Technologies Introduces New Fiber-based SiC Substrate for Diesel Particulate Filters; Ceramic Fiber Technology Enables Significant Increase in Porosity
January 24, 2008
 |
| The GEO2 SiC substrate offers increased porosity compared to standard powder-derived SiC filters due to its microfiber-based microstructure. Click to enlarge. Source: GEO2 |
GEO2 Technologies Inc. has introduced a new ceramic fiber silicon carbide (SiC) substrate for diesel particulate filtering. The new SiC substrate achieves high porosity and high strength simultaneously while delivering lower back pressure and high trapping efficiency, according to the company.
Unlike other SiC products, GEO2 filters are based on a cross-linked microstructure (CLM) that increases maximum porosity to 67%—an increase of about 20% compared to other SiC filters—effectively reducing the size, weight and cost of emissions control systems.
More... | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Süd-Chemie to Manufacture Benefuel Solid Biodiesel Catalyst
January 08, 2008
New Delhi-based Süd-Chemie India Pvt. Ltd. (SCIL), part of the Germany-based Süd-Chemie Group, one of the world’s largest catalyst companies, will manufacture the proprietary solid catalysts for Benefuel’s biodiesel production facilities globally. This marks Süd-Chemie’s entry into the biodiesel catalyst market.
Benefuel was formed from the merger of Gripp Industries and New Century Lubricants (NCL). NCL had entered into an exclusive worldwide agreement with National Chemical Laboratory (NCL-India) to demonstrate and commercialize a new NCL-India transesterification catalyst and process for the production of biodiesel fuels and bio-lubricants. (Earlier post.)
More... | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Oxford Catalysts Purchases Microreactors to Hasten Commercialization of HDS and FT Catalysts
December 21, 2007
As part of a planned expansion of its development facilities, Oxford Catalysts has placed an order worth approximately €700,000 (US$1 million) with the German company Amtec for the purchase of two Spider16 high-throughput screening microreactors. The first, due to be delivered at the end of February 2008, will be used to speed up the commercialization of Oxford Catalysts’ hydro-desulfurization (HDS) catalysts. The second, due to be delivered at the end of March 2008, will be used to further the development of catalysts for use in gas to liquids (GTL) and other Fischer-Tropsch (FT) processes.
HDS encompasses a range of catalyst-driven processes used to produce cleaner fuels—including gasoline, ultra low sulfur diesel, jet fuel and bunker fuel—from sulfur-containing feedstocks. Oxford Catalysts is working to develop a range of HDS catalysts that will allow refiners to use higher sulfur-containing, lower-priced sour crudes yet still maintain the quality of its products. It is also working to develop HDS catalysts that offer competitive performance or catalyst activity while containing significantly lower amounts of expensive metals such as molybdenum.
More... | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Diversified Energy and Velocys Win DoD Contract for Portable Waste-to-Synfuel Plant
December 12, 2007
|
| Process flow chart for the Hydro-Max/Velocys portable Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) fuels plant. Click to enlarge. |
Diversified Energy Corporation (DEC), developers of the HydroMax gasification process (earlier post), and Velocys Inc., a Battelle subsidiary specializing in microchannel reactor technology (earlier post), have been selected by the US Department of Defense (DoD) to design a portable synthetic fuel production system based on DEC’s HydroMax gasification technology and Velocys’ advanced Fischer-Tropsch approach.
The goal of the DoD funded effort is to develop a transportable system that can convert waste products generated at military installations into 50-500 barrels per day of high-performance synthetic fuels such as diesel and aviation fuel.
More... | Comments (10) | TrackBack (0)
Johnson Matthey to Buy Argillon
December 10, 2007
Johnson Matthey will buy Argillon Group for €214 million (US$315 million) in cash from Ceramics Luxembourg S.à r.l., a company owned by KKR funds.
Argillon Group is an international group specializing in catalysts and advanced ceramic materials, and manufactures and sells a range of products into a number of different industries, including the established SINOx Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology used to control NOx emissions. Its products include plate-type and honeycomb-type catalysts for mobile and stationary applications including heavy and medium duty diesel vehicles; stationary diesel engines; marine applications; and coal, oil and gas fired turbines in power stations.