Description:

Center for Catalysis and Surface Science (CCSS)

Friday, January 17, 2025 | 12-1pm CT
Ryan Hall, 4003 | 2190 Campus Drive (Virtual Option via Zoom)
Lunch provided

Join the Center for Catalysis and Surface Science (CCSS) for the Seminar Series. Hear from a postdoctoral scholar during a presentation. This month's speaker is Ana C. Alba Rubio.

About the Presentation

Speaker: Ana C. Alba Rubio

Title:  “Orchestrating Different Catalytic Sites to Close the Carbon Cycle”

Abstract: 

Catalysts can be good at multitasking when possessing the right tools (sites). This talk will present two catalytic strategies aiming to close the carbon cycle: CO2 capture and utilization (CCU) and biomass valorization. First, we will address the synthesis of inverse metal oxide–metal catalysts for the hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol and the addition of a sorbent component for the development of dual-function materials (CO2 capture and conversion). This one-pot approach has the potential to eliminate current energy-intensive and corrosive CO2 capture and storage processes while producing important commodity chemicals and fuels. Secondly, we will discuss the ability of polystyrene sulfonic acid-based catalysts to combine the advantages of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. In this regard, we will present our efforts in the development of novel soluble and reusable polymer-based catalysts with Brønsted and Lewis acid sites for the one-pot synthesis of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from glucose and potato starch. HMF is a valuable platform chemical, and there is an important market for some of its derivatives, such as furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and adipic acid.

The mission of the Center for Catalysis and Surface Science (CCSS) is to promote interdisciplinary research fundamental to the discovery, synthesis, and understanding of catalysts and catalytic reactions essential to modern society. As a part of the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy, CCSS applies fundamental advances in catalysis science towards applications in alternative fuels, abatement of harmful emissions, resource recovery concepts, new processing routes, and many other strategies towards making chemicals more sustainable.