Abstract:  This talk will provide an overview of my laboratory’s efforts designing hybrid materials for achieving chemical transformations and separations. After an overview of how the materials are made, the talk will describe our work using these tethered groups as solid base catalysts. The effect of ligand density, spacing, and chemistry will be assessed as it relates to the catalytic activity of these ligands for reactions including the Henry reaction and synthesis of methyl esters. I will then summarize the recent efforts of my lab in developing materials that achieve selective rejection or capture of oxygenate species from solution. The overarching theme is that by suitably designing an organic layer on a ceramic support it is possible to achieve selective capture or rejection. Future prospects in this area will be discussed.

Bio:  Dan Shantz joined the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Tulane in July 2014 as the Entergy Chair of Clean Energy Engineering.  A native of Muskegon Michigan, Dan obtained his B.S. (ChE, 1995) from the University of Florida and Ph.D. (ChE, 2000) from the University of Delaware. Dan was an Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellow for 18 months following his Ph.D.  Prior to joining Tulane Dan worked for two years at SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries), first as a Chief Scientist and then as a Senior Manager in SABIC’s Corporate Research and Innovation Future Feedstocks group. Prior to joining SABIC, Dan was a faculty member in the Chemical Engineering Department at Texas A&M, starting as an assistant professor and ultimately holding the Ray Nesbitt Professorship and the rank of full professor. Dan’s lab at Texas A&M was internationally recognized for its work in zeolite nucleation, biomimetic materials, and hybrid materials for catalysis and separations. Dan’s lab at Tulane will develop materials that address problems in sustainability, energy storage, and solar energy capture for use in chemical conversions.