[Che-student-staff-list] Graduate Seminar Series - Dr. Enrique Iglesia 4-15

[Ewing, Virginia G]

Purdue University
   School of Chemical Engineering
  GRADUATE SEMINAR SERIES


Prof. Enrique Iglesia
Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
University of California, Berkeley


"Chemistry and Engineering Challenges in the
Catalytic Conversion of C1 Molecules"

Tuesday, April 15, 2014
9:00-10:20 a.m.
FRNY G140

Reception at 8:30 a.m. in Henson Atrium


Abstract. The recurring need for advantaged feedstocks as precursors to chemicals and fuels brings us once again to scientific and engineering matters pertaining to the conversion of molecules without any C-C bonds (methane, methanol, dimethyl ether).  Such C1 molecules, especially methane, present thermodynamic and kinetic challenges that bring significant complexity and costs into their chemical transformations. We gather here some unifying concepts and, in doing so, provide guidance about the most attractive C1 conversion strategies.  These concepts include (i) thermodynamic constraints and the limitations of catalysis in circumventing them; (ii) the pre-eminence of process simplicity and inexpensive oxidants over the allure of direct conversions; (iii) principles of kinetic and thermodynamic protection (iv) the coupling of separations with reactions and of multiple catalytic functions; (v) the prevalence of kinetic bottlenecks in forming the first C-C bond; and (vi) the emergence of a C2 conversion platform as we overcome (or accept) the limits of C1 chemistries. The conclusions are sobering, as the magnitude of the challenge so warrants.


Bio.  Enrique Iglesia is the Theodore Vermeulen Chair in Chemical Engineering at the University of California at Berkeley and a Faculty Senior Scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He received a B.S. from Princeton University (1977) and a Ph.D. from Stanford University (1982) in chemical engineering. He joined Berkeley in 1993 after 12 years as a research scientist and manager at the Exxon Corporate Research Labs. He served as editor in chief of Journal of Catalysis (1997-2010) and acts as president of the North American Catalysis Society. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering (2008) and a fellow of the American Chemical Society (2010).


His group addresses the synthesis and the structural and functional characterization of solids used as catalysts for production of fuels and petrochemicals, for conversion of energy carriers, and for improving the energy and atom efficiency and the sustainability of chemical processes. His work combines synthetic, spectroscopic, theoretical, and mechanistic techniques to advance novel concepts and applications in heterogeneous catalysis. He has coauthored more than 300 publications and 40 patents.


His research has been recognized with the 2012 ENI Prize, the ACS Somorjai and Olah Awards, the AIChE Wilhelm and Alpha Chi Sigma Awards, the Emmett and Burwell Awards of the North American Catalysis Society, the Cross Canada Lectureship of the Chemical Institute of Canada, and the François Gault Award of the European Federation of Catalysis Societies.  He has also received the Award for Excellence in Natural Gas Conversion, the Tanabe Prize in Acid-Base Catalysis, a Humboldt Senior Scientist Award, and the Noyce Prize, the highest teaching honor in the sciences at Berkeley.

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