Prof. Raghunath V. Chaudhari's Talk

Nov 28, 2016 - 11:00

Nov 28, 2016 - 12:00

Rm. No. 240 Chemical Engg. Dept.

Seminars

Prof. Raghunath V. Chaudhari Chemical & Petroleum Engineering Department University of Kansas

Abstract: Catalytic conversion of biomass to value-added chemicals provides renewable alternatives to a wide range of products of interest in our everyday life ranging from monomers bio-compatible plastics to environmentally friendly detergent cleaners. These conversion processes often involve complex multistep reactions such as hydrogenation/hydrogenolysis oxidation dehydrogenation dehydration condensation and amination. The challenge is to develop active selective and stable catalysts to meet the economic and environmental compatibility. This lecture will present an overview of recent development in biomass conversion technologies with specific reference to hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) and oxidation of sugars and polyols. Distinguishing features of biomass feedstocks and their conversion processes are: (a) they are oxygen rich in contrast to petroleum feedstocks consisting of hydrocarbons (b) thermally unstable at higher temperatures demanding liquid phase processing and (c) overall selectivity depends on competing reactions requiring control of C-O C-C C-H and C-N bond cleavage/coupling reactions. The catalysts used reaction pathways and kinetic modeling will be discussed with specific examples on (a) HDO of polyols to glycols and value added products and (b) oxidation of sugars and polyols to mono and dicarboxylic acids. While HDO is a known example of an alternative route for 1 2 propanediol the selectivity varies with catalyst supports and reaction conditions. Major disadvantage is the large consumption of expensive hydrogen and significant yield loss in eoxygenation. In this context a new concept of tandem dehydrogenation/reforming coupled with HDO to achieve high selectivity of value added products will be discussed. In contrast to HDO oxidation of sugars and polyols to carboxylic acid derivatives has the advantage that the rich oxygen value in the feedstocks is retained. The role of novel bimetallic catalysts for activity and selectivity improvement will be discussed along with detailed surface characterization and kinetic studies. Particularly the role of bimetallic alloys and defect structures in tuning catalytic performance will be discussed.Bio: Dr. Raghunath V. Chaudhari is the Dean E. Ackers Distinguished Professor at the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the University of Kansas (KU). Before his appointment to this position in March 2007 he was Deputy Director and Head of the Homogeneous Catalysis Division at the National Chemical Laboratory in Pune India. He is an elected fellow of INSA National Academy of Engineering (India) and Indian Academy of Sciences. During his 40+ years he directed research over a spectrum of areas including chemical reaction engineering multiphase reactors homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis catalytic hydrogenation biphasic catalysis process development and catalysis for biomass conversion. He is the author of more than 285 journal articles (h-index-43) 3 books and inventor or co-inventor on more than 62 patents. He is also engaged in teaching (at KU) graduate and undergraduate level courses such as Kinetics and Catalysis Mass Transfer chemical Engineering thermodynamics and Industrial Catalytic Processes. He also has held a number of appointments as visiting scholar including one at Rhone Poulenc Industry (France) and has served on a number of review panels and boards involving catalysis and reaction engineering. He has also been involved in development of several processes on a laboratory and pilot plant scales and directed contract research projects sponsored by DuPont USA Invista UK GE USA Huntsman Polyurethanes Belgium Schenectady International USA. Dr. Chaudhari has consulted on R&D & process improvement technology evaluation/selection and clean technology for sustainable development through UNIDO. He is also a member of the International Advisory Committee of CAMURE-ISMR Symposia and International Green Process Engineering Conference.