Articles tagged with Catalysis
Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory create single-enzyme nanoparticles (SENs) that remain active for up to 143 days, thanks to their protective caging. The nanostructure preserves the enzyme's shape and allows it to interact with substrates, enabling applications in toxic waste cleanup, biosensing, and medicine.
The device captures aerosol particles with an electrical field, charging and trapping them to destroy bioagents. Smart nanoparticles catalyze oxidation to completely deactivate organisms.
A team of Cornell University researchers has successfully converted nitrogen to ammonia in a laboratory setting, molecule by molecule, using a zirconium metal complex. The process achieves complete fixation at lower temperatures than existing industrial methods, which require high pressures.
Researchers have developed a new method to produce 'pure' hydrogen at low temperatures, reducing carbon monoxide (CO) contamination. The process uses a ruthenium catalyst to convert nearly 100% of CO into carbon dioxide and additional hydrogen.
Developed at Argonne National Laboratory, the new catalyst is one of a family of related catalysts that also shows promise for reducing NOx emissions. It converts NOx into nitrogen, making it a safer and more energy-efficient alternative to current standards.
Researchers at MIT developed a device that reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 90% and halves the fuel needed for removal. The plasmatron reformer could lead to increased gasoline engine efficiency and significant oil consumption savings.
The Center for Environmental and Biological Chemistry (CEBC) will focus on developing greener chemical processes, including catalysts for cleaner solvents. Researchers will work with industry partners to create more efficient reactors and reduce waste, aiming to improve the quality of life through cleaner chemicals.
Fe-TAML activators, developed at Carnegie Mellon, show promise in removing color and chlorinated byproducts from paper and wood pulp manufacturing using hydrogen peroxide. The process reduces color production by nearly 30% and has the potential to replace chlorine-based bleaching processes.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have discovered a new Fe-TAML activator that works with oxygen to oxidize organic and inorganic chemicals. This discovery has the potential to extend the use of Fe-TAML activators for environmental remediation and modify industrial processes to make them more efficient.
Researchers created a nanoscale model catalyst that enhances hydrogen desulfurization efficiency by 100 times, enabling detailed analysis of the reaction at atomic levels.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory isolated an important intermediate in a catalyst using reverse reactions, enabling the study of reaction mechanisms and potentially improving catalytic efficiency. The goal is to design new catalysts with enhanced reactivity and selectivity.
Researchers discover new method to produce acetic acid directly from methane, reducing production costs and environmental impact. The breakthrough uses a palladium-based catalyst, but further development is needed to achieve commercial viability.
Granzyme A, a double-headed protease, is assembled into a dimer with identical catalytic domains connected by a covalent disulfide bond. This unique configuration enables the enzyme to recognize specific sequences and activate cell death machinery in tumor cells and virally infected cells.
The discovery could significantly reduce costs associated with producing clean energy from fuel cells. Researchers found that a tiny amount of gold or platinum is sufficient to create an active catalyst, paving the way for cost-effective hydrogen production.
Researchers have discovered a nickel-tin catalyst that can replace precious metal platinum in producing hydrogen fuel from plants. The new catalyst, combined with a hydrogen purification innovation, offers opportunities for transitioning to a world economy based on renewable resources.
Researchers have developed a new catalyst that can produce hydrogen at lower temperatures and with reduced greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional methods. The catalyst, based on nickel, tin, and aluminum, has the potential to be used in industrial applications such as fertilizers production and petroleum products processing.
Dr. Pfefferle, known as the 'father of catalytic combustion,' has developed a process to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from gas turbines. His inventions include the Microlith(r) catalytic reactor and RCL™ catalytic combustor, enhancing combustion efficiency and air quality.
Scientists at Fritz-Haber Institute find mechanical oscillations in catalytic foil during chemical reactions, leading to precise measurement of heat created. Mathematical models and computer simulations reveal delicate interplay between thermo-chemistry and thermo-mechanics.
Researchers at University of Illinois have developed a highly sensitive and selective biosensor that uses DNA-gold nanoparticle chemistry to detect lead and other metal ions. The colorimetric sensor can be tuned for different contaminant concentrations, making it suitable for on-site detection.
Researchers have found a biological transformation that occurs at an astonishingly slow rate of 1 trillion years in the absence of an enzyme catalyst. Enzymes can speed up this reaction by millions of times. This discovery provides insight into how natural selection has evolved enzymes to accelerate biochemical processes.
The researchers successfully grew extremely long and straight single-walled carbon nanotubes by heating samples quickly, achieving lengths of over 2 millimeters. This breakthrough could enable the creation of billionths-of-a-meter scale electronic circuitry and opens up new possibilities for nanoelectrical components.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed new phosphide-based catalysts that improve the removal of sulfur and nitrogen from hydrocarbon fuels. These catalysts are more active, physically strong, and inexpensive to produce and regenerate than existing sulfide-based catalysts.
Cornell researchers have developed a highly efficient chemical route to produce the biodegradable polymer poly(beta-hydroxybutyrate), which has potential applications in various industries. The discovery is a significant breakthrough in creating sustainable materials, with the potential to replace traditional plastics.
Dutch chemists Ries Janssen and colleagues have visualized the porous structure of a zeolite catalyst and found that about a quarter of canals are closed cavities. They developed two methods to create better canals, using carbon powder and carbon fibers as templates, resulting in improved accessibility and structure.
Grubbs designs catalysts that target carbons in molecules, breaking open double bonds to form new materials with tailored properties for plastics or pharmaceuticals. The ACS Award for Creative Research in Homogeneous or Heterogeneous Catalysts recognizes his work in improving reaction rates and efficiency.
Duke researchers have made significant progress in synthesizing uniform 'buckytubes' using a new technique, which could lead to the development of smaller electronic circuitry and more precise control over their electronic properties. The achievement marks an important step towards realizing the full potential of carbon nanotubes.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have created a new class of materials that can bind water faster and more strongly than best drying agents, with a higher capacity for storing water. The material also exhibits shape selectivity, allowing only specific molecules to enter its structure.
Researchers have found that adding gold to titanium dioxide creates a highly reactive catalyst for sulfur dioxide, which can help clean air pollutants. Additionally, ionic liquids may be used as solvents for cleaning up radioactive waste due to their stability and ability to block neutrons.
Grubbs's specialty is designing catalysts that can selectively target specific parts of molecules, critical for making pharmaceuticals. The award recognizes his work on improving the precision and control of these catalysts.
Shun C. Fung, a senior engineering associate at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, has received the American Chemical Society's Industrial Innovation Award for his work on improving catalyst reuse. His research enabled petroleum companies to capture and reuse expensive catalysts, passing millions of dollars in savings to cons...
A Texas A&M chemist has developed new tools to analyze molecules and improve catalyst efficiency. The researcher's work aims to better understand complex catalysts, which are crucial in various industrial processes.
Thomas B. Rauchfuss's research focuses on metal sulfides that act as catalysts, taking sulfur out of oil and coal to reduce acid rain. His work aims to improve the efficiency and understanding of these catalysts to create cleaner fuels.
Researchers have found that nornicotine, a breakdown product of nicotine, can catalyze certain chemical reactions in the body, potentially triggering adverse health effects. This interaction may also lead to reduced drug potency and increased risk of side effects for those taking medications while smoking or using nicotine products.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a gallium-based synthesis method to produce large bundles of aligned silica nanowires. The nanowires can form unusual structures resembling cones, cherries, carrots, and comets, with potential applications as optical splitters in nanometer-scale photonic systems.
Chemists observed significant improvement in catalyst performance when changing support material, leading to up to ten-fold increase in efficiency. The researchers created nearly uniform nanoclusters of iridium atoms and found that the catalytic clusters and support were chemically bonded.
Researchers from Utrecht have discovered that carbon nanofibres can effectively replace active carbon as a carrier for catalysts, enhancing the efficiency of hydrogenation reactions. The new material allows for the reuse of catalysts and has shown promise in the industrial-scale production of compounds like cinnamon alcohol.
A new method developed by Purdue University's chemical engineers uses artificial intelligence to simultaneously test thousands of formulations, drastically speeding up the discovery process. The technique has the potential to significantly improve catalyst performance and result in substantial economic benefits.
Researchers at Brookhaven Lab and DuPont have developed a new class of catalysts that can accelerate the removal of oxygen from plant-derived compounds, converting them into alcohols for industrial use. The goal is to produce 25% of DuPont's revenues in 2010 from renewable raw materials.
Dr. K. Barry Sharpless' discovery of chiral catalysts has enabled the production of useful molecules, including therapeutics that improve human health and lives. His work has streamlined the creation of important chemicals, including antibiotics and heart medicines.
ExxonMobil scientists have developed a novel catalyst and process called SCANfiningTM, effective in reducing cracked naphtha sulfur levels up to 99%. The new process overcomes challenges of traditional methods, which are either too expensive or result in lost octane required for modern engines.
Researchers found that antibodies can convert oxygen into hydrogen peroxide, a previously unknown mechanism that could enhance their killing power and contribute to autoimmune diseases like lupus. This discovery opens up exciting possibilities for new antibody-mediated therapies for bacterial, viral, and cancer treatments.
Researchers at INEEL have developed an energy-efficient process to produce alkylate, a high-octane gasoline blend with low environmental pollutants. The new method uses a solid acid catalyst and supercritical fluid solvent to regenerate the deactivated catalyst, increasing its lifespan by 20 times.
Richard R. Schrock has developed catalysts that make molecules efficiently, leading to discoveries of potential antibiotics and anticancer compounds. His work significantly influences the field of organic chemistry.
John Montgomery, a Wayne State University chemist, has developed a new method to create complex molecules efficiently. He achieves this by making multiple bonds at once, using catalysts based on reactive nickel.
Researchers have designed an innovative approach to chemotherapy that utilizes genetic material to selectively destroy cancerous cells. By combining complementary DNA sequences, a prodrug and catalyst can be triggered to release a cytotoxic agent.
John Bercaw, a Pasadena chemist, has developed more precise catalysts to make plastics and other polymers. He will receive the 2000 Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award from the American Chemical Society.
Researchers create molecular-level studies of pollutant-catalyst interactions using X-ray diffraction and neutron scattering techniques. Their findings may lead to improved pollution traps by optimizing catalyst design and surface area.
Chemical engineer Tamotsu Imai developed more efficient catalysts to produce biodegradable detergents and increase the yield of styrene production, leading to more sustainable processes. His work has improved process safety and reduced energy consumption in the petroleum industry.
Researchers found that using methane with a palladium-based catalyst can remove nearly 100% of nitric oxide from stack gases, a process considered more environmentally friendly and cost-effective than current methods. However, the sulfur dioxide present in some emissions interferes with the reaction.
Researchers created a new barium hexaaluminate (BHA) catalyst that allows for low-temperature combustion and high-temperature thermal stability, reducing pollutants from natural gas power plants. The catalyst can withstand temperatures up to 1300°C and has been shown to be stable in the presence of water vapor and other poisons.
Researchers at Arizona State University have designed and synthesized the first stable example of a new class of materials that can handle large molecules. The material, formed from zinc oxide and terephthalic acid, is a porous framework with large box-like spaces, allowing it to isolate and modify larger molecules.
A Cornell University chemist has developed a zinc-based catalyst to produce polycarbonates, a class of materials with potential as biodegradable materials. The breakthrough could lead to more economical and commercial possibilities for producing plastics from CO2.
Scientists have created artificial receptors with high selectivity to distinguish one molecule from another. The synthetic locks can bind straight, skinny molecules but exclude bent or fat ones, making them useful for applications such as oxidation control and chemical sensing.
Using high-intensity ultrasound, researchers discovered a dramatically improved catalyst for removing sulfur-containing compounds from gasoline and other fossil fuels. The new form of molybdenum disulfide is 10 times more active than the standard industrial catalyst.
Researchers develop new catalyst that significantly enhances methanol-air fuel cells' efficiency, enabling a more practical and sustainable power source. The breakthrough catalyst, composed of platinum, ruthenium, osmium, and iridium, presents a major improvement over existing platinum-ruthenium alloys.
Researchers developed a new technique using combinatorial chemistry to screen thousands of catalysts simultaneously, reducing time by fractions. The method enables potential improvements in fuel emission controls, solar energy harvesting, drug preparation, and converting natural resources into useful products.
Scientists have discovered a new catalyst that enables the production of alpha-olefins at lower temperatures and pressures, resulting in higher-purity products. The modified metallocene catalyst simplifies the manufacturing process for plastics and other consumer goods, potentially reducing costs and improving safety.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a low-temperature nitrogen oxide reduction catalyst that can be used in small production boiler systems. The catalyst, tested at temperatures between 350-400°F, shows promise in eliminating the need for high-temperature baghouse bags and reducing costs.
Chemists at the University of Warwick's Computational Chemistry Group have made significant discoveries about the biological reaction that causes gout. They found that a hydroxide ion is involved in the catalysis process, rather than an oxygen atom, which could lead to the development of inhibitors for the illness.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a process to make polypropylene, a stiff plastic, that can flex like a rubber band. The elastic polymer has potential applications in various industries, including the production of disposable diapers and automotive dashboards.