Objectives:
- Understanding the pathways of catalyst deactivation in hot liquid water
- Elucidating the influence of biomass-derived feedstocks on the stability of solid catalysts
- Improving the hydrothermal stability of solid catalysts using protective coatings and additives
Approaches:
- Kinetic studies on transformations of solid catalysts in hot water and solutions of oxygenates
- Physicochemical characterization (N2 physisorption, XRD, TEM, SEM, IR, NMR, XPS, titration)
- Development of synthesis techniques for improving hydrothermal stability
- Performance studies with stabilized catalysts
Publications:
- Van Cleve, T., Underhill, D., Veiga Rodrigues, M., Sievers, C., Medlin, J.W. “Enhanced Hydrothermal Stability of γ-Al2O3 Catalyst Supports with Alkyl Phosphonate Coatings” Langmuir 34 (2018) 3619–3625.
- Liu, F., Okolie, C., Ravenelle, R.M., Crittenden, J.C., Sievers, C., Bruijnincx, P.C.A., Weckhuysen, B.M. “Improved hydrothermal stability of the alumina support in glycerol aqueous phase reforming by surface silica deposition” Catal. A-Gen. 551 (2018) 13-22.
- Sievers, C., Noda, Y., Long, Q., Albuquerque, E.M., Rioux, R.M., Scott, S.L. “Phenomena Affecting Catalytic Reactions at Solid-Liquid Interfaces” ACS Catalysis 6 (2016) 8286-8307.
- Van Pelt, A.H., Simakova, O.A., Schimming, S.M., Ewbank, J.L., Pidko, E.A., Hensen, E.J.M., Sievers, C. “Stability of Functionalized Activated Carbon in Hot Liquid Water” Carbon 77 (2014) 143-154.
- Hahn, M.W., Copeland, J.R., Van Pelt, A.H., Sievers, C. “Stability of Amorphous Silica-Alumina in Hot Liquid Water” ChemSusChem 6 (2013) 2304 – 2315.
- Jongerius, A.L., Copeland, J.R., Foo, G.S., Hofmann, J.P., Bruijnincx, P.C.A., Sievers, C., Weckhuysen, B.M. “Stability of Pt/γ-Al2O3 Catalysts in Lignin and Lignin Model Compound Solutions under Liquid Phase Reforming Reaction Conditions” ACS Catalysis 3 (2013) 464−473.
- Ravenelle, R.M., Copeland, J.R., Van Pelt, A.H., Crittenden, J.C., Sievers, C. “Stability of Pt/γ-Al2O3 Catalysts in Model Biomass Solutions” Top. Catal. 55 (2012) 162-174.
- Ravenelle, R.M., Diallo, F.Z., Crittenden, J.C., Sievers, C. “Effects of Metal Precursors on the Performance of Pt/γ-Al2O3 Catalysts for the Production of Sugar Alcohols from Cellulose in Aqueous Phase” ChemCatChem 4 (2012) 492-494.
- Ravenelle, R.M., Copeland, J.R., Kim, W.-G., Crittenden, J.C., Sievers, C. “Structural Changes of γ-Al2O3 Supported Catalysts in Hot Liquid Water” ACS Catal. 1 (2011) 552-561.
- Ravenelle, R.M., Schüssler, F., D’Amico, A., Danilina, N., van Bokhoven, J.A., Lercher, J.A., Jones, C.W., Sievers, C. “Stability of Zeolites in Hot Liquid Water” J. Phys. Chem. C 114 (2010), 19582–19595.