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Heterogenous Reduction Of Co2 Over Boron-Rich Alb2, Jose C. Berger

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Evidence suggests that the recent drastic changes in the global climate have been caused by greenhouse gases, especially CO­₂. As a result, scientists are aiming to develop processes that either minimize the production of these gases or convert them into products of higher value. To that end, the catalytic properties of a two-dimensional boron-rich material were investigated. Herein is reported that such a material can reduce CO₂ into benzene, C₃ species, and C₄ species at relatively low temperatures (225-450 ℃) and pressures (0.38 MPa). Current data suggest that a low-temperature induction period (e.g., 225 ℃) …

Mechanochemically Synthesized Cobalt Oxide-Based Particles For The Reduction Of Nitrophenols And Impacting Factors To Its Mechanism, Lorianne R. Shultz

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Mechanochemically synthesized cobalt oxide-based particles are employed for the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4NP), a toxic water contaminant. This reduction produces 4‑aminophenol (4AP), a less toxic, pharmaceutical precursor for drugs such as paracetamol. The indicated reduction has been completed previously using noble metals and/or catalysts requiring extensive solvent use, and time as part of their preparation. The cost and synthesis of these noble metal catalysts hinders the sustainable broad scale application as an environmental remediation solution. The catalyst synthesis explored in this study utilizes the green chemistry technique of vibratory ball-milling and annealing cobalt oxide-based particles at different temperatures, producing …

Investigation Of Nanoceria-Modified Platinum-Gold Composite Electrodes For The Electrochemical Reduction Of Oxygen In Alkaline Media, Rahul Hegishte

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Platinum-gold and nanoceria-modified platinum-gold electrodes were prepared on a platinum surface via electrochemical reduction of solutions of platinum and gold salts in the dispersion of nanoceria. The molar ratios of Pt and Au were varied in both PtAu and PtAu/CeO₂ electrodes while the total concentration of the metals was maintained at 2 x 10⁻³M and the concentration of nanoceria was maintained constant at 5 x 10⁻³M. The electrodes were characterized by their cyclic voltammetry curves in 0.5M sulfuric acid solution. The electrochemically active area of the electrodes was determined using the copper underpotential deposition method. The linear sweep voltammograms of …

Supported Mono And Bimetallic Platinum And Iron Nanoparticles Electronic, Structural, Catalytic, And Vibrational Properties, Jason Robert Croy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Catalysis technologies are among the most important in the modern world. They are instrumental in the realization of a variety of products and processes including chemicals, polymers, foods, pharmaceuticals, fuels, and fuel cells. As such, interest in the catalysts that drive these processes is ongoing, and basic research has led to significant advances in the field, including the production of more environmentally friendly catalysts that can be tuned at the molecular/atomic level. However, there are many factors which influence the performance of a catalyst and many unanswered questions still remain. The first part of this work is concerned with the …

In-Situ Gas Phase Catalytic Properties Of Metal Nanoparticles, Luis Ono

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent advances in surface science technology have opened new opportunities for atomic scale studies in the field of nanoparticle (NP) catalysis. The 2007 Nobel Prize of Chemistry awarded to Prof. G. Ertl, a pioneer in introducing surface science techniques to the field of heterogeneous catalysis, shows the importance of the field and revealed some of the fundamental processes of how chemical reactions take place at extended surfaces. However, after several decades of intense research, fundamental understanding on the factors that dominate the activity, selectivity, and stability (life-time) of nanoscale catalysts are still not well understood. This dissertation aims to explore …

A Two Part Research Report: Aromatic Nucelophilic Fluoroal Koxylation Via Cationic Phase Transfer Catalysis And Reactions Of Unsymmetrical Vinamidinium Salts With Organometallic Reagents, Joseph E. Coury

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This report discusses research which was conducted in two areas: the study of aromatic nucleophilic fluoroalkoxylation assisted via cationic phase transfer catalysis and the study of unsymmetrical vinamidinium salts and their reactions with organometallic reagents.

Sodium alkoxides have been successfully used to fluoroalkoxylate activated halo- aryl and heteroaryl substrates under phase transfer catalysis conditions. Optimum reaction conditions incorporated tetra-n-butyl-phosphonium bromide as the catalyst and refluxing toluene as the solvent medium. Different quarternary phosphonium and arrmonium salts have been evaluated as catalysts: also, the effects of activating groups, leaving groups, and nucleophiles have been reported.

The reaction of 3-dimethylamino-3-phenyl-prop-2-en-l-ylidendimethyliminium perchlorate with …

Separation Of Piperylene Concentrate Via Metathesis Catalysis, Donald R. Allred

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Diolefin metathesis, using a Re2O7 catalyst, failed to show a reactivity difference due to conjugation of double bonds. However, the same system allows reaction of pentadiene while not affecting cyclopentene yielding a successful reaction ΓÇô separation scheme for a piperylene concentrate mixture.

Synthesis And Evaluation Of Polymer Supported Homogenous Oxidation Catalysts, Raymond J. Riley

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Polystyrene bis(salicylaldehyde)-propylene-1,3-diiminato Cobalt (II) [salen] and Polystyrene bis(2,4-pentanedione)-propylene-1,3-diiminato Cobalt (II) [BAE] were prepared stepwise from chloromethylated polystyrene. In addition, a new preparation of a Schiff base was attempted resulting in Polystyrene bis(salicylaldehyde)-isobutylene-1,3-diiminoato Cobalt (II) being produced. Optimum reaction conditions were determined with regard tot ime, temperature, reaction ratios and solvent for each step for the reaction. The ability of the above named Cobalt (II) Schiff bases to oxidize 3-methyl indole to give the corresponding o-formylaminoacetophenone was also studied. One polymer-bound Schiff base cobalt catalyst (co-salen) demonstrated a very small amount of catalytic activity resulting in a minimum amount of o-formylaminoacetophenone …