Research

Effects of Adsorption and Diffusion on Zeolite Catalysis

Recent years have seen a renewed realization that adsorption thermodynamics and diffusion play a much larger role in zeolite catalysis than in other types of catalysis. For example, differences in activity between different zeolites are, in some cases, not due to differences in intrinsic kinetics but simply to differences in physisorption of reactant molecules in the different zeolites. We have been involved in two projects in this area.

Hydrocarbon Cracking in Zeolites
We have collaborated with Prof. Harold Kung and Dr. Jeff Miller of BP, to elucidate the complex interplay of kinetics, adsorption, and transport in determining overall catalytic behavior in zeolite hydrocarbon cracking catalysis.

This work is funded by a GOALI grant to Prof. Kung, Dr. Miller and Prof. Snurr from the National Science Foundation.

Solvent Effects on Oxidation in Titanium Zeolites
Through the Institute for Environmental Catalysis (IEC), we are working on a collaborative project with Prof. Linda Broadbelt and Prof. Mayfair Kung to investigate the effects of solvents on olefin epoxidation reactions in titanium zeolites.

Chen Huang is currently working on this project. Former group members who contributed include Hongwei Du and Yoo Joong Kim.