Medical University of South Carolina

Jochen Lauterbach

Erdem Sasmaz

Jason R Hattrick-Simpers

Sungtak Kim

Cun Wen

Michael Mayeda

Katherine Mccullough

Sunkyu Kim

Michael M Royko

Ashok Jangam

Blake H MacQueen

Shahriar Salim

Robin Tilburg

Samuel M Drummond

Chang-Yin Chien

Mary Glascock

Elizabeth Barrow

John Bedenbaugh

Methods for upgrading a bio-oil are described. The methods utilize gaseous ammonia to react with one or more components of a bio-oil and thereby upgrade the bio-oil and separate the resulting mixture into organic and aqueous phases. Both the aqueous phase and the organic phase produced by the process can contain useful species such as ammonium species and an organic phase with increased energy content as compared to the bio-oil.

Upgrading of bio-oil using ammonia

In general, disclosed herein are methods for forming hydrogen by use of an ammonia decomposition catalyst system. For instance, a method can include contacting a catalyst system with an ammonia source at a temperature of about 450° C. or lower. The catalyst systems can include a support material and a trimetallic catalyst component carried on the support material and within a reactor. Disclosed catalyst systems can decompose ammonia at relatively low temperatures and can provide an efficient and cost-effective route to utilization of ammonia as a carbon-free hydrogen storage and generation material.

Ammonia decomposition catalyst systems

Disclosed are ruthenium-based catalyst systems, hafnium-based catalyst systems, and yttrium-based catalyst systems for use in ammonia decomposition. Catalyst systems include ruthenium, hafnium, and/or yttrium optionally in combination with one or more additional metals that can be catalytic or catalyst promoters. Hafnium-based and yttrium-based catalyst systems can be free of ruthenium. The catalyst systems also include a support material. Disclosed catalyst systems can decompose ammonia at relatively low temperatures and can provide an efficient and cost-effective route to utilization of ammonia as a carbon-free hydrogen storage and generation material.

The present disclosure relates to yolk-shell structured catalysts having compositions that can be particularly useful in the dry reforming of methane. These catalysts can demonstrate long-term stability that would be an advantage in industrial applications such as mitigating fossil fuel plant emissions. Example catalysts can include a yolk containing nickel (Ni) or nickel oxide (NiO), platinum (Pt) or platinum oxide (PtO), and a third material (M3) such as a cerium oxide (CeO). The shell can be formed of a ceramic such as silica and is generally a porous material that can support the yolk.

High activity platinum and nickel yolk-shell catalysts

This disclosure provides embodiments directed to compositions, methods, and processes to produce compounds having the structure: 

Methods and compositions for hydrodeoxygenation of carbohydrates and carbohydrate analogs

Methods for deriving a low-C hydrocarbon fuel from a platform chemical mixture are provided by introducing the platform chemical mixture to a catalytic material to produce a product stream comprising the low-C hydrocarbon fuel, and separating the low-C hydrocarbon fuel in the product stream from any remaining platform chemicals. Methods for producing aromatic hydrocarbons benzene, toluene, and xylenes from a platform chemical mixture are also provided by introducing a catalytic material to the platform chemical mixture to produce a immiscible liquid product stream comprising BTX, and separating the BTX in the liquid product stream from unreacted platform chemicals via a decanting process.

Methods of cracking a platform chemical mixture to liquefied petroleum gas and aromatic hydrocarbon products

Methods for deriving a low-C hydrocarbon fuel from a high-C hydrocarbon fuel are generally provided. A catalytic material (e.g., an aluminosilicate and/or a zeolite) can be introduced to the high-C hydrocarbon fuel to produce a product stream comprising a low-C hydrocarbon fuel, and the low-C hydrocarbon fuel can be separated in the product stream from any remaining high-C hydrocarbon fuel.

Highly active decomposition catalyst for low carbon hydrocarbon production from sulfur containing fuel

Methods for deriving a high-C hydrocarbon fuel from an organic source feedstock are provided. The method can include: contacting a mixture of the organic source feedstock and an aldehyde with a catalytic material to produce a product stream comprising a high-C hydrocarbon fuel, and separating the high-C hydrocarbon fuel in the product stream from any remaining organic source feedstock or aldehyde. The catalytic material comprises a metal and a zeolite.

One-step production of long-chain hydrocarbons from waste-biomass-derived chemicals

Fuel converters configured to convert a transportation fuel to a low-C hydrocarbon fuel, along with methods of their use, are provided. The fuel converter can comprise: an evaporator configured to receive a transportation fuel from a fuel tank in a liquid state, wherein the evaporator converts the transportation fuel from a liquid to a gas; a fuel burner configured to heat the evaporator; a catalyst cartridge in fluid communication with the evaporator so as to receive the gas from the evaporator; and a condenser in fluid communication with the catalyst cartridge so as to receive the reaction product mixture from the catalyst cartridge. The catalyst cartridge comprises a catalyst configured to convert the transportation fuel into a reaction product mixture comprising a low-C hydrocarbon fuel. The condenser is configured to separate the low-C hydrocarbon fuel from a condensed fuel in the reaction product mixture.

Flexible fuel converter for producing liquefied petroleum gas from transportation fuels

Methods of forming monodispersed core-shell nanoparticles are provided. A cobalt(II)-ligand component, a metal(II)-ligand component, an organic reducing agent, and a capping agent can be added to an organic solvent to form a reaction mixture. The reaction mixture is then heated to a dissolving temperature while under a gas (e.g., including methane) such that the reaction mixture becomes a reaction solution while stirring at the dissolving temperature. The reaction solution is then be heated to a reaction temperature (e.g., about 200&#xb0; C. or more) while under the gas to form the core-shell nanoparticles, and the core-shell nanoparticles can be collected from the reaction solution.

One-step synthesis of monodisperse transition metal core-shell nanoparticles with solid solution shells

A self-healing reaction process for a chemical reaction is provided by exposing a catalyst a reaction mixture that includes carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas such that hydrocarbons are produced. The catalyst includes CoOnanorods having both Coand Coexposed thereon. The CoOnanorods can have a spinel crystal structure such that the CoOnanorods define a {110} facet having both Coand Coexposed thereon. During reaction conditions, water can oxidize portions of the catalyst, while the exposed Cocan reduce any oxidized portions of the catalyst such that the catalyst is self-healing during reaction conditions, especially when the reaction mixture further comprises water.

Growing community of inventors

Columbia, SC, United States of America

Jochen Lauterbach