Projects & Articles
Topic: Unlocking Hydrogenolysis Performance Potential Through Tailored Modular Design for Cu Hydrogenolysis Catalysts and Their Active Sites Control
Funding: Czech Science Foundation - 25-17746S
Date: 2025-2027
Abstract: Cu-based catalysts show promise for the selective hydrogenolysis of esters, offering notable environmental advantages over conventional CuCr catalysts. This project aims to advance our understanding of the structure-activity relationship in ester hydrogenolysis and the influence of transesterification in both liquid and gas phase reactions. To achieve this goal, we will employ a combination of rational catalyst design, yielding well-defined catalysts through controlled surface modification of various SiO2 materials with oxides of Ti, Zr, Al, or Zn. Subsequent detailed characterization and rigorous catalyst testing will be conducted alongside state-of-the-art operando spectroscopy techniques. This integrated approach will elucidate the impact of oxide modifiers on the silica surface on catalyst properties, as well as on the activity, selectivity, and stability of Cu catalysts developed herein. Moreover, it will enable insight into the role of oxide supports in determining the size, stability, and oxidation state of Cu nanoparticles, thereby influencing their activity and selectivity.
Topic: Supported Cu-based catalysts for hydrogenolysis
Funding: Czech Science Foundation - 20-28093S
Date: 2020-2022
Goal: The main goal is to shed light on the relationship between synthesis, structure and hydrogenolysis activity of supported Cu catalysts. A partial goal is to maximize Cu dispersion and its stability in the catalysts.
Abstract: The main goal of the project proposal is to contribute to the understanding of the fundamental issues that lie at the heart of the structure–activity relationship paradigm of the Cu-based hydrogenolysis catalysts. The project will thus focus on controlled synthesis of Cu-based supported catalysts on a variety of well-defined supports to obtain hydrogenolysis catalysts with different structural and physico-chemical properties. In particular, variations in Cu cluster size and improvements in its long-term stability (i.e. sinter-resistance) will be attempted. The activity, selectivity as well as stability of the catalytic activity of the synthesized catalysts will be investigated in hydrogenolysis of esters and the results will be correlated with the catalyst structural and physico-chemical properties to provide information on the structure-activity relationships useful for rational design of hydrogenolysis catalysts.
Topic: Development of environmentally friendly hydrogenation catalysts
Funding: Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic – FV40158
Duration: 2019-2022
Goal: The goal of the project is to develop a new chromium-free catalyst having a comparable stability, activity and durability as the currently used catalyst containing copper and chromium. The new catalyst will be a more environmentally friendly alternative of the current catalyst not only from the application point of view, but also from the catalyst production point of view as the amount of toxic wastes containing chromium (VI) will be reduced.
Project partner: Ranido, s.r.o.
Topic: Investigation and optimization of promoted CuZnAl hydrogenation catalysts
Funding: Czech Science Foundation - 17-05704S
Date: 2017-2019
Goal: The goal of the project is to describe the relationship between the composition, structure and properties of promoted CuZnAl catalysts and their catalytic activity and selectivity in hydrogenation and hydrogenolytic reactions.
Abstract: The project investigates promoted CuZnAl hydrogenation catalysts. The hydrogenation catalysts based on CuZn are promising catalysts for hydrogenation of chemical specialties, such as esters. CuZnAl catalysts will be synthesized under controlled conditions relying on co-precipitation, deposition and impregnation methods. The catalysts will be characterized in detail by physico-chemical characterization techniques. This will allow rationalizing the relationship between catalyst synthesis parameters and catalyst structure and its properties. The hydrogenation performance of the synthesized CuZnAl catalysts will be studied by hydrogenation of two model ester compounds (dimethyl adipate and methyl caproate) to the corresponding alcohols. This will facilitate the description of the relationship between the catalyst structure and properties, on the one hand, and catalyst activity and selectivity, on the other hand. The stability of the catalysts will be studied as well.
