The Exploitation of Micro Reactors to Efficiently Manufacture Highly Active Nano Catalysts for Green Chemistry

Supervisors: Dr Paul Watts and Dr M. Grazia Francesconi, University of Hull - Department of Chemistry

The main objective of this project is preparation and functionalization of metal oxide nanoparticles in a microfluidic reactor. The advantages of this innovative approach are numerous. Firstly, synthesis of nanoparticles in micro reactors assures better homogeneity of the particles size and favours the production of monodisperse particles, compared to more traditional "on the bench" synthetic approaches. Secondly, the use of a micro reactor provides a process for continuous production and functionalization (e.g. via surface ligand exchange or surface coating with organic or inorganic polymers) of nanoparticles, which is set to be matched with the requirements for an industrial process, in view of scaling out the technique. Thirdly, within these production processes, environmentally friendly solvents (e.g. water-based media) and reagents will be used to minimize environmental impact.

One of the applications for the nanoparticles prepared in this project will be heterogeneous catalysis of industrially relevant organic reactions. There are many advantages associated with the use of heterogeneous catalysts, ranging from ease of handling to increased stability and isolation from the resulting reaction mixture. However, their use on a production scale is precluded by the costs associated with the catalytic material itself and the reduced lifetimes that can be experienced due to mechanical degradation when employed in stirred tank reactors. In fact, many organic reactions, conventionally, are catalysed by expensive metals such as Au, Ag, Pt and Pd. However, it has been found that cheaper compounds such as Fe₂O₃, Fe₃O₄, MnFe₂O₄ and CoFe₂O₄ are also catalytically active when appropriately functionalised. This project will focus on establishing robust synthetic routes to obtain and functionalise nanoparticles of catalysts in a microreactor reproducible and, subsequently to test their catalytic activity by carrying out a series of synthetically important.

For further information contact either:

Dr Paul Watts Dr M Grazia Francesconi
Department of Chemistry Department of Chemistry
The University of Hull The University of Hull
Cottingham Road Cottingham Road
Hull Hull
HU6 7RX HU6 7RX

Tel: +44 (0)1482 465471 Tel: +44 (0)1482 465409
Email: P.Watts@hull.ac.uk Email: m.g.francesconi@hull.ac.uk

The studentship will start in September 2010 (or earlier if required).

Dr M. Grazia Francesconi

Department of Chemistry

University of Hull

Cottingham Road

Hull, HU6 7RX

UK

Tel 0044 (0)1482 46 5409