UK: PhD studentship – Department of Chemistry

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