Russell R. Chianelli
University of Texas at El Paso, USA
Title: Catalytic materials from theory and synthesis to comercialization
Biography
Biography: Russell R. Chianelli
Abstract
The recent development of commercial software able to determine or predict catalytic activity, has led to commercialization and potential commercialization of the TMS catalytic materials as described in reference 1. Additionally, we have developed a fundamental understanding of the catalytic materials as described in reference 2. This report will describe how the following interdisciplinary scheme has been applied to the TMS catalytic materials.rnrnShell Oil after WWII commercialized unsupported TMS catalytic materials but these were soon replaced for commercial reasons with the currently popular Al203 supported catalysts. In the 1970’s researchers concluded, incorrectly, that the Al203 was fundamentally involved in the “Promotion Effect”. This effect today is understood in detail as the sharing of non-bonding d electrons in clusters that mimic noble metal for example Co9S8 + MoS2. This result we call “Goldilocks” which will be discussed during the report.rnNew TMS catalysts are developed through theory, synthesis, characterization and then the use of model reactions. In our case we have used the HDS of dibenzothiophene as our model reaction and over the years it predicts accurately behavior in real petroleum feeds and rapidly screens catalysts for real feed tests. Behavior in real feeds is required to move closer to commercialization. In the case of the TMS we have three different exciting real feed results and our catalyst are being commercialized. Another commercial task is to scale-up from laboratory quantities (grams) to sale quantities (pounds – tons). New issues are often involved and commercialization requires teamwork.rnrnrn
