Remco Dalebout

Promoted and bimetallic Cu-based catalysts for synthesis gas conversion

Ethanol and higher alcohols are promising fuels/fuel additives and chemical building blocks. Bioethanol is commercially produced via fermentation of sugars, but can alternatively be synthesized via biomass-derived synthesis gas (CO/H₂) [1]. Alkali-promoted CuCo bimetallics and Mn-promoted Cu-based catalysts show promising results towards higher oxygenates, but lack of sufficient particle size control and reproducibility [2].

The focus of this study is to find reproducible and particle size-controlled, Cu-based catalysts towards a selective, active, and stable production of higher oxygenates via CO hydrogenation. Promoter and bimetallic effects are studied by using different surface-tuned, carbon-based supports [3]. pH-controlled incipient wetness impregnation and colloidal approaches will be explored to synthesize the catalysts. Catalytic activity and long-term stability tests will be investigated in high-pressure and high-temperature parallel reactors.

[1] V. Subramani et al., Energy Fuels, 22, 814-839 (2008)
[2] M. Gupta et al., ACS Catal., 1, 641-656 (2011)
[3] J. L. Figueiredo, J. Mater. Chem. A, 1, 9351-9364 (2013)

C.V.

PhD candidate at the MaterialsChemistry and Catalysis group, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, under supervision of prof. dr. P. E. (Petra) de Jongh and prof dr. ir. K. P. (Krijn) de Jong. Project title: Promoted and bimetallic Cu-based catalysts for synthesis gas conversion.

2016
Traineeship student at the Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University, United Kingdom, under supervision of dr. M. (Meenakshisundaram) Sankar and prof. dr. P. E. (Petra) de Jongh. Project title: Solvent-free selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol with molecular oxygen over palladium-based bimetallic catalysts.

2014-2016
Master student Nanomaterials: Chemistry and Physics at Utrecht University (cum laude). Thesis performed at the Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, under supervision of C. E. (Lisette) Pompe, MSc and prof. dr. P. E. (Petra) de Jongh. Project title: Stability and promoter effects of carbon-supported, copper-based catalysts in methanol synthesis.

2013-2016
Student instructor for bachelors Chemistry and Molecular Life Sciences at Utrecht University, involving the organization of collective and individual student-for-a-day programs.

2012-2013
Student assistant for the bachelor Chemistry at Utrecht University, involving assistance with practical work, orientation days, and student-for-a-day programs.

2011-2014
Bachelor student Chemistry at Utrecht University (cum laude). Thesis performed at the Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, under supervision of R. (Robin) Jastrzebski, MSc and dr. C. A. (Pieter) Bruijnincx. Project title: Volarization of lignin derived catechol by iron(III) catalyzed deoxygenation and ethenolysis.