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Medlin Research Group
Surface reactivity of bifunctional molecules
 Recent studies have shown that the properties of metal catalysts can be fine-tuned by controlling the composition of the metal surface with high precision. In this project, we are investigating the possibility of designing metal surfaces that are selectively reactive toward a particular functional group of a bifunctional molecule (Fig. 1). Efficiency gains resulting from enhanced selectivity lead to improved process economics and reduced environmental impact. We are focusing on two selective reduction processes as probe reactions:
- Selective hydrogenation of 1-epoxy-3-butene to butylene oxide or unsaturated alcohols. By controlling the relative affinity of metal catalysts for the epoxide function versus the olefin function, we can target a particular set of products, both of which have commercial applications.
- Selective reduction of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HPA) to 1,3-propanediol. For this reaction—a key step in proposed “biorefinery” operations to produce petrochemicals from biorenewables—it is desirable to selectively reduce the carboxylic acid functionality to an alcohol.
A combination of experimental and theoretical methods is used to study the factors that control selective binding of different functional groups in bifunctional molecules. Surface compositions identified by fundamental studies as showing promising selectivity will be prepared as supported metal catalysts using electroless or atomic layer deposition techniques and tested under realistic processing conditions in pressurized reactors. The investigations of reaction (1) are conducted in conjunction with researchers at the University of South Carolina who have expertise in catalyst preparation and characterization techniques. The studies of reaction (2) will be part of a collaborative effort with the Gill group in which our goal is to develop integrated biorefinery processes. The combined effort will increase the likelihood that a complete process can be synthesized, since catalyst tolerance to fermentation byproducts is expected to be a critical issue.
Other areas of research in the Medlin Research Group:
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