http://iic.pnnl.gov/ Institute for Integrated Catalysis Initiative en-us Wed, 11 May 2011 08:00:00 EST Wed, 11 May 2011 08:00:00 EST http://iic.pnnl.gov/rss/rss.xml Christine.sharp@pnnl.gov (Christine Sharp) http://www.pnnl.gov/contacts/staffinfo.asp?uid=7DEE44114B8CF4429416592810EA78AA http://iic.pnnl.gov/highlights.stm Thought to be an impurity in the industrial catalyst Cu-BTC, the copper ion Cu+ is actually part of the material and could expand the catalyst's repertoire, according to scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and University of Caen. By controlling the catalyst's surroundings, the team made the metal organic framework more reactive. http://www.pnnl.gov/contacts/staffinfo.asp?uid=7DEE44114B8CF4429416592810EA78AA http://iic.pnnl.gov/patents.stm Methods, systems, and devices for deep desulfurization of fuel gases. "A highly effective and regenerable method, system and device that enables the desulfurization of warm fuel gases by passing these warm gasses over metal-based sorbents arranged in a mesoporous substrate. This technology will protect Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalysts and other sulfur sensitive catalysts, without drastic cooling of the fuel gases. This invention can be utilized in a process either alone or alongside other separation processes, and allows the total sulfur in such a gas to be reduced to less than 500 ppb and in some instances as low as 50 ppb." Abstract of US Patent 8,158,545 http://www.pnnl.gov/contacts/staffinfo.asp?uid=7DEE44114B8CF4429416592810EA78AA http://iic.pnnl.gov/ Congratulations to Dr. Chuck Peden and Dr. Janos Szanyi at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Institute for Integrated Catalysis on co-editing a recent issue of Catalysis Today. This edition of the prestigious scientific journal focuses on mobile emissions control. The articles are based on a symposium at the 22nd Meeting of the North American Catalysis Society, held in Detroit, Michigan, in June 2011. As co-editors, Peden and Szanyi participated in the reviewing and editing of the 31 articles in the issue. http://www.pnnl.gov/contacts/staffinfo.asp?uid=7DEE44114B8CF4429416592810EA78AA http://iic.pnnl.gov/ Twisting and pinching slow a catalyst's ability to generate energy from hydrogen, according to scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis. In converting hydrogen to electricity, the catalyst uses claw-like extensions, called ligands, to get needed items in place. http://www.pnnl.gov/science/highlights/highlight.asp?id=1037 http://www.pnnl.gov/contacts/staffinfo.asp?uid=7DEE44114B8CF4429416592810EA78AA http://iic.pnnl.gov/ Scientists at the Institute for Integrated Catalysis used a new scanning/transmission electron microscope to analyze palladium nanoparticles loaded on hollow carbon nanofibers. http://www.emsl.pnl.gov/news/arra/stem.jsp. http://www.pnl.gov/contacts/staffinfo.asp?uid=7DEE44114B8CF4429416592810EA78AA http://iic.pnnl.gov/ Looking to nature for their muse, researchers at PNNL have used a common protein to guide the design of a material that can make energy-storing hydrogen gas. http://www.pnnl.gov/science/highlights/highlight.asp?id=1022. http://www.pnnl.gov/contacts/staffinfo.asp?uid=7DEE44114B8CF4429416592810EA78AA http://iic.pnnl.gov/ To turn bio-ethanol into chemicals that are typically made from petroleum, researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Washington State University have developed a new catalyst material that will convert the plant-derived alcohol into a chemical called isobutene. http://www.pnnl.gov/science/highlights/highlight.asp?id=1013. http://www.pnnl.gov/contacts/staffinfo.asp?uid=7DEE44114B8CF4429416592810EA78AA http://iic.pnnl.gov/ Scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis and Villanova University designed a nickel-based complex that more than doubled previously reported hydrogen gas production rates and increased the energy efficiency of the reaction. Additionally, the team found that adding water to the reaction significantly increased the reaction speed. http://www.pnnl.gov/science/highlights/highlight.asp?id=1003. http://www.pnl.gov/contacts/staffinfo.asp?uid=7DEE44114B8CF4429416592810EA78AA http://iic.pnnl.gov/ Early 2011 marked the launch of two new EMSL Research Campaigns, one of which is wholly dedicated to catalysis science. The campaign team recently achieved promising first results in their effort to gain direct insights into catalytic reactions on the surfaces of advanced metal oxide-based materials. In addition to EMSL scientists, the campaign team has drawn experts from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Institute for Integrated Catalysis; the University of California, Berkeley; and Pennsylvania State University. http://www.emsl.pnl.gov/news/arra/catalyst.jsp.