Doctoral themes 2023

Ru-Catalyzed Reduction of CO₂ and Depolymerization of Polyesters and Polyamides 

Supervisors

Maria João Ferreira, m.joao.ferreira@tecnico.ulisboa.pt

Luís Veiros, veiros@tecnico.ulisboa.pt

Marina Kirillova, kirillova@tecnico.ulisboa.pt 

Registration Institution

Instituto Superior Técnico

Project description

Human activity, especially since the XIX century, has had a very negative impact on the planet. The accumulation of man-made chemicals in the environment upsets natural systems that cannot deal the quantities produced (e.g., CO₂) or degrade these substances in an effective way (e.g., most man-made polymeric materials). This is inducing a change in the climate with potential catastrophic consequences. There is therefore an urgent need to develop new methods, catalytic systems, and processes to mitigate these problems.

As a part of our research in the areas of coordination chemistry and homogeneous catalysis, a new type of highly active ruthenium catalyst has recently been developed for the hydrogenation of aldehydes, ketones, and olefins, as well as the transformation of esters to alcohols. The main aim of the present project proposal is to test the most promising catalyst and design improved catalytic systems for three reactions of environmental relevance: 1) the reduction of CO₂; 2) the depolymerization of polyesters; 3) the depolymerization of polyamides. The study of the mechanisms of these catalytic reactions is also envisaged and will combine carefully planned NMR, catalytic and GC-MS experiments with DFT calculations. The insight given by these studies will aid in catalyst redesign, to increase the hydricity of the metallic hydride, and consequently, increase catalytic performance.

  Most of the experimental and theoretical studies will be carried out at CQE-IST. The project proposal includes a 3 months secondment to TU Wien (Austria), in the group of Prof. Kirchner, an expert in catalytic hydrogenation reactions.

Keywords

Environmental Catalysis

Carbon Dioxide Conversion

Depolymerization

Plastic Waste Conversion

Sustainable Chemistry