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EPSRC Reference: GR/M54254/01
Title: THE DESIGN OF NOVEL CATALYSTS BASED ON THE ACIDIC AND PSEUDOLIQUID PROPERTIES OF DAWSON HETEROPOLYACIDS
Principal Investigator: Taylor, Professor SH
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Chemistry
Organisation: Cardiff University
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 April 2000 Ends: 31 March 2003 Value (£): 52,303
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Catalysis & Applied Catalysis
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing Chemicals
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The catalytic properties of heteropoly-tungstates with the Dawson structure will be investigated for acid-catalysed alkene isomerization and alcohol dehydration activity. This class of heteropolyacid has received scant attention compared to the Keggin structure despite possessing a unique pseudoliquid phase capable of stabilising carbo-cation intermediates and promoting this type of chemistry. The characteristics of the pseudoliquid phase and the acidic nature of a range of unsupported and supported Dawson compounds will be investigated with a view to understanding how the fundamental nature of both can be tailored to design heterogeneous catalysts.Combined in situ characterisation and microreactor studies will be used to evaluate catalyst performance. MAS NMR and in situ FTIR will be used to identify the number and type of carbo-cation stabilised in the pseudo liquid phase. Acidic character will be assessed using TPD, UV and FTIR. Microreactor testing will be used to correlate the properties of the pseudoliquid phase and the acidic sites with measured activity and selectivity. The information collected from this study will be used to design novel heterogeneous catalysts for the direct synthesis of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) from methanol and, a) 1-butene or b) t-butanol.
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Organisation Website: http://www.cf.ac.uk