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Selective ethylene oxidation on novel curved model catalysts

Project description

Novel catalysts to broaden understanding of ethylene oxide production

Ethylene epoxidation is an industrially vital reaction to produce ethylene oxide. This valuable compound is used in a wide range of applications, from making personal care items and manufacturing high-value chemicals to sterilising medical equipment. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the CURVEO project will introduce new methods to thoroughly study the mechanism of ethylene oxidation under realistic reaction conditions. Researchers will employ curved single crystals with tuneable surface structures as model catalysts to unveil site-specific reaction pathways for ethylene oxidation. These model catalysts should largely help in exploring the formation of different intermediate species and determine the selectivity of the oxidation reaction.

Objective

Heterogeneous catalysis has made a wide range of highly functionalized materials available to us and therefore is an important contributor to economy and society. Ethylene epoxidation is a keystone process of the chemical industry, because it produces one of the building block chemicals, ethylene oxide, from which a range of high-value chemicals can be manufactured. However, product formation competes with complete combustion to CO2, and the process is nowadays the largest CO2 emitter of the European industry. The reaction mechanisms that lead to either EO or CO2 formation, as well as the role of the catalytic surface, are still not determined.
The project will implement a new approach to study the mechanism of ethylene oxidation under realistic reaction conditions, while making use of surface-sensitive and atomically accurate techniques. We will employ curved single crystals with tuneable surface structures as model catalysts to unveil site-specific reaction pathways for ethylene oxidation under both UHV and reaction conditions. We will explore the formation of different intermediate species, and determine the selectivity of the ethylene oxidation reaction. This approach significantly exceeds the current state-of-the-art, setting a new paradigm for the understanding of catalytic systems. The impact on academic research and industrial applications will be substantial.

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01

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Coordinator

UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 165 312,96
Address
BARRIO SARRIENA S N
48940 LEIOA
Spain

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Region
Noreste País Vasco Gipuzkoa
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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