Homogeneous Supported Catalyst Technologies: the sustainable approach to highly-selective, fine chemicals production

Objective

This proposal is aimed at generating new fundamental knowledge and fostering new prospects and frontiers, training and transfer of knowledge in the field of highly efficient, highly selective, supported, recyclable catalysts. Target of the research programme are strongly innovative methodologies for the preparation, recovery and reuse of single-site, multipurpose, nanostructured catalytic materials, and the engineering of reactors based on these catalysts, as this represents an essential part towards the elaboration of sustainable production processes of high-added value fine chemicals. The approach pursued will be the immobilization of homogeneous catalysts, and particularly transition metal complexes, onto preformed (in)soluble supports (heterogenised catalysts). Materials defined at the nanometric level obtained by surface organometallic chemistry will be also included. The focus will be thereupon on their applications on specific, selected reactions. In this project, we plan to use advanced catalyst design to develop catalysts in which the support allows improvements in terms of activity, selectivity, catalyst lifetime and versatility, compared to their homogeneous counterparts. This will be an interdisciplinary, jointly executed research project encompassing complementary, synthetic (inorganic supports, ligands, organometallic compounds, functionalized polymers, dendrimers, nanoparticles), reactivity (homo- and heterogeneous catalyst screening and recycle, product analysis), characterization (advanced techniques for materials and in situ investigations), engineering (continuous-flow / supercritical flow reactors) and modelling activities.

Field of science

• /social sciences/economics and business/economics/sustainable economy
• /natural sciences/chemical sciences/organic chemistry/organometallic chemistry
• /social sciences/economics and business/economics/production economics

Programme(s)

• FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

Topic(s)

• PEOPLE-2007-1-1-ITN - Marie Curie Action: " Networks for Initial Training"

Call for proposal

FP7-PEOPLE-2007-1-1-ITN
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Funding Scheme

Coordinator

Participants (6)