8th USIAS seminar - New catalytic supports for a greener and more selective chemistry

Vincent Ritleng, USIAS Fellow 201

Traditionally in industry, the production of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals is performed in batch reactors using homogeneous or, more often, slurry catalysts. However, this technology allows only limited control of the reactive species, which means that yields and/or selectivity often can be diminished. Moreover, recovering the metal-based catalyst is a difficult and costly operation. Finally, in the case of multiphasic reactions, which are limited by gas-liquid and/or by liquid-solid mass transfers, this technology is extremely limiting and often requires operating at high pressure.

Continuous processes based on Structured Catalytic Supports (SCS) allow efficient mass transfers, intimate mixing of the reagents and an easy catalyst separation step, and thus constitute an attractive alternative to conventional reactors. Solid open cell foams made from polyurethane are composed of a biomaterial, exist in different shapes, and are flexible and inexpensive. This seminar will report on the challenge to use Open Cell PolyUrethane Foams (OCPUF) as efficient catalytic supports by establishing a proof of concept. This should open the way for more selective, more efficient, less expensive and more environmentally friendly catalysts for the production of fine chemicals.