Research

Our research focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and application of nanoporous materials, such as zeolites. Zeolites are crystalline aluminosilicate materials, and one of their most defining features are uniform, molecular-sized pores. Their intrinsic porosity and chemical composition have led zeolites to be important catalysts, adsorbents, and ion exchangers. Moreover, zeolites are extremely versatile in terms of their crystal size and morphology, pore structure, and location of their active sites, and targeted changes to these properties can have dramatic effects on their performance. Our research seeks to understand the underlying synthesis principles and how the resulting zeolite materials can be exploited for critical environmental and sustainable manufacturing uses.

adsorption and catalytic degradation for clean water solutions

Pollutants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have become ubiquitous in water sources worldwide. These compounds are used in the manufacturing of water- and stain-resistant products, and exposure from contaminated water can lead to serious health effects. Several adsorbents are being evaluated, and our work takes advantage of the adsorbent and catalytic properties of zeolites to both remove and break down these compounds into less harmful substances.

gas adsorption for greenhouse gas reduction

Hydrofluorocarbons are used as common refrigerants and were adopted to replace ozone layer-depleting chlorofluorocarbons. However, hydrofluorocarbons have warming potentials thousands of times greater than carbon dioxide, and their concentrations are rapidly increasing in the atmosphere. Nanoporous materials are well-known adsorbents for various gases, and our work continues to study the optimization of zeolites for the adsorption and sequestration of hydrofluorocarbons and other greenhouse gases.

catalytic conversion of biorenewable feedstocks

Zeolites are excellent catalysts for the production of many commodity chemicals due to their tunable acid sites, molecular sieving effects, high surface areas, stability, and diversity of pore structures. As we shift away from the use of fossil fuel to biorenewable feedstocks, research has shown promise for zeolites to successfully convert small, bio-based molecules to important industrial chemicals and chemical intermediates. In addition, biomass often contains new chemistries that have not yet been explored in traditional petrochemical conversions, and our research explores the development of new zeolitic materials to tackle this challenge.

catalytic pyrolysis of plastic

Pyrolysis is being studied as a way to convert waste plastics to useful chemicals and fuels. This process requires high temperatures to break down the plastics. As solid acid catalysts, zeolites have been shown to reduce the degradation temperatures and help reduce energy costs.

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