Tech Spotlight: Heterogenous Catalyst for Improved Selectivity in Industrial Processes

Heterogeneous catalysts are widely used in industrial processes because of their stability and ease of separation from the reactant phase compared to their homogenous counterparts. A continual challenge in the advancement of heterogeneous catalysts is in the improvement of selectivity, which can significantly reduce costs of product purification and waste. Historically, homogenous catalysts offer high selectivity utilizing specific interactions, while heterogeneous catalysts employing these principles are lacking. A University of Colorado research group led by Will Medlin has discovered a method for improving selectivity in heterogeneous catalysts using a palladium catalyst with a thiol coating. This breakthrough has particular applications in reactions of many biomass-derived molecules.

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