Urakawa

Research group

FULL REPORT

Abstract

We develop novel heterogeneous catalysts and catalytic processes with the aim to minimize the energy usage and negative impacts of such processes on environment while achieving high product yield and selectivity. We take a multi-disciplinary approach based on material science, reaction engineering, and in situ spectroscopy to gain solid comprehension of the active sites and the transformation pathways. Currently our major attentions are given to the conversion of CO2 and CO2-derived chemicals into fuels and useful chemicals and also to the production of hydrogen, the important molecule for CO2 reduction. Also, powerful in situ spectroscopic tools for studying solid materials and gas-solid and solid-liquid interfaces are being developed and applied to shed light on catalytic reaction mechanisms.

Topics addressed

  • Catalytic CO2 conversion
  • High-pressure synchrotron XRD: Detecting accelerated methane hydrate formation
  • Rational and statistical approach in catalyst and process design

Articles

“Rational and Statistical Approaches in Enhancing the Yield of Ethylene Carbonate in Urea Transesterification with Ethylene Glycol over Metal Oxides”
ACS Catalysis (2015) 5, 6284-6295
D. Fakhrnasova, R. J. Chimentão, F. Medina, A. Urakawa

“Methane hydrate formation in confined nanospace can surpass nature”
Nature Communication (2015) 6, 6432
M. E. Casco, J. Silvestre-Albero, A. J. Ramírez-Cuesta, F. Rey, J. L. Jordá. A. Bansode, A. Urakawa. I. Peral, M. Martínez-Escandell, K. Kaneko, F. Rodríguez-Reinoso

“One-pot conversion of furfural to useful bio-products in the presence of a Sn,Al-containing zeolite beta catalyst prepared via post-synthesis routes”
Journal of Catalysis (2015) 329, 522-537
M. M. Antunes, S. Lima, P. Neves, A. L. Magalhães, E. Fazio, A. Fernandes, F. Neri, C. M. Silva, S. M. Rocha, M. F. Ribeiro, M. Pillinger, A. Urakawa, A. A. Valente

“Cycloaddition of CO2 and Epoxides over Reusable Solid Catalysts”
Advanced Catalytic Materials (Book, Wiley) (2015) 8, 271-314
L. F. Bobadilla, S. Lima, A. Urakawa