Prof. Mahdi Abu-Omar, Purdue University

Adding value to lignin and biomass by controlled chemical catalysis

Inorganic Chemistry Seminar Series

Transition metal catalysts have been an integral part of the success story of the petrochemical industry in the past century. Two of the grand challenges for this century are renewable energy and the utilization of green resources. Approximately 1.4 billion tons of lignocellulosic biomass is an annually renewable source of energy and feedstock in the U.S. alone. The major components of biomass are cellulose, hemicellulose/xylan, and lignin- all polymeric and contain high percentage of oxygen. I will describe catalytic processes based on cheap and abundant materials that can be employed in tandem to unravel polymeric biomass into soluble components and their subsequent transformation into fuels and high value organics.

For more information contact Prof. Joseph Sadighi (404-385-2244).