The Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw invites to a seminar by
Prof. Dalmo Mandelli
Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Brasil
Title: Adding Value to Oil Derivatives and Biorenewables: Catalysis in the Era of Energy Transition
Date: 30th October 2023, Monday
Time: 12:00 pm (Central European Time)
Host: Silvio Osella, PhD, DSc
The seminar will be in the CeNT aula hall (00.142) on the main floor.
Abstract:
Results on the chemical transformation of oil-derived hydrocarbons and alcohols, using different homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts will be presented. During the last years, the use of biorenewables has become more and more important. Thus, the knowledge previously obtained by the Brazilian group, in partnership with researchers of different countries, on the valorization of oil derivatives was applied to natural compounds. Results on oxidation of linear and cyclic alkanes, alkenes, and alcohols will be shown, using simple salts and/or complexes as homogenous catalysts (based on Fe, Os, Cu, Mn, Al, Ga). Typically, H2O2 was used as a green oxidant, as it generates only water as a byproduct. Doing a bridge between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, solids such as Al2O3, Ga2O3, natural clays, and Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) were also studied as catalysts. Thinking of the valorization of natural compounds, the metathesis of different natural products was also studied. Brazil is responsible for the production of nearly 30% of oranges in the world, which has its peel rich in limonene. Thus, interesting results were obtained using Ru homogeneous complexes as catalysis for limonene, pinene, and other natural compounds, such as a-pinene, carvone, limonene oxide, and eugenol (including some derivatives) were tested. The products have been tested against Chagas disease and schistosomiasis, which are neglected diseases affecting Latin American and African countries.
