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Zeolites Don´t Mind Hot Water

Volume 90 Issue 20 | p. 10 | News of The Week
Issue Date: May 14, 2012


By Stephen K. RitterDepartment: Science & Technology | Collection: Entrepreneurs 
News Channels: Materials SCENEJACS In C&EN

 

Tacking hydrophobic organosilyl groups onto the surface of a common zeolite helps overcome the catalyst’s inability to function effectively when liquid water is the reaction medium, chemical engineers have found. The researchers believe their water-repelling zeolite could be a hit for high-pressure water/oil emulsion processing of biomass into fuels and chemicals. The protecting group strategy could also benefit other types of catalysts that are inhibited by water, they say.

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