Abstract

A promising approach for the economic production of drop-in fuel substitutes, such as sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), is the use of hydrogen-free processes driven by multifunctional catalysts. Our research focuses on alcohol upgrading and deoxygenation cascades that yield only water, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide. This hydrogen-free process is catalyzed by multifunctional Pd catalysts, supported on materials with varied acid-base properties: primarily basic MgO, acidic γ-Al₂O₃, and Mg-Al hydrotalcite (HT), which offers a balance of Lewis acidic and basic sites. This process is currently being developed for aviation applications.

In the second part of the talk, Dr. Voutchkova will explore how the ACS Green Chemistry Institute is accelerating innovation in green and sustainable chemistry through: (i) fostering knowledge exchange and cross-sector collaboration; (ii) partnering with industry to drive the adoption of green chemistry and develop essential research tools and metrics; and (iii) training the chemistry workforce to create more sustainable processes, chemicals, and materials.