Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

The principal objective of the proposed research is to investigate and formulate a potential sustainable catalytic technology and a green polymer based nanotechnology for the production of advanced polymer materials. The research will involve the study of the coupling mechanism of catalytic metathesis and hydrogenation for the modification of diene-based polymers, the investigation of the production of high performance polymers from sustainable resources such as natural rubber, the synthesis of polymer based nanomaterials and the development of green continuous catalytic processes. The scientific approach will involve fundamental investigations on the design and synthesis of green catalysts and the development of advanced continuous catalytic reactor systems. The applicant's research laboratories are well equipped with facilities for the synthesis of catalytic materials and their characterization using a variety of techniques. The approach to develop promising catalytic systems will rely heavily on kinetic and mechanistic studies utilizing reactor systems developed in the applicant's laboratory. These include specialized gas consumption reactors and supercritical fluid reactor systems. Reactor techniques developed recently for nanomaterials including catalysts and polymers will also be utilized. Efforts will be made to invent efficient catalysts and to develop techniques for the design of catalysts in a manner such that the catalysts can provide high efficient activity and be removed easily in post-treatment operations. Interaction of various ligands with catalytic centers, catalyst support techniques, and supercritical fluid assisted catalytic techniques will be employed.As an output of this proposed research, concepts and models of economically realizing effective green catalytic processes and novel green catalytic techniques can be expected for potential commercialization. The research project will also help to train students and personnel with high research ability and innovative sense.