Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Carbon dioxide is often hated because it's the gas that causes global warming. However, the waste CO2 that's collected from power plants and other industries can be recycled in ways that make it useful. The long term goal of my research program is to find new applications of waste CO2, with an emphasis on reactions of CO2 with, or promoted by, organic bases. This work includes conversion of CO2 into useful products, the use of CO2 as a temporary process aid, and related research such as greener syntheses of organic bases. The proposed work is divided into three themes. Theme 1. Chemistry of Organic Bases. CO2 chemistry often requires metal catalysts and/or organic bases such as amines. A common method of preparing amines and polymeric amines produces aqueous waste that is heavily contaminated with salts. We will seek a greener process. In a second project, we will develop metal complexes that can react with CO2 in an unprecedented manner, binding the CO2 between a metal atom and an organic base such as an amidine or guanidine. Theme 2. Avoiding Flammable Solvents. In this theme, we will evaluate a new method, using CO2, for separating organic compounds such as bio-derived products from water. Separations are the most energy-costly steps in chemical manufacturing, especially in the production of chemicals from biomass. If the new method requires less energy than traditional methods, then this could make it easier for society to use sustainable feedstocks. In a second project, we will determine whether CO2-responsive solvents can simplify the process of manufacturing some organic products by both a) promoting the reaction and b) facilitating the post-reaction separation of the products from the solvent. Theme 3. Switchable Heterogeneous Catalysts. In chemical manufacturing, catalysts could be even more useful if they had the ability to selectively and sequentially catalyze one reaction and then another; to catalyze a reaction and then protect themselves from air during separation; or to change their chemoselectivity from one product to another depending on what the operator wished at the time. We will develop such catalysts. Overall, these projects will lead to methods for the greener manufacturing of the chemicals needed by Canadian society, consuming less energy, using more sustainable feedstocks (biomass and CO2) and decreasing the production of metal- or chlorine-containing waste. Students will be trained in a research program in green chemistry, emphasizing technical skills, communication skills, creativity, safety, and breadth of learning. In order to encourage breadth of learning, I have students interact with faculty in other disciplines, with industry, with patent agents, and with GreenCentre Canada. In order to encourage creativity and inventiveness, students are encouraged to contribute intellectually to their projects and are consequently often named as inventors on our patent applications.