Small molecule activation encompasses various catalytic processes which are currently conducted on the industrial scale, such as steam reforming of methane and ammonia synthesis, and which are of tremendous global importance. In addition to this, there are a number of interesting, and potentially societally transformative, target reactions such as the valorisation of carbon dioxide.
Providing a state-of-the-art account of the area of small molecule activation this book brings together some of the challenges and approaches to catalytic activation of methane, nitrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Discussing a mixture of currently operated industrial processes and highly desirable target reactions using heterogeneous catalysis, electrocatalysis, photocatalysis and chemical looping approaches it is a valuable resource for academics and industrial researchers alike.
Mustafa Yasin Aslan obtained his PhD degree in Chemical Engineering at Middle East Technical University in Turkey in 2019 under the supervision of Prof. Deniz Uner. Currently, he is working for the Department of Chemical Engineering at Usak University in Turkey. During his PhD, he worked on supported Ru based ammonia synthesis catalysts applying time-interrupted conditions to investigate a possible solution to manufacture ammonia in a more sustainable way in terms of both environment and energy.
Angela Daisley is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Glasgow, where she obtained her MSci in Chemistry in 2016 and PhD in heterogenous catalysis in 2020. Her research involves the synthesis and characterisation of novel materials for ammonia synthesis suitable for operation on a localised scale at low temperatures and pressures. Her work has focused on developing the understanding on the possible structure-activity and composition-activity relationships for metal nitrides in the synthesis of ammonia. She is currently the Secretary to the Society of Chemical Industry Scotland group.
Justin Hargreaves is Professor of Catalytic Materials Chemistry in the School of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow where he is currently Head of School. He obtained his PhD from the University of Liverpool in 1990 and went onto postdoctoral positions at ETH Zurich and the University of Liverpool before being appointed a Senior Research Fellow at Nottingham Trent University and then Principal Scientist at University of Liverpool. He was appointed to the University of Glasgow in 2002. His research interests focus on structure-activity relationships in heterogeneous catalysis and he has worked in the areas of nitrogen activation, methane conversion and zeolite catalysis.
Jose Rico obtained his BSc, MSc and PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Michoacan University and the Slovak Technical University. He has spent other research periods with Prof. Roel Prins at ETH Zurich; Prof. Masaru Ichikawa at the Hokkaido University; Prof. Eric Derouane at the University of Liverpool, and Prof. J.S.J. Hargreaves at the University of Glasgow, UK. Since 1993 Dr. Rico is a staff member of the Department of Chemical Engineering of the Michoacan University, Mexico. His research interest focuses on heterogeneous catalysis in the areas of hydrotreating, production of hydrogen, water treatment, ammonia synthesis and biofuels
