ACC-F: Development of Hydrogenation Catalysts for the Deoxygenation of Polyols

University Of Washington, Seattle WA

Investigators

Abstract

The Division of Chemistry supports Takiya Ahmed of the University of Washington as an American Competitiveness in Chemistry Fellow. Dr. Ahmed will study the catalytic conversion of low-value polyols to higher-value chemical products. Dr. Ahmed will conduct her research at the University of Washington's Center for Enabling New Technologies through Catalysis (Prof. Karen Goldberg, Director) and The Dow Chemical Company (Midland, MI). In her plan for broadening participation, Dr. Ahmed will develop a virtual mentoring network for underrepresented minority scientists using the AccessGrid. Dr. Ahmed will concentrate on developing this primarily in the Pacific Northwest, where the numbers of underrepresented minority scientists tend to be small and geographically dispersed. Dr. Ahmed's research is of potential practical importance, in that it may lead to a process enabling the conversion of a low-value byproduct from biodiesel manufacture (glycerol) to be efficiently converted into a more valuable chemical (e.g. 1,3-propanediol). The ultimate aim of research like this is to make liquid biofuel processing more economically competitive. The efforts at broadening participation being pursued by Dr. Ahmed are aimed at increasing the participation of young people from underrepresented groups in the sciences.