Kerry Mathew Dooley

Research Experience

We are currently researching new catalysts for various condensation reactions, for example, the condensations of acids and aldehydes to methylketones. Methylketones are important intermediates in pharmaceutical, pesticide and herbicide manufacture. Typical catalysts are supported rare-earth oxides. Anther route to methylketone manufacture is by the direct oxidation of alkenes, and we are examining this as well. For example, pulsing the flows of the reactants can reduce catalyst deactivation by varying the redox state of certain metal oxide catalysts.

With Carl Knopf, we have also embarked on a new project to enhance the catalytic hydrogenation of heavy oils and polymers inside a catalyst monolith. This makes use of an oscillating flow reactor, which results in high rates of bubble breakup and large interfacial areas in gas-liquid systems.

Our work on rapid carbonation of cements and cement/polymer composites using near-critical and supercritical fluids has now resulted in several publications. We have shown that typical mixes can be carbonated to high levels by an injection molding technique, and to moderate levels by reactive extrusion. We have shown that such cements possess certain attractive properties, namely lower porosity, better corrosion resistance in marine environments, and higher compressive strength. But the key property modification is in the pH, which is reduced to near neutral in carbonated cements, making them more suitable for some marine applications, and more compatible with pH sensitive reinforcing fibers.

• Previous catalysis research on supported acids (zeolites, macroporous polymers, mesoporous silicas) and mixed metal oxides, specifically on acid/aldehyde condensations, amidation, alkylaromatic and alkene oxidations, aromatic carbonylation, alkane dehydrogenation and methane coupling.
  
  
• Previous high-pressure processing and extraction research on supercritical fluid extraction (SCFE) of priority pollutants from contaminated soils, SCFE of low molecular weight organic solutes from polymers, catalytic reactions in SCFs, and application of SCFs to improving strength/adhesion properties of cements and cement/polymer composites by high-pressure carbonation.

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