CHY8424 : Contemporary Catalysis: Principles and Applications - Undergraduate Study

Offered for Year: 2020/21

Module Leader(s): Dr Simon Doherty
Lecturer: Dr John Errington

Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus

Semesters

Semester 1 Credit Value:	10
ECTS Credits:	5.0

Aims

This module aims to:

(i) instill the basic principles of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis currently used in synthetic organic chemistry and major industrial processes;

(ii) highlight the environmental threats arising from the reliance on petrochemical resources;

(iii) show how organometallic and metalorganic chemistry is being used to develop efficient catalysts for alternative "green" and sustainable processes;

(iv) provide an awareness of contemporary research through the analysis of recent papers from leading groups.

Outline Of Syllabus

Homogeneous Catalysis Dr. S. Doherty
The basic principles and elementary steps required to understand homogeneous catalysis will be covered using selected examples from a range of important transformation selected from rhodium- and cobalt-catalyzed hydroformylation, rhodium and ruthenium-catalysed hydrogenation, alkene oligomerisation and polymerization, metathesis, isomerization reactions, palladium catalyzed cross couplings and aminations, carbonylation of alkenes, rhodium catalyzed cyclisations and palladium catalyzed oxidation of alkenes. Current challenges and emerging areas will be explored; potential topics will be selected from the following; feedstock’s and renewable resources, photocatalysis, catalysis with nanoparticles and biocatalysis. The industrial relevance and importance of selected reactions will be highlighted and discussed.

Heterogeneous Catalysis and Related Chemistry
Dr. R.J. Errington
The importance of catalysis will be highlighted through a discussion of the challenges facing the chemicals industry, the principles of “green” chemistry, the use of the E-factor and the need to develop new sustainable processes. A brief historical overview will be presented, followed by descriptions of selected large-scale industrial processes such as Haber-Bosch ammonia synthesis, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, CO2 conversion to methanol, alkene polymerization, alkene metathesis and associated examples of molecular studies aimed at understanding the relevant small molecule activation chemistry. The principles of surface organometallic chemistry (SOMC) will be introduced and selected examples will illustrate how this can be used to produce uniform distributions of isolated reactive sites for detailed studies of surface reactivity. The relevance to process innovation using alternative feedstocks will be emphasized throughout.

Teaching Methods

Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.

Teaching Activities

Category	Activity	Number	Length	Student Hours	Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities	Lecture	16	0:30	8:00	A combination of lecture recordings and text published on VLE each week (2 per week)
Guided Independent Study	Assessment preparation and completion	1	15:00	15:00	Assignment 1 Preparation (25%)
Guided Independent Study	Assessment preparation and completion	1	15:00	15:00	Assignment 2 Preparation (25%)
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities	Lecture	1	36:00	36:00	Background reading of module topics set during semesters
Guided Independent Study	Independent study	1	21:00	21:00	Presentation based on specific topic (papers provided in weeks 1 or 2) (50%)
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities	Scheduled on-line contact time	1	1:00	1:00	Presentation (10 to 15 min presentation)
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities	Module talk	8	0:30	4:00	2 x 30 min session on problem solving, short presentations, discussion of a topic, Q&A etc
Total				100:00

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Much of the key material is conceptual and is suited to delivery via online lecture materials. The online module talks are designed to complement the online lecture material and provide the students with an increased appreciation of the topics involved. Detailed analysis of research papers provides an element of blended learning aimed at research level skills.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams

Description	Length	Semester	When Set	Percentage	Comment
Oral Presentation	15	1	A	50	10-15 mins individual presentation

Other Assessment

Description	Semester	When Set	Percentage	Comment
Written exercise	1	M	25	Alternate assessment (25%)
Written exercise	1	M	25	Alternate assessment (25%)

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The alternate assessment written exercises will assess the student's knowledge and understanding of the principles, development and practice of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis.

There will give 2 assignments each worth 25% (format to be confirmed by the team) and students will give a 10 or 15 min presentation based on a topic (papers provided) that will be provided early on in weeks 1 or 2. This will be worth 50%.

Study Abroad students may request to take their exam before the semester 1 exam period, in which case the format of the paper may differ from that shown in the MOF. Study Abroad students should contact the school to discuss this.

Reading Lists

CHY8424's Reading List

Timetable

Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
CHY8424's Timetable

Module