Increased utilization of natural gas in place of petroleum- based products would benefit the environment as well as the National economy. However, technological hurdles currently prevent much greater use of natural gas in several key applications. The School of Chemical Engineering and Materials Sciences (CEMS) at the University of Oklahoma is the lead department in a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional center being formed to develop environmentally friendly natural gas technologies. Research goals include technologies for methane conversion to higher value chemicals, high density natural gas storage at moderate temperature and pressure, technologies for natural gas vehicles' emissions control, and improved natural gas fuel cells. The five Graduate Research Traineeships will help build the foundation of the new center and contribute to its mission. The traineeships will be awarded in Fall, 1994 to five graduate students entering CEMS. Trainees will be involved in collaborative research with colleagues in industry, in other disciplines, and at other universities. Trainees also will have the opportunity to serve as mentors for undergraduate researchers, a program designed to enhance the research experience of the trainee and influence the undergraduate to consider graduate chemical engineering study.
