This U.S.-Argentina award will provide support for collaborative research between Dr. Israel E. Wachs, Lehigh University, and Dr. Laura E. Briand, University de la Plata, Eduardo A. Lombardo, National University of the Coast and Dr. Maria J. Yanez, of the National University of the South, all of Argentina. The objective of their work is to obtain S-free products from catalytic selective oxidation of thiol molecules and to determine the fundamental reaction mechanisms of oxidative desulfurization. There is little known about such reactions, and the removal of sulfur by this means could have important application to fuel cells.
This international research collaboration maximizes the unique expertise of the research group in each country. The Argentina side has experience in the synthesis and characterization of bulk mixed metal oxides, and the Lehigh lab has expertise on the supported metal oxides. The collaborative effort between these two groups will give access to a broad range of catalysis skills and instrumentation to increase our understanding of these reactions.
