9406893 Burgess This award is under the International Junior Investigator and Postdoctoral Fellows Program, which enables U.S. scientists and engineers to conduct three to twelve months of research abroad at research centers of proven excellence. The program's awards provide opportunities for joint research, and the use of unique or complementary facilities, expertise and experimental conditions abroad. This award will support a twelve month postdoctoral research visit by Dr. Caroline E. Burgess to work with Dr. William Jackson of Monash University in Australia. The aim of this research is to develop catalysts for the efficient conversion of coals into fluid fuels suitable for power generation. Reactions in this project will involve a selection of low-rank coals from Japan, Australia and the US. Catalysts for reactions with CO and synthesis gas (CO, H2) will be developed. In the case of lignitic coals, the as-mined coals with considerable water content will be reacted in an aqueous medium. The most efficient catalyst system will be developed to promote reactions with the readily attainable synthesis gas (CO/H2). Mixed catalytic systems will have to be developed which facilitate the breakdown of the coal with CO/H2O and then promote the reaction of the resulting fragments with H2. Dr. Burgess believes that it will be possible to gain valuable information into the chemical structure of low-rank coals by this study. ***
