This grant is in the general area of analytical and surface chemistry and in the subfield of nuclear magnetic resonance studies of catalytic surface chemistry. Professor James M. Haw will develop and utilize nuclear magnetic resonance methods for the study of heterogeneous catalysts used in petroleum and chemical processing. In particular, methods to examine the chemical reactions in-situ will be utilized to follow both the products of reactions and intermediate species formed during ongoing reactions. Catalytic reactivity and deactivation will be studied with in-situ high field solid state magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance methods. Both zeolite catalysts and supported metal catalysts will be examined following the reactions of hydrocarbons and methanol and the effects of coking on the structure of species formed during and after reaction.
