CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY BENEFICIAL CATALYSIS The University of Kansas Sustaining Catalysis . Update 2020 Annual Report Sustain It’s on everyone’s mind today. How can each coun- try, each company, each individual contribute to Ability sustaining the Earth? At the Center for Environ- mentally Beneficial Catalysis, that question is the core of our existence. Thanking R.V. Chaudhari From 2003, our founders knew that it would take for 13 years of Innovation more than a single discipline or a lone investigator Deane E. Ackers Distinguished to solve today’s most pressing concerns, including Professor of Chemical Engineering clean energy and sustainable manufacturing. Emeritus R.V. has retired from KU and stepped down as For nearly two decades, the CEBC has sustained deputy director of the CEBC. His 45-year aca- our purpose. We have sustained our leadership, demic and research career has been prolific. A few of his contributions while at CEBC include: and we have sustained a contingent of KU fac- . A greener route to propylene glycol from ulty dedicated to the premise that innovations in vegetable oil-derived glycerol . “Ossification” — technique to immobilize chemistry and chemical engineering are vital to homogeneous metal catalysts effecting change across a broad spectrum of eco- . One-pot, lower temperature catalytic route logical, economical and energy grand challenges. to convert glycerol to lactic acid . Low-waste, low-cost BDO from plants With a culture of collaboration, the CEBC pushes . Tandem dehydrogenation/hydrogenolysis . Eco-friendly route from sugar to glucaric acid for change in education and research. We bridge He holds more than 60 patents in the U.S. and disciplines. We listen to stakeholders. We support India. His publications have garnered more inclusive learning spaces. And, we seek to develop than 11,000 citations. cleaner, safer, energy-efficient technologies that R.V. was named to the National Academy of Inventors in 2017, received the 2018 ORCS protect the planet and human health. Murray Raney Award, and earned one of four Higuchi Awards, the Irvin E. Youngberg Award In a year of unprecedented challenges, we are in Applied Sciences, in 2018. proud that the CEBC, its faculty and its research- R.V. took on the role of CEBC ers have Sustained Innovation, Discovery, Syn- deputy director in 2013, after the retirement of ergy, Education and Inspiration while Seeking Prof. Daryle Busch who, the Cutting Edge and New Frontiers. with Bala Subramaniam, founded the CEBC. Contributors: Claudia Bode, Nancy Crisp, Chris Lyon Designer: Nancy Crisp Copyright © 2020 www.cebc.ku.edu from the Director We seek . 2020 was a turbulent year, embroiled in a global pandemic, racial unrest Innovation and political turmoil. These events affected our lives in many ways expos- ing rifts and inequities in society, like never before. They serve as a pow- erful reminder that ensuring social justice is an important component of achieving sustainability, as enunciated by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis (CEBC) welcomes input from all stakeholders and remains fully committed to addressing the grand challenges of sustainability, including embracing diversity, equity and in- clusion as core values. Amid the tumult, a landmark event happened recently with lasting impli- cations on protecting our planet. The Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act was passed by the United States Congress. This bipartisan bill means that sustainable innovation becomes the law of the land. It is fitting that this law was passed during the year that marked the 50th Earth Day celebration. Previous Earth Day anniversaries celebrated the establish- ment of the Environmental Protection Agency as well as the passage of several landmark environmental legislations, including the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts. And in 2016, the United Nations chose Earth Day to sign the historic Paris Agreement on climate change. Passage of this law comes at a time when the global chemical industry is poised to invest in manufacturing to meet the rising demand for ev- eryday products. The expansion thus provides an opportunity for the in- dustry to transition to more sustainable technologies and raw materials. To aid this global effort, CEBC researchers are investigating renewable and recycled sources of carbon such as plant-based biomass, CO2 and end-of–use plastics as feedstock to make chemicals. We are using state- of-the-art tools to develop catalysts and technologies that minimize harm to the environment and human health. Some of these achievements are highlighted in this report. The resilience and productivity shown by the CEBC researchers and staff during the pandemic has been remarkable and inspirtional. With the help of our campus administrative leaders, we came together to ensure that we effectively sustain our mission. Our center will continue to thrive not only because of the many opportunities it provides to stakeholders but also on how they nurture its growth by impactful outputs. We owe much gratitude to our industry partners and science advisory board members for their steadfast support and guidance of our mission. We look forward to emerging even stronger with a brighter future. ACS Sustainable Chem. Sincerely, Eng. 2020, 8, 15, 5817–5818 https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ acssuschemeng.0c02596 Dr. Bala Subramaniam As an executive editor of the ACS Sustainable CEBC Director Chemical Engineering journal, Prof. Bala Subra- maniam contributed the editorial for the April 20, 2020 Earth Day 50th Anniversary issue . 2. A Boost for Biorefineries Alan Allgeier Kansas Corn Commission Award, $125,541, 3 years . Associate Professor of Investigators: Alan Allgeier (PI), Tom Binder Chemical Engineering Renewable fuels and chemicals comprise an essential CEBC is pleased to announce element of domestic policy for sustainable energy utilization Alan as our new Deputy Director. but are challenged by unfavorable market forces. Alan Alan joined KU as an Associate Allgeier is helping producers tackle these challenges. Professor of Chemical Engineering in 2017. With a strong background in catalysis and previous One way to do this is to direct a portion of ethanol, the largest successful career in industry, he brings exciting new ideas biofuel by volume, toward higher-value chemical derivatives, a to KU and CEBC. His vision, enthusiasm and collaborative strategy widely used by the petroleum industry. To be successful, talent helped launch the Great Plains Catalysis Society in though, the right chemical targets must be identified. Allgeier 2018. After the recent retirement of longtime CEBC Dep- won an award last year from the Kansas Corn Commission to uty Director R.V. Chaudhari, Alan has accepted the role of help ethanol producers do just that. Deputy Director on an interim basis for the next two years. “We’re developing techno-economic models and life-cycle analyses to assess the viability of various ethanol derivatives,” In addition to the KCC grant, Alan collaborates on industry said Allgeier. “Knowing which options are the most attractive, projects, and is currently heading a team of 22 faculty from we can optimize processes for their production, harnessing several universities on a major USDA grant opportunity. the strengths of both biotechnology and catalysis.” CEBC is all about collaboration, and that drives Allgeier says the project allows him to build relationships our programs forward. It’s very fulfilling to work with key stakeholders in Kansas and beyond, which is very in a supportive, collaborative community. beneficial in building his research at KU. To help the team pinpoint targets with both commercial and environmental — Alan Allgeier benefits, Allgeier collaborates with Tom Binder, one of several industry advisors sharing critical knowledge with the CEBC. Tom is retired as senior vice-president for research from agribusiness ADM, a long-time CEBC industry partner. We seek Ozonolysis Technology Sweetens Sustainability Value of Corn Harvest Leftovers . NSF PFI Award, $550,000, 3 years Investigators: Bala Subramaniam (PI), Erik Hagberg (co-PI), Tom Binder, Stef Green, Brandon Kinn Exposing a lignin solution to ozone gas yields flavoring CEBC’s ozonolysis technology is fast and safe. Ozone agents like vanillin and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (pHB) preferentially attacks carbon-carbon double bonds, plucking that could add nearly $3 for each gallon of ethanol off only the desired aromatics, leaving the rest of the lignin produced. The concept works with lignin from both corn intact for other uses. Vanillin and pHB not only garner value as cobs and stover. flavoring agents, but may also be used as a natural alternative to phenol for making renewable materials. This simple, yet For every kernel culled in the $3 billion annual Kansas corn intensified technology could thus yield a range of revenue- harvest, an equivalent mass of stalks, leaves and cobs remain. generating products. “This has much promise to revolutionize A CEBC research team led by Professor Bala Subramaniam and the corn industry,” says project consultant Dr. Thomas Binder. Erik Hagberg of agribusiness ADM is looking for ways to add commercial value to this vast supply of non-food biomass. If successful, the research could lead to scalable modules for the reactor and separator. The modules are designed One approach is to make use of lignin, a fraction of the biomass for distributed manufacturing, where processing facilities that is stubbornly stable. Despite progress in recent years, locate near farms to avoid shipping costs. This could mean technologies for turning lignin into useful compounds still more revenue for rural areas, less greenhouse gas emissions, suffer from catalyst instability and costly product separation. and renewable raw materials for consumer goods. Steps are The team has discovered a simple alternative—ozonolysis. underway to launch a startup company that will produce skid- mounted versions of the modular reactor and separator units. 3 . Companies in the value chain can license the technologies. I am so proud to be a member of the CEBC.