Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/T08326/01
Title:	Continuous flow homogeneous catalysis using supercritical fluids
Principal Investigator:	Cole-Hamilton, Professor D
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	Johnson Matthey Sasol Technology
Department:	Chemistry
Organisation:	University of St Andrews
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	22 November 2004	Ends:	21 May 2007	Value (£):	211,189
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Catalysis & Applied Catalysis Reactor Engineering
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Chemicals Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
Following our successful development of the first continuous flow homogeneous catalytic system in which the products are of relatively low volatility, which involves supercritical fluid - ionic liquid biphasic systems, we now wish to develop a process which can operate under milder conditions (especially lower pressure) using a wider range of catalysts. In this process we shall replace the ionic liquid as the solvent for the catalyst by the reaction products. This will allow the reactions to be carried out at lower overall pressure because the product will no longer require to be extracted from the ionic liquid, in which it is soluble. It will also remove the ionic liquid, over which there may be some residual environmental concerns. The new system will not necessarily require an ionic catalyst, so that the process will allow a wider range of catalysts to be employed. Insolubility of the catalyst in scCO2, but solubility in the reaction products will be ensured either by using ionic species or by using high molecular mass, low volatiity compounds.The new system will be developed and optimised using the hydroformylation of long chain alkenes as a test reaction, but will then be used to study a variety of other catalytic reactions for which product separation is an issue.Because we are proposing continuous flow operation, the separation of the products from the catalyst will be intrinsic to the process, thus overcoming a hurdle which has hindered the commercialisation of several otherwise very attractive homogeneous catalytic processes..
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Organisation Website:	http://www.st-and.ac.uk