Marie Curie Actions: Inspiring Researchers - Imdea

A ‘fluent’catalytic processThe term ‘catalysis’ generally refers to a process thatcan speed up or slow down chemical reactions with thehelp of a catalyst. During the process, the catalyst canbe deactivated, but is never consumed. The addition ofpairs of hydrogen atoms to a molecule – a process calledhydrogenation – is one such catalytic process, used in thefood industry to turn liquid vegetable oils into semi-solid fats,such as margarine. Hydrogenation usually requires a metalcatalyst that will facilitate the binding of the hydrogen and,in this case, the unsaturated fatty acids in the vegetable oil.The degree of saturation in our margarine, attained throughthis process, will determine a number of properties, suchas its melting point.‘Catalysed processes can bring about chemical transformationswith high selectivities and yields in the desired products,’explains Dr Maurizio Peruzzini, research director at theIstituto di Chimica dei Composti OrganoMetallici (ICCOM) inFlorence, Italy, the lead partner in the Aquachem network. Onthe downside, catalysed processes often require a solvent todissolve the catalyst. The solvent can then end up as a wasteproduct and, in some cases, may even be toxic.Solvents of the future‘Green solvents’ could provide an alternative to potentiallyenvironmentally harmful solvents and have been the topic ofmany a conversation between researchers. Desired features:maximum effi ciency, as little waste as possible, sustainable,recyclable, renewable, non-toxic, non-carcinogenic. Thepossible solution: water. ‘Water is a cheap and non-toxicsolvent, making it attractive in terms of economy and safety,’Dr Peruzzini points out. Yet, water as a solvent has somedisadvantages, including the fact that a large amount ofenergy and time is usually needed to separate the productfrom the water.This is where the Aquachem network comes in: 11 toplaboratories from inside and outside Europe pooled their skillsand know-how in order to advance sustainable chemistryand ‘develop and implement the use of catalytic processescompatible with aqueous media, providing a unique training17