Seminar

ABSTRACT:  This seminar focuses on solving engineering challenges related to the continuous production of HNBR and NBR emulsion. Part 1 - Hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) which is known for its excellent elastomeric properties and mechanical retention properties after long time exposure to heat, oil and air is produced by the catalytic hydrogenation of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) using a semi-batch process.

ABSTRACT:  Consumption of fossil fuels along with accelerated deforestation is leading to a significant increase in concentration of greenhouse gases (e.g., CO₂) in the atmosphere. Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) is considered a promising alternative to lower the amount of CO₂ emissions. This talk will briefly discuss technical and environmental aspects of three particular cases in the context of CO₂ utilization (or/and conversion) and storage processes.

ABSTRACT:  Chain architecture or topology of polymers is a critically important structural parameter governing intrinsically their physical properties and applications.  The rapid developments in polymerization techniques, particularly “living”/controlled polymerization techniques, in the past two decades have enabled the precision synthesis of novel polymers having a broad class of complex yet well-defined chain architectures from different monomer stocks. 

ABSTRACT:  Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is an efficient electrochemical device that directly converts the chemical energy of a fuel into electricity. The conventional Ni/YSZ anode of SOFC accumulates carbon when operated in hydrocarbon fuels. The accumulated carbon degrades cell performance and eventually damages the anode microstructure.

The addition of carbon-tolerance enhancing materials (Cu, BaO) helps to reduce the carbon accumulation at Ni/YSZ anode and thereby improve cell performance.

ABSTRACT: With fossil fuels becoming scarcer and more expensive, biotechnology offers an alternative way to produce fuels, chemicals, drugs and proteins. Using bacteria and algae as the catalysts of the conversions offers several advantages. Although microorganisms naturally produce a wide variety of chemicals, further engineering is required to achieve yield and productivity target values, and develop cost-effective production processes.

ABSTRACT:  This seminar is divided into three distinct sections: the first is focused on the synthesis of novel polymers by Nitroxide Mediated Polymerization (NMP), the second is the design of small molecules and their use in the fabrication of organic electronic devices and the third section combines both previous sections to explore the use of smart polymers in smart-sensors.

ABSTRACT: Securing renewable energy sources is one of the most urgent challenges of our century. Fossil fuels are a limited resource and their use often has serious environmental impacts. As a result, there has been a major drive recently to advance science and technology for harvesting green and renewable energies using, for instance, the chemical energies of hydrogen and oxygen, photons, or even biomass.

Abstract:  The Hydrogen and Hydrogen Isotopes Technology Branch (formerly known as Chemical Engineering Branch) holds expertise and facilities that are focused on the development of energy technologies that make a beneficial impact on Canada’s use of clean energy.  This capability area helps to ensure a clean and healthy environment for Canadians through development and use of clean energy technologies, and with securing options for Canada’s future energy needs and sustainability through nuclear technology. 

Abstract:  CO₂ reforming of CH₄ plays important roles in the development of clean coal technology, renewable energy production, and biomass utilization. However, a viable (active, stable, and economical) catalyst is a must to facilitate this reaction. Ni-based catalyst is one of the most promising catalyst candidates but a long-term problem for this kind of catalyst is its tendency to be deactivated by carbon formation.