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Andrew
M. Herring
Associate Professor
BS
and Ph.D. Chemistry, University of Leeds, UK
Postdoctoral Study at California
Institute of Technology
Homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, applied chemistry
Research
Description
Many obstacles remain to the utilization of renewable resources for chemical
feed stocks or for energy conversation. Additionally large increases
in the efficiency of chemical processes will ultimately save natural resources
and decrease production costs. We are involved in various research
projects that are aimed at solving some of these issues.
Fuel Cells. Fuel cells cleanly and efficiently convert chemical
energy into electrical energy. However, there are still many challenges
to the use of fuel cells in practical situations. We are currently
studying a class of fuel cell called proton exchange membrane, PEM, fuel
cells. PEM fuel cells currently only operate at temperatures below
100C. We are working towards developing PEM fuel cells that will
operate at >160C by incorporating inorganic proton conducting materials
into the membranes. Such fuel cells will be more efficient as they
will allow the co-generation of steam for heating applications, will be
cheaper as they will require less platinum catalysts, will be less susceptible
to poisoning by carbon monoxide and may be more amenable to the use of
fuels other than hydrogen such as methanol or ethanol.
NOx Chemistry. The nitrogen oxides, NOx, are important
pollutants produced during combustion processes, that contribute both
to atmospheric particulate and photochemical smog. NOx decomposition
to nitrogen and oxygen is a thermodynamically favored process that is
kinetically challenged. There is a real need to discover a practical
NOx decomposition catalyst, which would allow the use of highly efficient
lean burn diesel engines, for example. We are investigating the
interaction of NOx with a class of inorganic materials that absorb NOx
into their structures and stoichiometrically decompose it under certain
heating conditions.
Fatty Acid Chemistry. The methyl esters of the fatty acids
derived from oil seed crops can be burnt as biodiesel. However,
these materials are too costly to be burnt as fuel, freeze at too high
temperatures for use in northern latitudes, produce NOx and are inherently
unstable because of the unsaturation in the oil. Cheaply modifying
the double bonds in these materials should produce a fuel with none of
the above problems. We are investigating various chemistries towards
economic conversion of vegetable oils to useful fuels.
Pyrolysis of Biomass. Many processes to convert biomass to fuels
and chemicals involve some degree of pyrolysis. In order to understand
how to maximize yields and selectivities we need to study the reactive
intermediates involved in these processes. Using a carbon dioxide
laser, a rapid source of heat, and a molecular beam mass spectrometer
we are studying the free radicals produced when biomass char is rapidly
heated.
Industrial Coke. Most industrial processing of hydrocarbons
occurs at elevated temperatures. Coke formation is a major problem
leading to lower yields of products and loss of efficiency in processes
that must be shut down while the coke is removed. We have studied
coke in the manufacture of vinyl chloride and also have an interest in
coking in alpha olefin formation.
Honors
and Awards
2007, 2008 3M Untenured Faculty Award
Contact
Information
Andrew M. Herring
364 Alderson Hall
Chemical Engineering Department
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, CO 80401
Office: (303) 384-2082
FAX: (303) 273-3730
aherring@mines.edu
