DOHA: Two proposals from Texas A&M University at Qatar have been awarded a total of $9.16m funding from the sixth National Priorities Research Program — Exceptional Proposals (NPRP–EP).
The project, “Synthesis of Novel and Sustainable Functionalized Linear and Cyclic Polymers via Olefin Metathesis,” seeks to develop novel and environmentally friendly ways in which to synthesise polymers that, like polyolefins, are produced on an immense scale in Qatar.
The project is led by
Dr Hassan S Bazzi, Assistant Dean of Research and Graduate Studies and Professor of Chemistry at Texas A&M at Qatar, in collaboration with Dr Robert Grubbs, a 2005 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry from the California Institute of Technology.
Grubbs is also the holder of the QAPCO Chair in Polymer Science and Engineering at Texas A&M at Qatar.
“With the widely accepted drive towards more sustainable technologies, there is an urgent need for developing cleaner sustainable concepts in olefin metathesis,” Bazzi said. “The novelty of the concept is the development of environmentally benign synthetic procedures and technologies for the production of new, sustainable, high-performance linear, cyclic polymers and elastomers that can be utilised in tyres, as food packaging materials, medical implants or drug delivery materials from CP and their derivatives.”
The project, “Design of Novel Catalysts and Processes for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Conversion from Micro- to Macroscale,” seeks to develop new catalysts and novel technologies that scale the conversion of CO2, into value added chemicals and clean fuels, which could significantly impact gas processing technology and CO2 conversion not only in Qatar, but worldwide.
This project is led by Dr Nimir Elbashir, director of the Gas and Fuels Research Center and associate professor of chemical engineering at Texas A&M at Qatar, in collaboration with Total E&P Qatar, Northwestern University main campus and involves building the infrastructure necessary to support large-scale catalyst synthesis in Qatar.
“Our research project is focused on developing novel catalysts and processes for CO2 conversion in presence of methane to lower Qatar’s CO2 emission while diversifying the monetisation of Qatar’s resources to produce ultra-clean fuels and value-added chemicals,” Elbashir said.
“Qatar-based students and junior researchers will work on a global research collaboration model in conjunction with academic institutions and world-leading scientists from Northwestern University, Texas A&M University at Qatar and main campus at College Station and Qatar University, as well as local and international industry partners such as Total Qatar and Total Refining and Petrochemicals and supported by Qatar Petroleum.
The NPRP-EP programme is an extension of QNRF’s flagship National Priorities Research Program (NPRP) that offers a maximum budget of $5m for a period of up to five years to proposals of exceptional scientific merit requiring resources in excess of the normal level of funding available under the NPRP.
The Peninsula
