γ-Stearolactone ring-opening by zeolites for the production of branched saturated fatty acids.

C branched saturated fatty acids (BSFA) are used as ingredients in cosmetics and lubricants and are produced the hydrogenation of C branched unsaturated fatty acids (BUFA). Industrial-grade C BUFA contain the odorous by-product γ-stearolactone (GSL), which must be removed by acid-catalysed ring-opening of GSL into oleic acid. Zeolites such as Y and beta can facilitate the ring-opening, but due to the dimensions of GSL the activity is expected to be limited by diffusion into the micropores.

Restructuring of titanium oxide overlayers over nickel nanoparticles during catalysis.

Reducible supports can affect the performance of metal catalysts by the formation of suboxide overlayers upon reduction, a process referred to as the strong metal-support interaction (SMSI). A combination of operando electron microscopy and vibrational spectroscopy revealed that thin TiO overlayers formed on nickel/titanium dioxide catalysts during 400°C reduction were completely removed under carbon dioxide hydrogenation conditions. Conversely, after 600°C reduction, exposure to carbon dioxide hydrogenation reaction conditions led to only partial reexposure of nickel, forming interfacial sites in contact with TiO and favoring carbon-carbon coupling by providing a carbon species reservoir.

Improving the accuracy of nitrous oxide emission factors estimated for hotspots within dairy-grazed farms.

Nitrous oxide (NO) emissions from dairy-grazing pastures can be dominated by large emissions from small areas ('hotspots') frequently used by grazing dairy cattle (i.e., water troughs and gateways).

Understanding carbon dioxide activation and carbon-carbon coupling over nickel.

Carbon dioxide is a desired feedstock for platform molecules, such as carbon monoxide or higher hydrocarbons, from which we will be able to make many different useful, value-added chemicals. Its catalytic hydrogenation over abundant metals requires the amalgamation of theoretical knowledge with materials design. Here we leverage a theoretical understanding of structure sensitivity, along with a library of different supports, to tune the selectivity of methanation in the Power-to-Gas concept over nickel.

Use of a urease inhibitor to mitigate ammonia emissions from urine patches.

Urine deposition by grazing livestock is the single largest source of ammonia (NH) volatilisation losses in New Zealand. Urease inhibitors (UI) have been used to mitigate NH losses from fertiliser urea and animal urine. In previous trials, the UI effect in reducing NH emissions from urine has been measured by applying urine mixed with the UI to the pasture soil thus increasing the chances of better interaction of the UI in inhibiting the urease enzyme.

Removing Hydrogen Sulfide Contamination in Biogas Produced from Animal Wastes.

Hydrogen sulfide (HS) contamination in biogas produced from animal wastes limits its use to cooking and precludes it from being used for heating, lighting, or electricity generation. This limitation results in the release to the atmosphere of between 3 and 51% of total biogas produced. Biogas contains 50 to 70% methane (CH), a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.

Assessing the Performance of Floating Biofilters for Oxidation of Methane from Dairy Effluent Ponds.

Mitigating methane (CH) emissions from New Zealand dairy effluent ponds using volcanic pumice soil biofilters has been found to be a promising technology. Because the soil column biofilter prototype previously used was cumbersome, here we assess the effectiveness of volcanic pumice soil-perlite biofilter media in a floating system to remove high concentrations of CH emitted from a dairy effluent pond and simultaneously in a laboratory setting. We measured the CH removal over a period of 11 mo and determined methanotroph population dynamics using molecular techniques to understand the role of methanotroph population abundance and diversity in CH removal.

First example of high loaded polymer-stabilized nanoclusters immobilized on hydrotalcite: effects in alkyne hydrogenation.

Poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)-stabilized Pd-nanoclusters, for the first time exclusively supported on the hydrotalcite lateral surface, showed a remarkable catalytic performance in the selective hydrogenation of 3-hexyn-1-ol, which can be ascribed to both the influence of the protecting polymer PVP as well as the nature of the support.