Federal Grant Award Summary

This collaborative research project, funded by the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) in the amount of $251,294, was awarded on May 1, 2025, with a completion date of April 30, 2028. The project, led by Tulane University in partnership with Oregon State University, aims to advance the understanding and optimization of heterogeneous olefin metathesis catalysts containing tungsten and molybdenum metals. The primary deliverable is fundamental research knowledge regarding how soft reductants activate catalytic sites by modifying the oxidation state of metal atoms on catalyst surfaces. Through an integrated approach combining experimental studies and computational simulations, the research team will identify specific descriptors and mechanisms that control active site creation and will develop methods to enhance catalyst effectiveness and reusability.

The ultimate products of this NSF-funded research are scientific discoveries and methodologies that enable more efficient and tunable catalysts for converting waste plastics and renewable materials into valuable chemical precursors and fuels. By elucidating the reductive chemistry principles underlying catalyst activation, the project seeks to generate catalytic systems with activity levels several thousand times greater than baseline materials, thereby advancing sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastic and fuel production. The collaborative research structure allows both institutions to contribute complementary expertise toward resolving this critical challenge in sustainable materials chemistry and chemical engineering.