Redox aluminophosphates: applying fundamental undergraduate theory to solve global challenges in the chemical industry

Abstract

As global resources are pressed by the demands of modern lifestyles, acquainting students with sustainable chemistry will be crucial in educating responsible chemists of the future. For this undertaking, we present “Redox Aluminophosphates”, a laboratory-based practical with targeted resources that has been designed to relate fundamental catalytic theory to core concepts in green chemistry. As part of this assignment, students are directed in the preparation of aluminophosphate materials using distinctive synthetic protocols (hydrothermal synthesis and calcination), and are required to apply their knowledge of analytical techniques to solid-state characterization. Students then use their heterogeneous redox catalysts in the oxidation of cyclohexane to KA oil (the industrial feedstock of adipic acid, a precursor to nylons), with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses providing an opportunity to introduce green chemistry metrics. With supporting resources, oral presentation, and student-led discussions, this practical aims to equip the undergraduate student with the tools needed to rationalize structure–activity relationships in porous heterogeneous catalysts. Using a systems thinking approach, Redox Aluminophosphates is a holistic practical, combining empiricism with critical analysis, self-study, and group work to relate undergraduate theory to real-world problems, while demonstrating how laboratory-scale procedures can be extrapolated to the industrial setting.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Thomas Logothetis: orcid.org/0000-0002-3437-5287

ORCID for Robert Raja: orcid.org/0000-0002-4161-7053

ORCID for G. John Langley: orcid.org/0000-0002-8323-7235

ORCID for Julie Herniman: orcid.org/0000-0003-4834-1093

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