KAWI, Sibudjing

Associate Professor

PhD (Chem. Eng.) Delaware, 1992
MSc (Chem. Eng.) Illinois,1988
BSc (Chem. Eng.) Texas, 1985

Contact information
Blk E5, 4 Engineering Drive 4, #02-29, Singapore 117576
Tel: (65) 6516 6312   Fax: (65) 6779 1936
Email: chekawis@nus.edu.sg

RESEARCH

Design, Synthesis, Characterization and Catalytic Properties of Novel deNOx and NPAC Catalysts

In order to develop the next generation catalytic converter technology for lean burn and diesel engines as well as for treatment of stack gases, there is a need for a better fundamental understanding of the behavior of adsorbates and defect sites on these catalytic surfaces. Our research program consists of the development of novel deNOx catalysts and catalysts for decomposition of nitrogen-containing polycyclic aromatic compounds (NPAC) as well as a fundamental study of NO and 1-nitropyrene adsorbate structure on model catalysts using STM. This will provide a knowledge base for novel synthesis techniques and molecular engineering of highly active and selective deNOx and deNPAC catalysts.

Synthesis, Characterization and Properties of Novel Inorganic Membranes

Inorganic membranes are generally preferred over polymeric membranes in industries for separation or for membrane reactors as they possess high resistance to temperature, corrosive environments, good chemical stability to organic solvents and good mechanical stability. Our research program focuses on the design and growth of novel inorganic membranes consisting of a thin membrane of microporous or mesoporous materials on oxide supports. "Dry zeolite synthesis" route may also be used to prepare new membranes. The membranes may also be functionalized to tune the performance of the membranes to achieve high selectivity for liquid-phase and gas-phase separation based on the chemical properties of the hydrocarbon mixtures.

Synthesis, Characterization and Asymmetric Catalysis of Enantioselective Solid Catalysts

The objective of this project is to design and synthesize a novel solid chiral catalyst that can perform heterogeneous catalytic asymmetric synthesis. A series of solid chiral catalysts will be synthesized through functionalization or immobilization of novel high-surface-area mesoporous metal oxides (i.e. MCM-41, MCM-48, SBA-15, etc.) or dendrimers using chiral functional ligands or chiral organometallic compounds. The synthesized catalysts will be thoroughly characterized for their surface-anchored chiral structures and then be tested for their catalytic activities, selectivities and stabilities for several asymmetric synthesis reactions, such as asymmetric epoxidation, hydrogenation and hydroformylation.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

X. Chen and S. Kawi, "A New MFI-type Zeolite Containing Uniform Supermicropores: Synthesis by Structural Transformation of CTA+-MCM-41 and Application in SCR of NOx", Chemical Communication, 1354 (2001).

S. C. Shen and S. Kawi, "Kinetic Studies of Selective Catalytic Reduction of Nitric Oxide by Propylene on Pt/MCM-41 Catalyst", Catalysis Today, 68, 245 (2001).

A. M. Liu, K. Hidajat, S. Kawi and D. Y. Zhao, "A New Class of Hybrid Mesoporous Materials with Functionalized Organic Monolayers for Selective Adsorption of Heavy Metal Ions", Chemical Communication, 1145 (2000).

Q. H. Xia, K. Hidajat and S. Kawi, "Synthesis of SO42-/ZrO2/MCM-41 as a New Superacid Catalyst", Chemical Communication, 2229 (2000).

S.-C. Shen and S. Kawi, "Understanding of the Effect of Al Substitution on the Hydrothermal Stability of MCM-41", Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 103, 8870 (1999).