Molecular Interactions between Simple Sugars and Styrene Derivatives: Identifying Favorable Binding Agents for Bifunctional Solid Acid Catalysts

Habib, Luke Francis; Burgess, Zachary Thomas

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Molecular Interactions between Simple Sugars and Styrene Derivatives: Identifying Favorable Binding Agents for Bifunctional Solid Acid Catalysts

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The goal of this project was to research the potential for different functional groups as binding domains on solid acid catalysts. Computational analysis was conducted to simulate binding interactions between and calculate adsorption energies for two different functional groups and the stereoisomers of ringed glucose. Experimental analysis was conducted to observe glucose and cellobiose adsorption onto hydroxymethyl styrene polymer beads. Further research needs to be conducted to prove these interactions happen near glycosidic bonds, which is favorable for biofuel production.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

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