Prior students - Gary Jacobs

Martinelli, M., Castro, J.D., Alhraki, N., Matamoros, M.E., Kropf, A.J., Cronauer, D.C., Jacobs, G., “Effect of sodium loading on Pt/ZrO₂ during ethanol steam reforming,” Applied Catalysis A: General 610 (2021) 117947. (available online)

Mehrbod, M., Martinelli, M., Castro, J.D., Alhraki, N., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Marshall, C.L., Jacobs, G., “Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: direct cobalt nitrate reduction of promoted Co/Al₂O₃ catalysts,” Catalysis Today, 369 (2021) 129 – 143 (available online)

Martinelli, M., Alhraki, N., Castro, J.D., Matamoros, M.E., Jacobs, G., “Effect of Na loading on Pt/ZrO₂ catalysts for low temperature water-gas shift for the production and purification of hydrogen,” Elsevier book chapter (Eds. S. Nanda, D.-V. Vo, P. N. Tri), New Dimensions in Production and Utilization of Hydrogen, 2020. ISBN: 9780128195536.(available online)

Martin Ayala (back to top)
Graduated with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering 2022

Martin graduated in May 2022 and worked at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in San Antonio.

Martin worked on the UTSA-SwRI Connect Project on CO₂ conversion to liquid fuels.

Refereed Publications

Almeida, M.P., Mattos, L.V., Walker, S., Ayala, M., Watson, C.D., Jacobs, G., Rabelo-Neto, R.C., Akri, M., Paul, S., Noronha, F.B., “Unveiling the effect of support on the mechanism of CO₂ hydrogenation over supported Ru catalysts,” Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy 365 (2025) 124986. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2024.124986

Seuser, G., Martinelli, M., Garcia, E.S., Upton, G.F., Ayala, M., Villarreal, J., Rajabi, Z., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Jacobs, G., “Reverse water-gas shift: Na doping of m-ZrO₂ supported Pt for selectivity control,” Appl. Catal. A: General, 650 (2023) 119000. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcata.2022.119000

Rabelo-Neto, R.C., Almeida, M.P., Silveira, E.B., Ayala, M., Watson, C.D., Villarreal, J., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf,, A.J., Martinelli, M., Noronha, F.B., Jacobs, G., “CO₂ hydrogenation: selectivity control of CO versus CH₄ achieved using Na doping over Ru/m-ZrO₂ at low pressure,” Appl. Catal. B: Environ. 303 (2022) 121533. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2022.121533

Alvez, L.M.N.C., Almeida, M.P., Ayala, M., Watson, C.D., Jacobs, G., Rabelo-Neto, R.C., Noronha, F.B., Mattos, L.V., “CO₂ methanation over metal catalysts supported on ZrO₂: Effect of the nature of the metallic phase on catalytic performance,” Chemical Engineering Science 239 (2021) 116604. (available online)

Presentation

Rabelo-Neto, R.C., Almeida, M.P., Ayala, M., Watson, C.D., Villarreal, J., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Martinelli, M., Noronha, F.B., Jacobs, G., “Selectivity control using Na doping for CO₂ hydrogenation over Ru/ZrO₂ at low pressure,” 27th North American Catalysis Society Meeting, New York City, NY, May 22 – 27, 2022.

Award

First place at the Tech Symposium for an Ethylbenzene Production Process. (May 2022)

UTSA Office of Undergraduate Research Spring 2021 Virtual Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry Showcase – April 21, 2021
(click here to view poster)

Undergraduate Research – Spring 2020

“Using Catalysts with Partially Reducible Oxides (PRO) to Facilitate the Reverse Water Gas Shift Reaction in CO₂ Hydrogenation” (click to view poster)

This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Interdisciplinary Hands on Research Traineeship and Extension Experiential Learning in Bioenergy/Natural Resources/Economics/Rural project, U GREAT (Under Graduate Research, Education And Training) program (2016 67032 24984).

Jonathan D. Castro (back to top)
Graduated with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering 2023

Was a Senior in the Science and Engineering Program at John Jay High School, San Antonio
Was in the UTSA Pre-Freshman Engineering Program
Was a participant in the American Chemical Society Project SEED
Was an Undergraduate in UTSA’s Chemical Engineering Program

Refereed Publications

Spring 2022 Research:

Jonathan worked on the UTSA-SwRI Connect Project on CO₂ conversion to liquid fuels. He presented his work titled “Characterization of CO₂ hydrogenation catalysts in reverse water gas shift” at the Spring 2022 Undergraduate Research Showcase.

Presentation – 2019

Mehrbod, M., Martinelli, M., Martino, A., Castro, J., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Marshall, C.L., Jacobs, G., “Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: Direct cobalt nitrate reduction and use of promoters using supports with different interactions,” ACS National Meeting & Expo, Aug. 21 – 25, San Diego, CA.

Summer 2018 and Summer 2019 Research:

2019 – Worked on Na-doped Pt/zirconia catalysts for low temperature water-gas shift and methanol/ethanol steam reforming to produce hydrogen for fuel cell applications.

2018 – Worked on catalytic ethanol steam reforming using doped metal ceria catalysts and in situ FTIR spectroscopy. Collaboration with INT-Brazil.

Elijah S. Garcia (back to top)
Graduated with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering 2022

Elijah was accepted to graduate school at UT Austin’s Chemical Engineering Program.

Elijah Garcia worked on formaldehyde steam reforming for hydrogen production. He also worked on the UTSA-SwRI Connect Project on CO₂ conversion to liquid fuels.

UTSA Office of Undergraduate Research Spring 2021 Virtual Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry Showcase – April 21, 2021 (click here to view poster)

Award:

Outstanding undergraduate researcher in chemical engineering at UTSA, May 2022.

Refereed Publications:

Seuser, G.; Staffel, R.; Hocaoglu, Y.; Upton, G.F.; Garcia, E.S.; Cronauer, D.C.; Kropf, A.J.; Martinelli, M.; Jacobs, G., “CO₂ hydrogenation: Na doping promotes CO and hydrocarbon formation over Ru/m-ZrO₂ at elevated pressures in gas phase media,” Nanomaterials 13 (2023) 1155. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13071155

Lawson, S., Baamran, K., Newport, K., Garcia, E., Jacobs, G., Rezaei, F., Rownaghi, A.A., “Adsorption-enhanced bifunctional catalysts for in situ CO₂ capture and utilization in propylene production: a proof-of-concept study,” ACS Catal. 12 (2022) 14264−14279. https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.2c04455

Martinelli, M., Garcia, E.S., Rajabi, Z., Watson, C.D., Kropf, A.J., Cronauer, D.C., Jacobs, G., “Na promotion of Pt/m-ZrO₂ catalysts for the steam reforming of formaldehyde,” Catalysts (MDPI) 12 (2022) 1294 (21 pages). https://doi.org/10.3390/catal12111294

Presentation:

Hocaoglu, Y., Staffel, R., Upton, G., Garcia, E.S., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Martinelli, M., Seuser, G., Jacobs, G., “Na-doping promotes CO and hydrocarbon formation over Ru/m-ZrO₂ during CO₂ hydrogenation at 20 bar,” AIChE Annual Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona, November 13 – 18, 2022.

Richard Garcia (back to top)
Graduated with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering 2021

Refereed Publications

Martinelli, M., Garcia, R., Watson, C.D., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Jacobs, G., “Promoting the selectivity of Pt/m-ZrO₂ ethanol steam reforming catalysts with K and Rb dopants,” Nanomaterials, MDPI (Special Issue titled ” Tuning the Physicochemical Properties of Nanostructured Materials through Advanced Preparation Methods, Guest Ed.: J. Vakros, Ed. S. Freakley) 11(9) (2021) 2233 (24 pp.). (available online)

Gnanamani, M.K., Garcia, R., Jacobs, G., Gora-Marek, K., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Marshall, C.L., “Effect of pretreatment conditions on acidity and dehydration activity of CeO₂-MeO_X catalysts,” Applied Catalysis A: General, 602 (2020) 117722. (available online)

Martinelli, M., Karuturi, S.C., Garcia, R., Watson, C.D., Shafer, W.D., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Marshall, C.L., Jacobs, G., “Substitution of Co with Ni in Co/Al₂O₃ catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis,” Catalysts, MDPI publisher, 10 (2020) 334, 28 pp. (available online)

Ribeiro, M.C.; Gnanamani, M.K.; Garcia, R.; Jacobs, G.; Rabelo-Neto, R.C.; Noronha, F.B.; Gomes, I.F.; Davis, B.H., “Tailoring the product selectivity of Co/SiO₂ Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalysts by lanthanide doping,” Catalysis Today 343 (2020) 80-90. (available online)

Undergraduate Research – Spring 2020

“Effect of Potassium Loading on Pt/ZrO₂ during Ethanol Steam Reforming in Hydrogen production” (Click to view poster)

This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Interdisciplinary Hands-on Research Traineeship and Extension Experiential Learning in Bioenergy/Natural Resources/Economics/Rural project, U-GREAT (Undergraduate Research, Education And Training) program (2016-67032-24984).

Presentation – 2019

Gnanamani, M., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Marshall, C.L., Garcia, R., Jacobs, G., Martinelli, M., Shafer, W.D., “Vapor phase dehydration of 1,5-pentanediol over CeO₂-based catalysts,” ACS National Meeting & Expo, Aug. 21 – 25, San Diego, CA.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Poster – April 2019

Richard presented his poster entitled “Lanthanide Modified Cobalt Fischer-Tropsch Catalysts Increase Oxygenate/Olefin Selectivity.” (click to view poster)

Undergraduate Research Symposium Poster – April 2018

Richard presented his poster entitled “Lanthanide Modified Cobalt Fischer-Tropsch Catalysts Increase Oxygenate/Olefin Selectivity.”(click to view poster)

Scholarship – Spring 2018

Richard received an undergraduate research scholarship from the College of Engineering.

Li Jones (back to top)
Graduated with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering 2021

Li Jones worked on ethanol steam reforming for hydrogen production.

UTSA Office of Undergraduate Research Spring 2021 Virtual Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry Showcase – April 21, 2021 (click here to view poster)

Refereed publication:
Rajabi, Z., Jones, L., Martinelli, M., Qian, D., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Watson, C.D., Jacobs, G., “Influence of Cs promoter on ethanol steam-reforming selectivity of Pt/m-ZrO2 catalysts at low temperature,” Catalysts, MDPI (Special Issue titled “Transition Metal Catalysis for Biomass Transformation and Green Energy Production”, Guest Ed. S. Campisi, S. Capelli and S. Cattaneo), 11(9) (2021) 1104 (22 pp.). https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11091104

Sai Charan Karuturi (back to top)
Graduated with an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering 2021

Refereed Publications:

López-Tinoco, J., Mendoza-Cruz, R., Bazán-Díaz, L., Karuturi, S.C., Martinelli, M., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Marshall, C.L., Jacobs, G., “The preparation and characterization of Co-Ni nanoparticles and the testing of a heterogenized Co-Ni/alumina catalyst for CO hydrogenation,” Catalysts, MDPI publisher, 10 (2020) 18 (28 pages). (available online)

Annabelle G. Martino (back to top)
Graduated with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering 2021

Presentation – 2019

Martinelli, M.; Mehrbod, M.; Martino, A.G.; Cronauer, D.C.; Kropf, A.J.; Marshall, C.L., Jacobs, G., “Direct Reduction of Cobalt in Catalysts for the Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis: Effect of Metal-Support Interaction,” 26th North American Catalysis Society Meeting, Chicago, Il, June 23 – 28, 2019.

Merhbod, M.; Martinelli, M.; Martino, A.G.; Davis, B.H.; Cronauer, D.C.; Kropf, A.J.; Marshall, C.L.; Jacobs, G., “Improved Co/Ti catalysts by direct reduction of cobalt nitrate and the incorporation of promoters,” 12th Natural Gas Conversion Symposium, San Antonio, TX, June 2 – 6, 2019.

Internship – Summer 2019

Annabelle participated in a 2019 summer research internship at Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Poster – April 2019

Annabelle presented her poster entitled “Direct Reduction of Co(NO₃)₂ leads to Smaller Metal Nanoparticles for Improved FT Activity” (click to view poster)

Refereed Publication – 2019

Mehrbod, M., Martinelli, M., Martino, A.G., Cronauer, D.C. Cronauer, Kropf, A.J., Marshall, C.L., Jacobs, G., “Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: direct cobalt nitrate reduction of promoted Co/TiO₂ catalysts,” Fuel 245 (2019) 488-504. (click to view)

Undergraduate Research Symposium Poster – April 2018

Annabelle presented her poster entitled “Direct Reduction of Co(NO₃)₂ leads to Smaller Metal Nanoparticles for Improved FT Activity.” (click to view poster)

Scholarship – Spring 2018

Annabelle received an undergraduate research scholarship from the College of Engineering.

Maria Matamoros (back to top)
Summer High School Internship at UTSA. Became an engineering student at Texas A&M.

Attended Samuel V. Champion High School during summer internship at UTSA.

Refereed Publications

Summer 2019 Research

Maria worked on catalysts for alternative fuels and hydrogen energy.

Braedon McFee (back to top)
Graduated with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering 2024

Braedon worked on K-promoted Pt/ZrO₂ catalysts for methanol steam reforming for hydrogen production and the effect of Pt precursor on the stability of Pt/CeO₂/MgAl₂O₄ catalysts in ethanol steam reforming.

Spring 2024 Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry Showcase, Office of Undergraduate Research, UTSA

Effect of Pt precursor on the stability of Pt/CeO₂/MgAl₂O₄ catalysts in ethanol steam reforming (click to view poster)

Denzel Megafu (back to top)
Graduated with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering 2024

Denzel worked on methanol steam reforming for hydrogen production.

Spring 2023 Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry Showcase, Office of Undergraduate Research, UTSA

The Steam Reforming of Methanol as a Function of Lithium Promoter Content (click to view poster)

Mohammad Mehrbod (back to top)
Graduated with a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering 2021

Mohammad Mehrbod successfully defended his doctoral dissertation on Friday, April 23, 2021.

The title of his dissertation is “Improved Cobalt Catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis in the Gas-to-Liquids Process”.

Refereed Publications

Mehrbod, M., Martinelli, M., Watson, C.D., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Jacobs, G., “Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: characterization and testing of Pt-Co/SiO₂ catalysts prepared with alternative cobalt precursors,” Reactions, MDPI (Special Issue titled “Catalytic Conversion of Carbonaceous Materials to Fuels and Chemicals”) 2 (2021) 129-160. (click to view)

Martinelli, M.; Mehrbod, M.; Graham, U.M.; Hu, Y.; Gnanamani, M.K.; Jacobs, G., “Soft X-ray characterization of sulfur poisoned cation-exchanged Pt/KL catalysts for aromatization of hexane,” in Chemistry Solutions to Challenges in the Petroleum Industry, ACS Books, Rahimi, P. and Koenig, A., eds., Copyright 2019, Washington, D.C. (click to view)

Martinelli, M., Mehrbod, M., Dawson, C., Davis, B.H., Lietti, L, Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Marshall, C.L., Jacobs, G., “Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: Foregoing calcination and utilizing reduction promoters leads to improved conversion and selectivity with Co/silica,” Applied Catalysis A: General 559 (2018) 153-166. (click to view)

Presentations

Martinelli, M., Mehrbod, M., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Jacobs, G., “Altering the cobalt-support interaction in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis,” 27th North American Catalysis Society Meeting, New York City, NY, May 22 – 27, 2022.

Martinelli, M.; Mehrbod, M.; Martino, A.G.; Cronauer, D.C.; Kropf, A.J.; Marshall, C.L., Jacobs, G., “Direct Reduction of Cobalt in Catalysts for the Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis: Effect of Metal-Support Interaction,” 26th North American Catalysis Society Meeting, Chicago, Il, June 23 – 28, 2019.

Merhbod, M.; Martinelli, M.; Martino, A.G.; Davis, B.H.; Cronauer, D.C.; Kropf, A.J.; Marshall, C.L.; Jacobs, G., “Improved Co/Ti catalysts by direct reduction of cobalt nitrate and the incorporation of promoters,” 12th Natural Gas Conversion Symposium, San Antonio, TX, June 2 – 6, 2019.

Mehrbod, M.; Martinelli, M.; Davis, B.H.; Cronauer, D.C.; Kropf, A.J.; Marshall, C.L., Jacobs, G., “Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: Direct cobalt nitrate reduction and use of promoters leads to improved performance with silica and titania,” 3rd International Conference on Catalysis and Chemical Engineering, Houston, Texas, USA February 25 – 27, 2019.

Mohammad presented at the ACS National Meeting & Expo in San Diego, California, in August 2019.

Mehrbod, M., Martinelli, M., Martino, A., Castro, J., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Marshall, C.L., Jacobs, G., “Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: Direct cobalt nitrate reduction and use of promoters using supports with different interactions,” ACS National Meeting & Expo, Aug. 21 – 25, San Diego, CA.

Mohammad presented at the 255th American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition in New Orleans, Louisiana, in March 2018. (Click to view presentation)

Mehrbod, M.; Jacobs, G.; Martinelli, M.; Davis, B.H.; Cronauer, D.C.; Kropf, A.J.; Marshall, C.L., “Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: Improved conversion and selectivity with Co/silica foregoing calcination and utilizing reduction promoters,” 255th American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA March 18 – 22, 2018.

Mohammad at the Canadian Synchrotron Light Source, June 2018.

Synchrotron, Canadian Light Source
Saskatoon, Canada

Brent Parker (back to top)
Prior Pre-Chemistry Student

Was a pre-chemistry student
Army Veteran who received retraining at UTSA

Victoria Perez (back to top)
Graduated with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering 2023

Refereed Publication

de Souza, P.M., Inocêncio, C.V.M., Perez, V., Rabelo-Neto, R.C., Gonçalves, V.O.O, Jacobs, G., Richard, F., da Silva, V.T., Noronha, F.B., “Hydrodeoxygenation of phenol using nickel phosphide catalysts. Study of the effect of the support,” Catalysis Today 356 (2020) 366-375. (click to view)

Zahra Rajabi (back to top)
Graduated with a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering in May of 2023

Zahra Rajabi worked on the development of catalysts for the production of hydrogen from liquid chemical carriers for use in biomedical applications.

Zahra successfully defended her research proposal titled “Influence of alkali (cesium, lithium) on platinum/monoclinic zirconia catalysts in the production of hydrogen; preventive and therapeutic gas for metabolic disease” on May 16, 2022.

Refereed publications:

Rajabi, Z., Martinelli, M., Upton, G.F., Watson, C.D., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Jacobs, G. “Low temperature ethanol steam reforming: Selectivity control with lithium doping of Pt/m-ZrO₂,” Catalysis Today 402 (2022) 335-349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2022.06.018

Rajabi, Z., Martinelli, M., Watson, C.D., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Jacobs, G., “Lithium promotion of Pt/m-ZrO₂ catalysts for low temperature water-gas shift,” International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 47 (2022) 30872-30895. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.03.022

Rajabi, Z., Jones, L., Martinelli, M., Qian, D., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Watson, C.D., Jacobs, G., “Influence of Cs promoter on ethanol steam-reforming selectivity of Pt/m-ZrO₂ catalysts at low temperature,” Catalysts, MDPI (Special Issue titled “Transition Metal Catalysis for Biomass Transformation and Green Energy Production”, Guest Ed. S. Campisi, S. Capelli and S. Cattaneo), 11(9) (2021) 1104 (22 pp.). https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11091104

Rajabi, Z., Martinelli, M., Watson, C.D., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Jacobs, G., “Influence of Cs loading on Pt/m-ZrO₂ water-gas shift catalysts,” Catalysts, MDPI (special issue titled “CO and CO₂ Conversion over Heterogeneous Catalysts”) 11(2021) 570, 25 pp. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11050570

Presentations:

Rajabi, Z., Martinelli, M., Watson, C.D., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Jacobs, G., “Lithium promotion of Pt/m-ZrO₂ for low temperature water-gas shift,” 27th North American Catalysis Society Meeting, New York City, NY, May 22 – 27, 2022.

Zahra at the 27th North American Catalysis Society Meeting, New York City, NY, May 22 – 27, 2022

Rajabi, Z., Martinelli, M., Watson, C.D., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Jacobs, G., “Potential of Cs as a promoter of Pt/m-ZrO₂ catalysts in the low temperature water-gas shift and ethanol steam reforming reactions,” ACS Spring National Meeting, Mar. 20 – 24, 2022, San Diego, CA.

Awards:

• Winner of a 2022 Kokes Award for the 27th North American Catalysis Society meeting in New York City, NY, May 22-27, 2022 (valued at over $1,000).

• Outstanding Teaching Assistant, Chemical Engineering Program, May 2022.

Zahra Rajabi’s Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award (2022)

Raechel Staffel (back to top)
Graduated with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering 2023

Raechel worked on the UTSA-SwRI Connect Project on CO₂ conversion to liquid fuels.

Poster Presentation:

Undergraduate Research Symposium Poster:

CO₂ hydrogenation: Na Doping Promotes CO and Hydrocarbon Formation Over Ru/m-ZrO₂ at Elevated Pressure (click to view poster)

Refereed Publication:

Seuser, G.; Staffel, R.; Hocaoglu, Y.; Upton, G.F.; Garcia, E.S.; Cronauer, D.C.; Kropf, A.J.; Martinelli, M.; Jacobs, G., “CO₂ hydrogenation: Na doping promotes CO and hydrocarbon formation over Ru/m-ZrO₂ at elevated pressures in gas phase media,” Nanomaterials (impact factor 5.719) 13 (2023) 1155. (click to view)

Alejandra Teran (back to top)
Graduated with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering 2021

Alejandra Teran was accepted to and attended graduate school at Rutgers University.

Refereed publications

Teles, C., Magalhaes de Souza, P., Rabelo-Neto, R., Teran, A., Jacobs, G., Resasco, D.E., Noronha, F.B., ” Hydrodeoxygenation of lignin-derived compounds mixtures on Pd supported on various oxides,” ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 9 (38) (2021) 12870-12884. (click to view)

Teles, C.A., de Souza, P.M., Rabelo-Neto, R.C., Teran, A., Jacobs, G., Resasco, D.E., Noronha, F.B., “Reaction pathways for the HDO of guaiacol over Pd supported catalysts: effect of support type in the deoxygenation of hydroxyl and methoxy groups,” Molecular Catalysis 523 (2022) 111491. (click to view)

Teles, C.A., de Souza, P.M., Braga, A.H., Rabelo-Neto, R.C., Teran, A., Jacobs, G., Resasco, D.E., Noronha, F.B., “The Role of Defect Sites and Oxophilicity of the Support on the Phenol Hydrodeoxygenation Reaction,” Applied Catalysis B: Environmental 249 (2019) 292-305. (click to view)

Internship – Summer 2019

Alejandra participated in a summer internship at Southwest Research Institute.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Poster – April 2019

Alejandra presented her poster entitled “The Role of Defect Sites and Oxophilicity of the Support on the Phenol Hydrodeoxygenation Reaction.” (click to view poster)

Undergraduate Research Symposium Poster – April 2018

Alejandra presented her poster entitled “The Role of Oxophilicity on the Mechanism of Hydrodeoxygenation of Phenol.” (click to view poster)

Scholarship – Spring 2018

Alejandra received an undergraduate research scholarship from the Office of the Undergraduate Research.

Gabe F. Upton (back to top)
Graduated with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering 2022

Gabe Upton worked on ethanol steam reforming for hydrogen production. He also worked on the UTSA-SwRI Connect Project on CO₂ conversion to liquid fuels.

Refereed Publications:

Rajabi, Z., Martinelli, M., Upton, G.F., Watson, C.D., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Jacobs, G. “Low temperature ethanol steam reforming: Selectivity control with lithium doping of Pt/m-ZrO₂,” Catalysis Today 402 (2022) 335-349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2022.06.018

Leguizamón León Ribeiro, M.Z., Souza, J.C., Gnanamani, M.K., Martinelli, M., Upton, G.F., Jacobs, G., Ribeiro, M.C., “Fischer Tropsch synthesis: effect of promoter´s ionic charge and valence level energy on activity,” Reactions, MDPI (Special Issue titled “Catalytic Conversion of Carbonaceous Materials to Fuels and Chemicals,” Guest Ed. W. Ma, A.K. Dalai), 2 (2021) 408-426. https://doi.org/10.3390/reactions2040026

Presentation:

Awards:

• Service to the Chemical Engineering Unit Operations Laboratory, May 2022.

• UTSA Office of Undergraduate Research Spring 2021 Virtual Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry Showcase – April 21, 2021 (click to view poster). Gabe Upton won 1st place in the poster competition.

Jesus Villarreal (back to top)
Graduated with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering 2022

Jesus graduated in May 2022 and worked at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in San Antonio.

Jesus Villarreal worked on CO₂ hydrogenation to value-added products, and he used synchrotron techniques. He also worked on the UTSA-SwRI Connect Project on CO₂ conversion to liquid fuels.

Refereed Publications:

Rabelo-Neto, R.C., Almeida, M.P., Silveira, E.B., Ayala, M., Watson, C.D., Villarreal, J., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Martinelli, M., Noronha, F.B., Jacobs, G., “CO₂ hydrogenation: selectivity control of CO versus CH₄ achieved using Na doping over Ru/m-ZrO₂ at low pressure,” Appl. Catal. B: Environ. 303 (2022) 121533. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2022.121533

Presentation:

Fall 2021 Virtual Research Showcase at UTSA:
CO₂ hydrogenation on Na-doped ruthenium zirconia catalysts. (Poster link)

Award:

First place at the Tech Symposium for an Ethylbenzene Production Process, May 2022.

Caleb D. Watson (back to top)
Graduated with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering 2021

Caleb Watson was accepted to and attended graduate school at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Refereed Publications:

Rabelo-Neto, R.C., Almeida, M.P., Silveira, E.B., Ayala, M., Watson, C.D., Villarreal, J., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Martinelli, M., Noronha, F.B., Jacobs, G., “CO₂ hydrogenation: selectivity control of CO versus CH₄ achieved using Na doping over Ru/m-ZrO₂ at low pressure,” Applied Catalysis B: Environmental 303 (2022) 121533. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2022.121533

Rajabi, Z., Jones, L., Martinelli, M., Qian, D., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Watson, C.D., Jacobs, G., “Influence of Cs promoter on ethanol steam-reforming selectivity of Pt/m-ZrO₂ catalysts at low temperature,” Catalysts, MDPI (Special Issue titled “Transition Metal Catalysis for Biomass Transformation and Green Energy Production”, Guest Ed. S. Campisi, S. Capelli and S. Cattaneo), 11 (9) (2021) 1104 (22 pp.). https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11091104

Martinelli, M., Garcia, R., Watson, C.D., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Jacobs, G., “Promoting the selectivity of Pt/m-ZrO₂ ethanol steam reforming catalysts with K and Rb dopants,” Nanomaterials, MDPI (Special Issue titled” Tuning the Physicochemical Properties of Nanostructured Materials through Advanced Preparation Methods, Guest Ed.: J. Vakros, Ed. S. Freakley) 11 (9) (2021) 2233 (24 pp.). https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11092233

Watson, C.D., Martinelli, M, Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., and Gary Jacobs “Low temperature water-gas shift: enhancing stability through optimizing Rb loading on Pt/ZrO₂,” Catalysts, MDPI (Special Issue on Water-gas Shift Catalysts) 11 (2021) 210, 30 pp. (available online)

Watson, C.D., Martinelli, M., Cronauer, D.C., Kropf, A.J., Marshall, C.L., Jacobs, G., “Low temperature water-gas shift: Optimization of K loading on Pt/m-ZrO₂ for enhancing CO conversion,” Applied Catalysis A: General 598 (2020) 17 pp. (available online)

Martinelli, M., Watson, C.D., Jacobs, G., “Sodium doping of Pt/m-ZrO₂ promotes C-C scission and decarboxylation during ethanol steam reforming,” International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 45 (2020) 18490-18501. (available online)

Presentations:

Martinelli, M., Watson, C.D., Jacobs, G., ” Sodium addition promotes C-C scission during ethanol steam reforming,” ACS National Meeting & Expo, Aug. 21 – 25, 2019, San Diego, CA.

Undergraduate Research – Spring 2020

“Low temperature water-gas shift: Optimization of K loading on Pt/m-ZrO₂for enhancing CO conversion” (Click to view poster)

This research was supported by the National Science Foundation through Grant Award 1832388.

Internship – Summer 2019

Caleb participated in a summer internship at the University of Chicago entitled Research Experience for Undergraduates at the Institute of Molecular Engineering.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Poster – April 2019

Caleb presented his poster entitled “Facilitating C-C bond Scission by Alkali Doping of Pt-ZrO₂ Catalyst for ESR .” (click to view poster)