Rolf Jentoft

Lecturer

154D Goessmann Laboratory

686 North Pleasant Street
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003-9303

rejentoft@umass.edu

413.545.6299

413.545.1647

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Education

B.S., San José State University, 1991
Ph.D., University of California at Davis, 1999

Research

In order to utilize sustainable fuel sources such as biomass derived oils, these materials must undergo multiple processing steps. Catalysts can accelerate and direct the necessary reaction steps and can have a large impact on the viability of the refining process. My research is in the testing and characterization of catalysts and related materials used in the processing of hydrocarbons and oxygenates.

The most direct characterization of a catalyst is to measure its activity. Combining activity information with knowledge of the active surface can be used to direct improvement of the catalyst, and may lead to a fundamental understanding of how a catalyst works. However, because a catalyst at room temperature and exposed to air does not have the same structure as the same material under reaction conditions (usually increased temperature and reactant atmosphere), it is useful to characterize the catalyst under reaction conditions. X-ray absorption spectroscopy is an element specific spectroscopic technique that gives information on the local environment (within about 5 Ǻ) as well as information on the average valence. We have designed and constructed measurement cells for transmission and fluorescence mode measurements of catalyst under reaction conditions.

The synthesis of catalysts usually requires several thermal treatments such as drying, calcination, and activation. Optimization of these steps can enhance the activity of the catalyst. To efficiently optimize thermal treatment it is useful to understand the kinetics of the transformations occurring during treatment. Kinetic information can be obtained through measurement of changes in weight (Thermo Gravimetric Analysis), gas products analysis, and measurement of heat effects occurring during heating in a controlled atmosphere. Temperature programmed desorption, reduction, or oxidation can also be used to characterize acid/base properties, oxidation state, reactivity, and to optimize regeneration parameters for catalysts.

Publications

Complete list of publications (pdf)

Selected Publications

Mehdad, A., Jentoft, R.E., Jentoft, F.C., Passivation agents and conditions for Mo2C and W2C: Effect on catalytic activity for toluene hydrogenation, Journal of Catalysis 347: 89-110 (2017)

Weston, J.S., Jentoft, R.E., Grady, B.P., Resasco, D.E., Harwell, J.H., Silica nanoparticle wettability: Characterization and effects on the emulsion properties, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 54: 4274-4284 (2015)

Bartley, L.E., Peck, M.L., Kim, S.-R., Ebert, B., Manisseri, C., Chiniquy, D.M., Sykes, R., Gao, L., Rautengarten, C., Vega-Sánchez, M.E., Benke, P.I., Canlas, P.E., Cao, P., Brewer, S., Lin, F., Smith, W.L., Zhang, X., Keasling, J.D., Jentoff, R.E., Foster, S.B., Zhou, J., Ziebell, A., An, G., Scheller, H.V., and Ronald, P.C., Over expression of a BAHD acyltransferase, OsAt10, alters rice cell wall hydroxycinnamic acid content and saccharification, Plant Physiology 161: 1615-1633 (2013)

Zapata, P.A., Faria, J., Ruiz, M.P., Jentoft, R.E., Resasco D.E., Hydrophobic zeolites for biofuel upgrading reactions at the liquid/liquid interface in water/oil emulsions, Journal of the American Chemical Society 134: 8570-8578 (2012)

Purnama H., Ressler T., Jentoft R.E., Soerijanto H., Schlögl R., Schomäcker R., CO formation/selectivity for steam reforming of methanol with a commercial CuO/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst, Applied Catalysis A - General 259(1): 83-94 (2004)

Jentoft F.C., Hahn A.H.P., Krohnert J., Lorenz G., Jentoft R.E., Ressler T., Wild U., Schlögl R., Hässner C., Köhler K., Incorporation of manganese and iron into the zirconia lattice in promoted sulfated zirconia catalysts, Journal of Catalysis 224(1): 124-137 (2004)

Jentoft R.E., Tsapatsis M., Davis M.E., Gates B.C., Platinum clusters supported in zeolite LTL: Influence of catalyst morphology on performance in n-hexane reforming, Journal of Catalysis 179(2): 565-580 (1998)

Jentoft R.E., Deutsch S.E., Gates B.C., Low-cost, heated, and/or cooled flow-through cell for transmission x-ray absorption spectroscopy, Review of Scientific Instruments 67(6): 2111-2112 (1996)

Patents

EP1834939 (A1) “Hydrogenation process using catalyst comprising ordered intermetallic compound” R. Giedigkeit, M. Armbrüster, K. Kovnir, J. Grin, R. Schlögl, J. Osswald, T. Ressler, R. E. Jentoft

Experience

Thermal Analysis Technology Leader, Johnson Matthey Catalysts, Billingham, UK (2006-2008)

Scientist, Fritz Haber Institute, Max Planck Society, Berlin (1999-2006)

Analyst II, OHM Corporation, Santa Rosa, CA (1988-1990)

Chemist, Multi-Tech Environmental Testing Laboratory, Santa Rosa, CA (1984-1988)

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