Juan J Bravo-Suárez


Juan Bravo Suarez
  • Associate Professor
  • Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

Contact Info

Office Phone:
Department Phone:

Education

Chemical Engineering, Industrial University of Santander, 2004, Bucaramanga, Colombia

Research

Over 70% of all current chemical processes involve heterogeneous catalysis. Catalysts will continue to play a decisive role in advancing a more sustainable chemical industry, developing new conversion technologies, and reducing waste and pollutants. To contribute to these goals, the Bravo-Suárez Group focuses on the understanding and development of catalytic materials for the conversion of renewable biomass derived feedstocks, abundant natural gas components, and for environmental applications. To develop active and selective new and improved catalysts, we study reaction pathways, mechanism, and catalyst requirements by combining tailor-made nanomaterials, experimental kinetics, and in situ/operando spectroscopic characterization at reaction conditions. We develop and improve both experimental tools and methodologies that enable these mechanistic studies.

Research interests:

  • catalysis
  • fuels
  • chemicals
  • spectroscopy
  • kinetics
  • materials
  • biomass
  • natural gas
  • carbon dioxide

Teaching

Teaching interests:

  • Mass Transfer, Chemical Engineering Laboratory, Chemical Engineering Kinetics & Reactor Design
  • Catalysis, Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics

Selected Publications

Srinivasan, Priya, Bhagyesha Patil, Hongda Zhu, and Juan J Bravo-Suarez. “Application of Modulation Excitation - Phase Sensitive Detection -  DRIFTS for in Situ/Operando Characterization of Heterogeneous Catalysts.” Other. Reaction Chemistry & Engineering, 2019.
Patil, Bhagyesha, Priya Srinivasan, Hongda Zhu, Ed Atchison, and Juan J Bravo-Suarez. “Design, Modelling, and Applications of a Low Void-Volume in Situ Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopic Reaction Cell for Transient Catalytic Studies.” Other. Reaction Chemistry & Engineering, 2019.
Srinivasan, Priya, K. Khivantsev, J. Tengco, Hongda Zhu, and Juan J Bravo-Suarez. “Enhanced Ethanol Dehydration on Gamma-Al2O3 Supported Cobalt Catalyst.” Other. Journal of Catalysis, 2019.
Bravo Suarez, Juan J, and Priya D. Srinivasan. “Design Characteristics of in Situ and Operando UV-Visible and Vibrational Spectroscopic Reaction Cells for Heterogeneous Catalysis.” Reviews. Catalysis Reviews Science and Engineering, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1080/01614940.2017.1360071.

Awards & Honors

NSF-CAREER Award
National Science Foundation
2019 - 2024
ACS-PRF Doctoral New Investigator Award
American Chemical Society
2017 - 2020
2018 Miller Scholar Award
The University of Kansas, School of Engineering
2018

Grants & Other Funded Activity

CAREER: Spectrokinetic Studies for Understanding Metal-Support Interactions in Catalytic Oxidation of Ethanol. 15508. National Science Foundation. $500000.00. (8/1/2019 - 7/31/2024). Federal. Status: Funded
In Situ and Operando Spectrokinetic Studies of Tungsten Based Catalysts for Olefin Metathesis. ACS-PRF. $100000.00. Submitted 2/20/2015 (9/1/2017 - 12/31/2019). Foundation. Status: Funded
Catalysis for Renewables: Applications, Fundamentals and Technologies (CRAFT). NSF. $4000000.00. Submitted 2/20/2015. Federal. Status: Funded