UT Austin to co-lead NSF research center aimed at converting natural gas into transportation fuels

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Published:
September 27, 2017

UT Austin's Cockrell School of Engineering will help lead a five-year, $20 million National Science Foundation engineering research center to advance development of new mobile technologies for converting natural gas into transportation fuels. Chemical Engineering Prof. Joan Brennecke and Dr. Fabio Ribeiro of Purdue University will lead the new center. Other UT Austin faculty members involved include David Allen, Thomas Edgar, Benny Freeman, Mark Stadtherr and Sheila Olmstead. The Center for Innovative and Strategic Alkane Resources (CISTAR) will develop innovative catalysts, separation processes and process systems that convert alkanes – hydrocarbons including methane, ethane and propane – into more valuable liquid fuels, including gasoline and diesel fuels. In addition, CISTAR will oversee workforce development efforts and workforce training. Read more.