Cathy Chin

Cathy Chin

Cathy Chin

Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry

FASE

Research Focus: Materials

Contact: cathy.chin@utoronto.ca

View Bio: https://chem-eng.utoronto.ca/faculty-staff/faculty-members/y-h-chin

Back to All Members

Research Projects

Catalytic Synthesis of Sustainable Chemicals: Reaction Exploration

Over the past decade, fossil-based feedstocks have contributed to 48 Gt CO2 equivalents of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and increased atmospheric CO2 concentration by over 2 ppm per year. The replacement of fossil-based feedstocks would definitely disrupt and transform the current paradigm in fuel and chemical production, paving the way for ultimate sustainability. For this reason, access to reliable, renewable feedstocks and to the technology platform for refining them remains the overarching goal. This is because achieving this goal enables shuffling of carbon and hydrogen atoms through the energy and chemical consumption cycles perpetually. The project aims to discover novel catalytic routes for sustainable synthesis of specialty chemicals and fuels from renewable oxygenates as chemical building blocks. The project emphasizes on finding optimal reaction conditions using the Alcohol-to-Jet Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene pathway for sustainable aviation fuel production.

Climate Positive Energy has integrated into the Lawson Climate Institute.

Integration of the Climate Positive Energy Initiative (CPE) into the Lawson Climate Institute (LCI) represents a strategic evolution that amplifies University of Toronto’s collective impact on climate solutions. CPE's established expertise in sustainable energy research and innovation becomes a cornerstone of the Lawson Climate Institute's comprehensive mandate to address the climate crisis through technology, policy, and education.

Existing and ongoing grants, research projects, partnerships, and other activity under Climate Positive Energy will continue uninterrupted and will transition to operate under the Lawson Climate Institute brand in the coming months.