Johnson Matthey
Durham University

A new sustainable catalyst for the synthesis of methanol

Over 100 million metric tonnes of methanol are produced every year, making it one of the world's top five bulk chemicals by tonnage. This versatile compound is essential across multiple industries, used in adhesives, paints, plastics, and pharmaceutical industries, while increasingly being adopted as a renewable fuel to support the decarbonisation of industrial and domestic processes.

Copper serves as a crucial catalyst to accelerate the reaction that produces methanol. Copper-based catalysts have dominated the field for over sixty years due to their high activity, strong selectivity and long lifetime. However, rising demand for copper presents significant challenge.

By 2035, there is predicted to be a copper deficit of up to 9.9 million tonnes. This makes developing a copper-free, cost-competitive alternative essential to protecting globally important businesses and ensuring continued methanol production. Previous studies have explored alternative metals including tin, lead, manganese, and zinc as potential substitutes, but significant performance gaps remain. Graham's research directly addresses these gaps by preparing catalysts from alternative elements that are earth-abundant, offering a sustainable solution to copper dependency.

Working in collaboration with Johnson Matthey, a global leader in sustainable technologies, and Durham University, Graham will aim to deliver a cost-effective alternative to copper-reliant technology. His approach focuses on evaluating earth-abundant metals to ensure that methanol can continue to be produced at an affordable price, securing the future of this paramount industry for both the energy sector and chemical manufacturing.

Biography

Graham brings varied international interests to his research, with hobbies ranging from running and gym training to Brazilian jiu-jitsu and flamenco guitar. Academically, he achieved the highest grade for his dissertation exploring an alternative zinc source for methanol synthesis catalysts, demonstrating his early expertise in sustainable catalyst development. Beyond his research, Graham is committed to supporting the next generation of scientists through being a vocal proponent for STEM apprenticeships, having started his career as an apprentice himself.