Three-dimensional printing in catalysis: Development of reusable metal-silica monolithic catalysts and catalytic devices for solution phase chemistry and drug discovery

Abstract

The main objective of this Thesis was the application of 3D-printing technology to the manufacture of diverse catalytic devices, applicable to catalytic drug syntheses, mainly aimed at the Pharmaceutical Industry, contributing at the same time to the development of Sustainable Chemistry. A variety of heterogeneous monolithic catalysts, provided with channels, pores and containing immobilized metals species (specifically palladium or copper) on their surface, were synthesized. These catalysts were manufactured by 3D-printing of a silica support, followed by sintering and subsequent modification of the monolith surface by different functionalization techniques for ceramics.