VOLUME 12, NO. 3     MAY 1999

Student's research is catalyst for career

Rioux was one of 19 students selected from a field of 550 to present his research findings to DOE scientists in Washington.

hen Robert Rioux began doing research with Fabio Ribeiro, assistant professor of chemical engineering, he expected to learn more about environmental catalysis and surface science. What he didn't know was that he'd also discover a career.

By the time he graduated in December, Rioux, of Manchester, Conn., had been a researcher for two years, had spent a summer at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee, and had presented his research findings to Department of Energy scientists. He has stayed on at WPI to continue his research with Ribeiro. He plans to attend graduate school next fall to pursue a doctorate in chemical engineering.

"The research has been a positive experience," he says. "It may have changed my life because it opened my eyes to a career at a national laboratory. I had always thought I'd be a professor."

Rioux began working with Ribeiro during his junior year. "Much of Professor Ribeiro's research is concerned with environmental problems, which can be combated with catalytic chemistry," he says. "He encourages undergraduates to undertake or assist in research projects." Ribeiro served as faculty advisor for Rioux's Major Qualifying Project. "The topic was microwave-assisted, low-temperature, water-gas shift reaction. It consisted of exploring the possible effects of microwave energy on catalytic reactions."

Last summer, Rioux was an undergraduate research fellow at ORNL, where he continued the work he began for his MQP. "We were able to construct a system where we could accurately measure results," he explains. "We used a World War II-era Raytheon generator as a power source to try to figure out if we could speed up the conversion of toxic carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. The experiment has environmental implications for industries that generate carbon monoxide as a byproduct; those who wish to get rid of carbon monoxide without damaging the environment could convert it to something that is less harmful."

In October 1998, Rioux was one of 19 students selected from a field of 550 to present his research findings to DOE scientists in Washington. He is submitting his work to a technical journal and will present his results at the general meeting of the North American Catalysis Society in Boston in June.

His current research, also with Ribeiro, is sponsored by the National Science Foundation. Rioux is focusing on the hydrodechlorination of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The compounds are useful to industry but the chlorine in the molecules makes them hazardous to the environment. He is using hydrodechlorination to remove one or more chlorine atoms and replacing them with hydrogen atoms. "The CFC then becomes a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)," he explains. The reaction is significant because while HFCs and CFCs have similar physical properties (nontoxic, stable, condensable and incombustible), HFCs are ozone-friendly and therefore more environmentally benign.

"All of the scientists who have worked with Rob have a clear impression that he will make great contributions to science," says Ribeiro, who joined the faculty in 1996. "It is satisfying to me to find out that WPI provides not only an outstanding education in engineering practice, but also offers many opportunities to students who want to pursue a career in research."