Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
Research activities and interests within the group focus on several different aspects of the synthesis of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts for sustainable chemical transformations and green chemistry.
Our work involves a major synthetic component, most of which is carried out using inert atmosphere techniques. Work utilises solution-state NMR (within the department), mass spectrometry, electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography to probe the structure of the homogeneous catalysts.
Production of biopolymers: In this area my group is developing new initiators for the production of polylactide (PLA), co-polymers and polymers from terpenes. PLA is a biodegradable and annually renewable polymer. We are pioneering new ligands and complexes for the production of isotactic PLA – this work has recently been published in Chemical Science 2015 and Chemical Communications 2014, 2016. These papers describe a new “self-correcting” method of the polymerisation of lactide and illustrate the subtle nature that the initiator has on selectivity and rate of polymerisation.
Catalytic upgrading of renewables:
In this area we are interested in the conversion of ethanol into 1,3-butadiene (a monomer for the production of synthetic rubber). This is driven by the in-stability in the supply and the cost fluctuation of the monomer. There has been a lot of work in this area in the 1920’s, but with the bountiful supply of crude oil the “bio” route fell out of favour. This work has attracted industrial interest, (e.g. a patent has been filed WO2014180778A1) where we have developed a catalyst that is capable of producing butadiene with a selectivity in excess of 70%. There are still significant challenges posed by this research. For example, the selectivity towards ethylene and diethyl ether are relatively high. We are working on new catalysts (understanding how the acid/base properties affect this) to minimise these unwanted side reactions.
Also we are also working on projects involving the catalytic depolymerisation of lignin. This is important in the 21st Century as lignin represents a major un-tapped resource.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Keywords
- biopolymers
- catalysis
- sustainable chemistry
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Network
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AP19: Developing Catalyst Strategies for a Truly Circular Plastic Economy
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
30/11/22 → 29/11/23
Project: Research council
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IAA – Sustainable Recycling of PPE
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
1/09/22 → 30/06/23
Project: Research council
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CaNS - Carry Naloxone Somerset
Jones, M. & Scott, J.
1/10/21 → 31/10/23
Project: Central government, health and local authorities
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Biodegradable Bioplastics – assessing environmental risk
Buchard, A., Davidson, M. & Jones, M.
Natural Environment Research Council
17/11/20 → 16/11/24
Project: Research council
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Project TUPLA - traceability of used PLA across the supply chain from manufacturer to recycle
1/06/23 → 30/11/23
Project: Central government, health and local authorities
Research output
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A Highly Active and Selective Zirconium-Based Catalyst System for the Industrial Production of Poly(lactic acid)
Buchard, A., Chuck, C. J., Davidson, M. G., Gobius du Sart, G., Jones, M. D., McCormick, S. N. & Russell, A. D., 17 Feb 2023, In: ACS Catalysis. 13, 4, p. 2681-2695 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Metallocene catalysts for the ring-opening co-polymerisation of epoxides and cyclic anhydrides
Shaw, M. S., Bates, M. R., Jones, M. D. & Ward, B. D., 16 May 2022, In: Polymer Chemistry. 13, 22, p. 3315-3324 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access2 Citations (SciVal) -
N-Heterocyclic Phosphines as Precatalysts for the Highly Selective Degradation of Poly(lactic acid)
English, L. E., Jones, M. D. & Liptrot, D. J., 8 Mar 2022, In: ChemCatChem. 14, 5, e202101904.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access4 Citations (SciVal) -
Recent advances in externally controlled ring-opening polymerisations
Kaler, S. & Jones, M., 28 Jan 2022, In: Dalton Transactions . 51, 4, p. 1241-1256Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access2 Citations (SciVal) -
Simple Zn(ii) complexes for the production and degradation of polyesters
Stewart, J., Fuchs, M., Payne, J., Driscoll, O., Kociok-Kohn, G., Ward, B., Herres-Pawlis, S. & Jones, M., 7 Jan 2022, In: RSC Advances. 12, 3, p. 1416-1424 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access8 Citations (SciVal)
Datasets
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Aluminium Salalens vs. Salans: “Initiator Design” for the Isoselective Polymerisation of rac-Lactide
Jones, M. (Creator), Davidson, M. (Creator), Mckeown, P. (Creator) & Kociok-Kohn, G. (Creator), University of Bath, 7 Jul 2016
DOI: 10.15125/BATH-00220
Dataset
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Dataset for: N-doped Fe@CNT for combined RWGS/FT CO2 hydrogenation
Williamson, D. (Creator), Herdes Moreno, C. (Creator), Torrente Murciano, L. (Creator), Jones, M. (Creator) & Mattia, D. (Creator), University of Bath, 11 Mar 2019
DOI: 10.15125/BATH-00616
Dataset
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Preliminary DFT study of the isomers of a Zirconium complexe of bipyrrolidine derived Salan ligand
Buchard, A. (Creator), Jones, M. (Project Leader) & McKeown, P. (Project Member), Figshare, 6 Oct 2014
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.1189338, http://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.1189338
Dataset
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Degradation of a β-O-4 model lignin species by vanadium Schiff-base catalysts; influence of catalyst structure and reaction conditions on activity and selectivity
Jones, M. (Creator), Parker, H. (Data Collector), Woodman, T. (Data Collector) & Chuck, C. (Data Collector), University of Bath, 2015
DOI: 10.15125/BATH-00135
Dataset
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DFT Study of Aluminium complexes of bipyrrolidine derived Salan ligands for the hetero- selective polymerisation of rac-lactide
Buchard, A. (Creator), Jones, M. (Project Leader) & McKeown, P. (Project Member), Figshare, 20 May 2015
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.1420458, http://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.1420458
Dataset