Joe W. Hightower

Research Interests:

• Kinetics and Catalysis

Education:

• B.S. (1959) Harding University
• M.S. (1961) The Johns Hopkins University
• Ph.D. (1963) The Johns Hopkins University

Professor Hightower conducted research on heterogeneous catalysts that play critical roles in the vital areas of energy production, chemicals manufacturing, and pollution control. The objectives of his research were to identify and to understand the chemical and physical properties that make selected catalysts from each of these categories work. Kinetic studies, including the liberal use of isotopic tracers (both stable and radioactive), were combined where possible with a variety of solid-state techniques to provide this information. The results of such research should lead to the development of new and more effective catalysts. Some of the specific reactions that have been investigated are oxidative dehydrogenation of butenes to butadiene over ferrite catalysts, paraffinic and aromatic hydrocarbon formation over shape-selective ZSM-5 zeolites, effect of sulfur poisoning on the activity of supported nickel steam reforming catalysts, cracking and isomerization over pillared lattice clay minerals, dehydrocyclization of n.paraffins over a TeNaX zeolite, nitric oxide reduction over supported rhodium, oxidative dehydrodimerization of propylene over bismuth oxide, and selective removal of alkynes and alkadienes from olefin streams over supported Pd catalysts.

Professor Hightower is active in teaching industrial short courses on catalysis, and he is a frequent adviser to various National Research Council committees in the area of catalysis. He was chair of the advisory board for the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund for 9 years and is a former trustee of the Gordon Research Conferences. He also serves on the editorial boards of several technical journals.

Selected Publications

1. "An Interview with Dr. Joe Hightower," Alpha Chi Recorder, Alumni Issue, 40/1 (1997), 10-15.
2. "Participation of Support Sites in Hydrogenation of 1,3-Butadiene over Pt/Al2O3 Catalysts," Applied Catalysis A127, (1995) 77-92, with A. Sarkany and G. Stefler.
3. "Promoter Effect of Pd in Hydrogenation of 1,3-Butadiene over Co-Pd Catalysts," Journal of Catalysis 157, (1995) 179-189, with A. Sarkany, Z. Zsoldos, Gy. Stefler, and L. Guczi.
4. Hydrogenation of 1,3-Butadiene over Catalysts Prepared from Amorphous Pd2Ni50Nb48 Ribbon: Effect of Self-Poisoning on Competitive Adsorption," Appl. Catalysis A124, (1995) L181-L187, with A. Sarkany, Z. Schay, Gy. Stefler, L. Borko, and L. Guczi.
5. Genesis of Synergism: Surface Composition and Reducibility of Pd-Co/Al2O3 Catalysts," Science and Technology in Catalysis, (1995) 99-104, with A. Sarkany, Z. Zsoldos, and L. Guczi.
6. 11th International Congress on Catalysis - 40th Anniversary Proceedings," No. 101 in series of books on Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis, Elsevier Science B.V., publisher; Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1,448 pages in 2 volumes, Hightower principal editor, with W.N. Delgass, E. Iglesia, and A. T. Bell.

CHEMICAL & BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING DEPT. MS-362
Rice University PO Box 1892 Houston, Texas 77251-1892	E-mail: chbe@rice.edu	Phone: (713) 348-4902 FAX:(713) 348-5478