Parr Lecture in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Prof. Yong Wang, Washington State University (host: Prof. Chris Rao/CHBE) "From Catalytic Insights to Transformative Technologies"

Abstract: Over the past decade, our group has generated fundamental catalytic insights and translated them into catalytic innovations that enhance resource efficiency and mitigate the environmental impacts associated with energy and chemical production. Guided by mechanistic understanding of catalyst structure and reaction pathways, we have established new catalytic concepts in three areas. First, we discovered kinetic oscillations in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis and exploited their underlying mechanisms to improve syngas conversion efficiency, creating new opportunities to enhance the utilization of conventional fossil-based feedstocks. Second, we developed selective defunctionalization strategies for biomass-derived oxygenates, enabling the efficient conversion of renewable feedstocks into fuels and chemicals with high carbon retention. Third, we pioneered the application of atom-trapping-enabled single-atom catalysis to emissions control, dramatically improving precious-group-metal utilization efficiency and enabling substantial reductions in Rh, Pt, and Pd loadings without compromising catalytic performance. Together, these advances demonstrate how mechanistically informed catalyst design and reaction engineering can bridge fundamental discoveries and technological implementation, providing sustainable solutions for both conventional and renewable carbon resources while reducing the environmental footprint of energy and chemical production.

Bio: Yong Wang is the Director of the Institute for Integrated Catalysis (IIC) at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and a Regents Professor and Voiland Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering at Washington State University.  His research centers on catalytic materials and reaction engineering, with a focus on improving energy and atom efficiency in the conversion of fossil fuels, biomass, CO₂, and waste plastics into fuels and chemicals. By bridging fundamental science and industrial applications, his work advances practical technologies to address global energy and environmental challenges.

Dr. Wang has published more than 470 peer-reviewed papers (53,877 citations and H index = 109 as of June 23, 2026). He holds 287 patents, including 111 U.S. patents, with over 90% licensed to industry. Dr. Wang is a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), AIChE, AAAS, ACS, and RCS. His work has been recognized with national/international awards in catalysis, reaction engineering, chemical engineering, and applied chemistry, including the 2025 North American Catalysis Society Robert Burwell Lectureship, the 2025 AIChE Wilhelm Award, the 2021 ACS E. V. Murphree Award, and the 2019 AIChE Catalysis Practice Award.

He currently serves as Co-Editor-in-Chief of Applied Catalysis B and Executive Editor of the Chemical Engineering Journal.

https://labs.wsu.edu/yong-wang/