Researchers Decode Catalyst Behavior Impacting Emissions and Supply

New insights into industrial catalysts could help chemical producers cut carbon emissions and improve reliability in global vinyl acetate monomer production.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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A team of researchers led by scientists at Rice University have discovered how tiny molecular structures on industrial catalysts behave when vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) is being manufactured. The discovery could lead to a more sustainable and stable supply of this critical raw ingredient in many consumer products, including adhesives, sealants, and coatings.

Why it matters

Vinyl acetate underpins a huge slice of the modern materials economy, so small efficiency gains can translate into major environmental and economic benefits. By understanding how these palladium-acetate species behave, researchers can help industry design catalysts that use less energy, generate less waste and deliver more stable production over the long term.

The details

The researchers created simplified palladium-acetate model catalysts and followed them under realistic reaction conditions using advanced X-ray, spectroscopic, and electron microscopy techniques coupled with computational modeling. They showed that potassium acetate stabilizes specific palladium-acetate dimers and alters how they convert into metallic palladium nanoparticles. When those nanoparticles stay small and well dispersed, the catalyst becomes both more active and more selective for VAM, reducing wasteful side reactions that burn valuable feedstocks into carbon dioxide.

  • The research was published in February 2026.

The players

Michael Wong

The Tina and Sunit Patel Professor in Molecular Nanotechnology and professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Rice University.

Hunter Jacobs

A Rice doctoral alumnus now at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Welman Curi-Elias

A research scientist in chemical and biomolecular engineering at Rice University.

Celanese Corp.

A global leader in vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) production.

Purdue University

A research partner on the study.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

A research partner on the study.

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What they’re saying

“Vinyl acetate underpins a huge slice of the modern materials economy, so small efficiency gains can translate into major environmental and economic benefits.”

— Michael Wong, The Tina and Sunit Patel Professor in Molecular Nanotechnology and professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Rice

“We found that by tuning these molecular species, you can dramatically change how the catalyst uses energy and how much valuable product you get for every molecule you put in. That's exactly the kind of insight that can help industry lower operating temperatures, cut emissions and stretch resources further.”

— Hunter Jacobs, Co-first author and Rice doctoral alumnus now at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

“These trimers and dimers were often treated as inactive species or signs of deactivation. Our results show they are dynamic players in a redox cycle that controls nanoparticle size and ultimately how efficiently and cleanly vinyl acetate is made.”

— Welman Curi-Elias, Co-first author and research scientist in chemical and biomolecular engineering at Rice

“This research helps us see exactly how to push catalysts toward higher efficiency and longer life. If we can produce the same amount of vinyl acetate using less energy with less waste and fewer shutdowns, that benefits our customers, our communities and the environment. It also supports more predictable supply and pricing for the many industries that depend on these materials.”

— Kevin Fogash, Senior director of process technology for Celanese

“What excites us is that we now have a molecular-level picture that ties directly to metrics industry cares about: efficiency, stability and environmental footprint.”

— Michael Wong, The Tina and Sunit Patel Professor in Molecular Nanotechnology and professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Rice

What’s next

The team's computational work showed that multiple palladium-acetate species can actively form vinyl acetate but their true importance lies in how they signal and shape nanoparticle growth. The researchers believe this molecular-level picture can guide the design of next-generation catalysts for more sustainable and reliable vinyl acetate production.

The takeaway

This research provides a science-based roadmap for chemical producers to develop more efficient, stable, and environmentally-friendly catalysts for vinyl acetate monomer production, which is a critical raw material for many consumer products. By understanding the dynamic behavior of key molecular species, industry can work toward lowering energy use, reducing emissions, and ensuring a more reliable global supply of this important chemical.