John R. Monnier

Research Professor

Curriculum Vitæ

John R. Monnier is currently Research Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of South Carolina. In 2004, he retired as Technology Fellow at Eastman Chemical Company, the highest research position attainable within the Company. Dr. Monnier began his professional career in Corporate Research Laboratories of Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, NY in 1972 after receiving a MS Degree in Heterogeneous Catalysis at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee from Prof. George W. Keulks in the area of catalytic, olefin epoxidation. Monnier returned to UW-Milwaukee in 1976 and received a Ph. D. in Heterogeneous Catalysis in 1978, again under the supervision of Prof. G. W. Keulks. In 1993, Dr. Monnier transferred to Eastman Chemical Company in Kingsport, TN., where he worked until his retirement in 2004.

Dr. Monnier has spent his entire career in the areas of solid-state chemistry, materials science, and heterogeneous catalysis. Topics in solid-state chemistry include non-silver halide photographic systems, iron-containing magnetic media for data storage, and high TC superconductors. Specific areas of research in catalysis include paraffin hydrogenolysis, Fischer-Tropsch conversion of H2 and CO to long chain chemicals, hydroformylation of olefins to aldehydes, hydrogenation of olefins to paraffins, and epoxidation of olefins to form epoxides. Specifically, Dr. Monnier began to study epoxidation of higher olefins in 1986, which culminated in the discovery of catalyst system that selectively epoxidizes butadiene to 3,4-epoxybutene (EpB&8482;) using molecular O₂ in the gas phase, which represented the first advancement in more than 50 years for olefin epoxidation. This work was recognized by the Scientific Council of Kodak Research Laboratories in 1988 when Monnier was awarded the C. E. K. Mees Award, given annually for the most outstanding Research conducted at Kodak Research Laboratories (over 2000 scientists and engineers at Kodak). In 1993, he was named Outstanding Researcher for the Northeast Tennessee Division of the American Chemical Society, and, more recently in 1998 was named Outstanding Industrial Innovator by the American Chemical Society. In May 2000, Monnier received the Herman Pines Award from the Chicago Catalysis Club, recognizing his pioneering work in the selective epoxidation of non-allylic olefins, which culminated in the commercialization of the selective epoxidation of butadiene to form 3,4-epoxy-1-butene, a novel and extremely versatile chemical intermediate that has been used to prepare literally hundreds of new chemical compounds. Most recently, he was awarded the F. C. Ciapetta Lectureship in Catalysis, one of the four major awards awarded biannually by the North American Catalysis Society. He has also been nominated for the National American Chemical Society Award in Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Catalysis as well as the E. V. Murphree Award in Industrial Chemistry.

The catalytic process for epoxidation of butadiene, which was commercialized in 1997, uses several novel catalytic processes, including the Isomerization reactions of Epoxybutene to 2,5-dihydrofuran and 2,5-dihydrofuran to 2,3-dihydrofuran. Monnier is either the sole inventor or co-inventor of each of these reactions, for which he has received numerous patents. Altogether he has received more than 25 patents related to the Eastman EpB&8482; process. He has lectured extensively at both national and international conferences on the development of the catalyst and process for epoxidation of butadiene. He recently presented one of the plenary lectures at the Third World Congress on Oxidation Catalysis in September 1997 and has been featured in numerous chemistry trade journals as the inventor of Eastman's new EpB&8482; process.

Dr. Monnier is a member of The Catalysis Society and the American Chemical Society and is a member of The Catalysis Advisory Board for Los Alamos National Laboratory.

I. Education

• Ph. D., Physical Chemistry & Heterogeneous Catalysis, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1978)
• M. S., Physical Chemistry & Heterogeneous Catalysis, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1972)
• B. S., Chemistry, St. Ambrose University, Davenport, IA (1970)

II. Professional Experience

• 1972 - 1976, Research Chemist, Eastman Kodak Company
• 1976 - 1978, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee [academic leave of absence]
• 1978 - 1980, Research Chemist, Eastman Kodak Company
• 1980 - 1986, Senior Research Chemist, Eastman Kodak Company
• 1986 - 199,1 Research Associate, Eastman Kodak Company
• 1991 - 1993, Senior Research Associate, Eastman Kodak Company
• 1993 - 1998, Senior Research Associate, Eastman Chemical Company
• 1998 - 2004, Technology Fellow, Eastman Chemical Company
• 2004 - Present, Research Professor, University of South Carolina

III. Honors and Awards

• F. G. Ciapetta Lecturer for 2002, awarded by the North American Catalysis Society on behalf of W. R Grace, for the research and process development on the epoxidation of butadiene and other non-allylic olefins with supported silver catalysts.
• Herman Pines Award for 2000 awarded by the Catalysis Club of Chicago for the discovery and development of non-allylic olefin epoxidation processes.
• Outstanding Industrial Innovator Award, 1998, awarded by The American Chemical Society for the discovery of the silver-catalyzed epoxidation of non-allylic olefins to produce 3,4-epoxy-1-butene and other non-allylic olefin epoxides.
• NETS-ACS Speaker of the Year, 1996, for discovery of heterogeneous catalytic process for selective epoxidation of butadiene, "Epoxybutene - The New Industrial Intermediate for Chemical Production."
• Technical Interplant Conference Award for outstanding paper at the 90th Interplant Technical Conference on Catalysis, Eastman Kodak Company, October 1992.
• CEK Mees Award, 1988, for most outstanding research and reporting of same at Eastman Kodak Company's Research Laboratories for the year 1987.
• NSF Pre-Doctoral Fellow, 1970-1972.

IV. Publications

23. J. R. Monnier, J. L. Stavinoha, Jr. and R. L. Minga, "Stability and Distribution of Cesium in Cs-Promoted, Silver Catalysts Used for Butadiene Epoxidation," J. Catal., 226, 401 (2004).
22. J. R. Monnier, J. L. Stavinoha, Jr. and G. W. Hartley, "Effects of Chlorine and Chlorine Dynamics During Silver-Catalyzed Epoxidation of Butadiene," J. Catal., 226, 321 (2004).
21. J. R. Monnier, K. T. Peters and G. W. Hartley, "The Selective Epoxidation of Conjugated Olefins Containing Allylic Substituents and Epoxidation of Propylene in the Presence of Butadiene," J. Catal., 225, 374 (2004).
20. M. V. Badani, J. R. Monnier and M. A. Vannice, "Effects of Cesium and Chlorine on Butadiene Adsorption on a-Ag/Al2O3", J. Catal., 206, 29 (2002).
19. J. W. Medlin, J. R. Monnier and M. A. Barteau, "Deuterium Kinetic Isotope Effects in Butadiene Epoxidation Over Unpromoted and Cs-Promoted Silver Catalysts," J. Catal., 204, 71 (2001).
18. J. R. Monnier, J. W. Medlin and M. A. Barteau, "Use of Oxygen-18 to Determine the Kinetics of Butadiene Epoxidation Over Cs-Promoted, Ag Catalysts," J. Catal., 203, 362-368 (2001).
17. J. R. Monnier and G. W. Hartley, "Comparison of Cu and Ag Catalysts for Epoxidation of Higher Olefins," J. Catal., 203, 253-256 (2001).
16. J. R. Monnier, review article entitled "The Direct Epoxidation of Higher Olefins Using Molecular Oxygen," Appl. Catal. A, 221, 73-91 (2001).
15. J. R. Monnier, J. W. Medlin and Y.-J. Kuo, "Selective Isomerization of 2,5-Dihydrofuran to 2,3-Dihydrofuran Using CO-Modified, Supported Pd Catalysts," Appl. Catal. A, 194-195, 463-474 (2000).
14. J. R. Monnier, "The Selective Epoxidation of Non-Allylic Olefins Over Supported Silver Catalysts," Stud. Surf. Sci. Catal., 110 (3rd World Congress on Oxidation Catalysis, 1997), 135-149 (1997).
13. A. Warshawsky, D. A. Upson, W. T. Ferrar and J. R. Monnier, "Zero-Valent Metal-Polymer Composites," J. Polymer Sci. Part A: Polymer Chemistry, 27, 3015-3041 (1989).
12. J. R. Monnier, H. J. Gysling and G. R. Apai, "Synthesis, Characterization, and Catalytic Properties of LaRhO3," J. Catal., 103, 407-418 (1987).
11. R. C. Baetzold and J. R. Monnier, "Kinetic Modelling of Hydrocarbon and Oxygenate Formation," J. Phys. Chem., 90, 2944-2949 (1986).
10. G. R. Apai, J. R. Monnier and D. R. Preuss, "Low Temperature Formation of Cu++in Evaporated Cu-Cr Oxide Films:  Application to Methanol Synthesis," J. Catal., 98, 563-567 (1986).
9. J. R. Monnier and G. R. Apai, "Effect of Oxidation States on the Syngas Activity of Transition Metal Catalysts," Preprint, Division of Fuel Chemistry, National ACS Meeting, April 1986, New York, 239-251.
8. J. R. Monnier, M. J. Hanrahan and G. R. Apai, "A Study of the Catalytically Active Copper Species in the Synthesis of Methanol Over Cu-Cr Oxide," J. Catal., 92, 119-126 (1985).
7. J. R. Monnier, G. R. Apai and M. J. Hanrahan, "Effect of CO2 on the Conversion of H2/CO to Methanol Over Copper-Chromia Catalysts," J. Catal., 88, 532-535 (1984).
6. G. R. Apai, J. R. Monnier and M. J. Hanrahan, "Evidence for the Stabilization of Cu(I) in Cu-Cr Oxide Methanol Catalysts," Appl. Surf. Sci., 79, 307-314 (1984).
5. S. A. Maslov, J. R. Monnier and G. W. Keulks, "Kinetics and Mechanism of the Co-Oxidation of Olefins and Aldehydes in the Liquid and Vapor Phase," Oxidation Comm., 3, 61-69 (1983).
4. J. R. Monnier and G. W. Keulks, "The Catalytic Oxidation of Propylene, IX. The Kinetics and Mechanism Over -Bi2Mo2O9," J. Catal., 68, 51-66& (1981).
3. G. W. Hoefs, J. R. Monnier and G. W. Keulks, "The Investigation of the Type of Active Oxygen for the Oxidation of Propylene Over Bismuth Molybdate Catalysts Using Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy," J. Catal., 57, 331-337 (1979).
2. J. R. Monnier and G. W. Keulks, "Comparison of a-, b-, and g-Phases of Bismuth Molybdates for the Selective Oxidation of Propylene," Preprint, Division of Petroleum Chemistry, National ACS Meeting, April 1979, Honolulu, 19-26.
1. C. Daniel, J. R. Monnier and G. W. Keulks, "Catalytic Oxidation of Propylene, III. Additional Evidence for Surface Initiated, Homogeneous Reactions," J. Catal., 31, 360-369 (1973).

V. Patents

27. "The Oxidation of 3-Formyl Tetrahydrofuran to 3-Tetrahydrofuroic Acid," J. R. Monnier and E. B. Mackenzie, US patent filed April 2004.

26. U.S. Patent No. 6,455,713, "Reactivation of Cs-Promoted, Ag Catalysts for the Selective Epoxidation of Butadiene to 3,4-Epoxy-1-Butene," J. R. Monnier, September 24, 2002.

25. U.S. Patent No. 6,388,106, "Selective Epoxidation of Conjugated Diolefins," John R. Monnier and Kimberly T. Peters, May 14, 2002.

24. U.S. Patent No. 6,42,614, "Isomerization of Epoxyalkenes to 2,5-Dihydrofurans," S. N. Falling and J. R. Monnier, January 29, 2002.

23. U.S. Patent No. 6,310,223, "Process for the Manufacture of 1,2-Epoxybutane," B. D. Roberts, J. R. Monnier, and D. M. Hitch, October 30, 2001.

22. U.S. Patent No. 6,270,739, "Process for the Removal of Carbon Dioxide from 3,4-Epoxy-1-Butene Process Recycle Streams," S. D. Barnicki, J. R. Monnier, J. L. Stavinoha, Jr., R. S. Kline, and G. W. Hartley, August 7, 2001.

21. U.S. Patent No. 6,201,138, "Isomerization of Epoxyalkenes to 2,5-Dihydrofurans," J. R. Monnier, S. N. Falling, and P. Lopez-Maldonado, March 13, 2001.

20. U.S. Patent No. 6,180,559, "Novel Supported Catalysts and Catalyst Support Materials and Process for the Manufacture of 1,2-Epoxybutane," B. D. Roberts, J. R. Monnier, and D. M. Hitch, January 30, 2001.

19. U.S. Patent No. 6,172,245, "Gas Phase Process for the Epoxidation of Non-Allylic Olefins," J. R. Monnier, J. L. Stavinoha, G. W. Hartley, E. E. Jameson, and S. D. Barnicki, January 9, 2001.

18. U.S. Patent No. 6,011,163, "Use of Fluorinated Hydrocarbons as Reaction Media for Selective Epoxidation of Olefins," S. D. Barnicki and J. R. Monnier, January 4, 2000.

17. U.S. Patent No. 5,945,550, "Gas Phase Process for the Epoxidation of Non-Allylic Olefins," J. R. Monnier, S. D. Barnicki, and K. T. Peters, August 31, 1999.

16. U.S. Patent No. 5,908,942, "Epoxidation of Butadiene Using Cesium Fluoride Promoted Silver Catalysts With Enhanced Thermal Stability Under Reaction Conditions," G. L. Oltean and J. R. Monnier, June 1, 1999.

15. U.S. Patent No. 5,670,672, "Process for the Preparation of 2,3-Dihydrofurans," J. R. Monnier and C. S. Moorehouse, September 23, 1997.

14. U.S. Patent No. 5,614,644, "Process for the Removal of Organic Chlorides From Furan and Hydrogenated Furans," S. Liang, J. R. Monnier, S. Okrasinski, and T. Price, March 25, 1997.

13. U.S. Patent No. 5,536,851, "Preparation of 2,3-Dihydrofurans," J. R. Monnier, July 16, 1996.

12. U.S. Patent No. 5,362,890, "Gas Phase Process for the Epoxidation of Olefins," J. L. Stavinoha, J. R. Monnier, D. M. Hitch, and T. R. Nolen, November 11, 1994.

11. U.S. Patent No. 5,315,019, "Continuous Process for the Manufacture of 2,5-Dihydrofurans From Gamma, Delta-Epoxybutenes," G. W. Phillips, S. N. Falling, S. A. Godleski, and J. R. Monnier, May 24, 1994.

10. U.S. Patent No. 5,145,968, "Selective Oxidation of Styrene and Styrene Derivatives to the Corresponding Epoxide with Molecular Oxygen," J. R. Monnier and P. J. Muehlbauer, September 8, 1992.

9. U.S. Patent No. 5,138,077, "Selective Epoxidation of Diolefins and Aryl Olefins," J. R. Monnier and P. J. Muehlbauer, August 11, 1992.

8. U.S. Patent No. 5,082,956, "Isomerization of Epoxyalkene to 2,5- Dihydrofurans and Catalyst Compositions Useful Thereof," J. R. Monnier, S. A. Godleski, H. M. Low, L. McCollough, L. W. McGarry, H. G. Webster, and G. W. Phillips, January 21, 1992.

7. U.S. Patent No. 5,081,096, "Epoxidation Catalysts," J. R. Monnier and P. J. Muehlbauer, January 14, 1992.

6. U.S. Patent No. 4,950,773, "Selective Epoxidation of Olefins," J. R. Monnier and P. J. Muehlbauer, August 21, 1990.

5. U.S. Patent No. 4,942,263, "Preparation of Aldehydes," J. R. Monnier and P. J. Muehlbauer, July 17, 1990.

4. U.S. Patent No. 4,925,987, "Preparation of Aldehydes From Unsaturated Terminal Epoxides," J. R. Monnier and H. M. Low, May 15, 1990.

3. U.S. Patent No. 4,925,986, "Preparation of Aldehydes From Unsaturated Terminal Epoxides," J. R. Monnier and H. M. Low, May 15, 1990.

2. U.S. Patent No. 4,897,498, "Selective Monoepoxidation of Olefins," J. R. Monnier and P. J. Muehlbauer, January 30, 1990.

1. U.S. Patent No. 4,748,144, "Delafossite Mixed Metal Oxide Catalysts and Methods for Their Preparation," J. R. Monnier, G. R. Apai, and M. J. Hanrahan, May 31, 1988.