Randy Cortright has broad and unique experience in the research and development of renewable chemical technologies in both academia and industry, entrepreneurship, fundraising, partnership development, and strategy.
Education
Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison
M.S., Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University
B.S., Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University
Professional Experience
Senior Research Advisor, NREL (2018–present)
Consultant (2016–2018)
Founder/Chief Technology Officer/Board of Directors, Executive Vice President, Virent, Inc. (2002–2016)
Teaching Assistant/Assistant Scientist/Instructor, University of Wisconsin, Madison (1987–2002)
Process Engineering Coordinator, UOP Inc. (1986–1987)
Process Technical Service Engineer/Development Engineer, UOP Inc. (1977–1983)
Featured Work
Renewable Alkanes by Aqueous-Phase Reforming of Biomass-Derived Oxygenates, Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2004)
Chapter 11: DFT and Experimental Studies of C-C and C-O Bond Cleavage in Ethanol and Ethylene Glycol on Pt Catalysts, in Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis (2003)
Reaction Kinetics Studies and Analyses of Isobutane Conversion over H-Mordenite and β-Zeolite, Journal of Catalysis (2003)
Aqueous-Phase Reforming of Ethylene Glycol on Silica-Supported Metal Catalysts, Applied Catalysis, B: Environmental (2003)
Aqueous-Phase Reforming of Methanol and Ethylene Glycol over Alumina-Supported Platinum Catalysts, Journal of Catalysis (2003)
Aqueous-Phase Reforming of Ethylene Glycol over Supported Platinum Catalysts, Catalysis Letters (2003)
Conversion of Biomass to 1,2-Propanediol by Selective Catalytic Hydrogenation of Lactic Acid over Silica-Supported Copper, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental (2002)
Hydrogen from Catalytic Reforming of Biomass-Derived Hydrocarbons in Liquid Water, Nature (2002)
Reaction Kinetics Study and Analysis of Reaction Schemes for Isobutane Conversion over USY Zeolite, Journal of Catalysis (2002)
Reaction Kinetics Measurements and Analysis of Reaction Pathways for Conversions of Acetic Acid, Ethanol, and Ethyl Acetate over Silica-Supported Pt, Applied Catalysis A: General (2001)
Kinetics of Heterogeneous Catalytic Reactions: Analysis of Reaction Schemes, Catalysis (2002)
Density Functional Theory Studies of the Adsorption of Ethylene and Oxygen on Pt(111) and Pt3Sn(111), Journal of Chemical Physics (2001)
Ethane Hydrogenolysis over Platinum: Selection and Estimation of Kinetic Parameters, Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical (2000)
Catalytic Reduction of Acetic Acid, Methyl Acetate, and Ethyl Acetate over Silica-Supported Copper, Journal of Catalysis (2000)
Theoretical Studies of Stability and Reactivity of C2 Hydrocarbons Species on Pt Clusters, Pt(111), and Pt(211), Journal of Physical Chemistry B (2000)
Selective Dehydrogenation of Isobutane over Supported Pt/Sn Catalysts, Catalysis Today (2000)
Kinetics of Ethane Hydrogenolysis over Supported Platinum Catalysts, Catalysis Today (1999)
Density Functional Theory (DFT) Investigations of Adsorption of C1 and C2 Hydrocarbons on Pt Clusters, Journal of Catalysis (1998)
Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Microcalorimetric Investigations of CO Adsorption on Pt Clusters, Catalysis Letters (1998)
Microcalorimetric Studies of H2, C2H4, and C2H2 Adsorption on Clean Pt Powders and Pt Powders after Ethylene Hydrogenation, Journal of Catalysis (1998)
Kinetic Studies of Isobutane Dehydrogenation and Isobutene Hydrogenation over Pt/Sn-Based Catalysts, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research (1998)
Silica- and L-Zeolite-Supported Pt, Pt/Sn and Pt/Sn/K Catalysts for Isobutane Dehydrogenation, Applied Catalysis A General (1998)
Microcalorimetric Studies of Interactions of Ethene, Isobutene, and Isobutane with Silica-Supported Pd, Pt, and PtSn, Catalysis Letters (1997)
Catalytic Cycles for Hydrocarbon Cracking on Zeolites, Topics in Catalysis (1997)
Thermochemical Characterization (TPD, Calorimetry), in Handbook of Heterogeneous Catalysis (1997)
Microcalorimetric and Reaction Kinetic Studies of Alkali Metals on Pt Powder and Pt/SiO2 and Pt/Sn/SiO2 Catalysts, Journal of Physical Chemistry (1996)
Reactions of Isobutane and Isobutylene over Silica- and L-Zeolite-Supported Pt/Sn and Pt/Sn/K Catalysts, Surface Science and Catalysis (1996)
Effects of Potassium on Silica-Supported Pt and Pt/Sn Catalysts for Isobutane Dehydrogenation, Journal of Catalysis (1995)
L-Zeolite-Supported Pt and Pt/Sn Catalysts for Isobutane Dehydrogenation, Applied Catalysis A General (1995)
Microcalorimetric and Infrared Spectroscopic Studies of gamma-Alumina Modified by Tin Oxides, Catalysis Letters (1994)
Microcalorimetric, Spectroscopic, and Kinetic Studies of Silica-Supported Pt and Pt/Sn Catalysts for Isobutane Dehydrogenation, Journal of Catalysis (1994)
Microcalorimetric and Infrared Spectrocopic Studies of γ-Al2O3 Modified by Tin Oxides, Journal of Physical Chemistry (1994)
Formation of Palladium-Iron Alloy Clusters in Zeolite Y, Journal of Physical Chemistry (1993)
Deuterium Tracing Studies and Microkinetic Analysis of Ethylene Hydrogenation on Platinum, Journal of Catalysis (1992)
Microkinetic Analysis of Diverse Experimental Data for Ethylene Hydrogenation on Platinum, Journal of Physical Chemistry (1992)
Kinetic Study of Ethylene Hydrogenation, Journal of Catalyst (1991)
Using GAC to Remove VOCs from Air Stripper Off-Gas, Journal of American Water Works Association (1988)
Technical Feasibility of the Air Stripping Solvent Recovery Process, in Proceedings of AWWA 1985 Annual Convention (1985)
Patents
Production of Aromatics from Di- and Polyoxygenates, U.S. Patent No. 10,005,700 (2018)
Organo-Catalytic Biomass Deconstruction, U.S. Patent No. 9,982,316 (2018)
Synthesis of Liquid Fuels and Chemicals from Oxygenated Hydrocarbons, U.S. Patent No. 9,944,869 (2018)
Processes for Converting Biomass-Derived Feedstocks to Chemicals and Liquid Fuels, U.S. Patent No. 9,944,581 (2018)
Dehydrogenation of Alkanols to Increase Yield of Aromatics, U.S. Patent No. 9,878,966 (2018)
Production of Chemicals and Fuels from Biomass, U.S. Patent No. 9,873,837 (2018)
Process for Converting Biomass to Aromatic Hydrocarbons, U.S. Patent No. 9,873,836 (2018)
Hydrogenation of Carboxylic Acids to Increase Yield of Aromatics, U.S. Patent No. 9,873,644 (2018)
Dehydrogenation of Alkanols to Increase Yield of Aromatics, U.S. Patent No. 9,873,643 (2018)
Solvolysis of Biomass to Produce Aqueous and Organic Products, U.S. Patent No. 9,765,261 (2017)
Organo-Catalytic Biomass Deconstruction, U.S. Patent No. 9,738,944 (2016)
Solvolysis of Biomass Using Solvent from a Bioreforming Process, U.S. Patent No. 9,725,777 (2017)
Production of Aromatics from Di- and Polyoxygenates, U.S. Patent No. 9,695,094 (2017)
Processes for Converting Biomass-Derived Feedstocks to Chemicals and Liquid Fuels, U.S. Patent No. 9,656,937 (2017)
Production of Distillate Fuels from Biomass-Derived Polyoxygenates, U.S. Patent No. 9,593,054 (2017)
Solvolysis of Biomass to Produce Aqueous and Organic Products, U.S. Patent No. 9,587,178 (2017)
Organo-Catalytic Biomass Deconstruction, U.S. Patent No. 9,518,305 (2016)
Solvolysis of Biomass Using Solvent from a Bioreforming Process, U.S. Patent No. 9,493,849 (2016)
Production of Aromatics from Di- and Polyoxygenates, U.S. Patent No. 9,440,892 (2016)
Production of Aromatics from Di- and Polyoxygenates, U.S. Patent No. 9,403,736 (2016)
Solvolysis of Biomass to Produce Aqueous and Organic Products, U.S. Patent No. 9,388,528 (2016)
Processes for Converting Biomass-Derived Feedstocks to Chemicals and Liquid Fuels, U.S. Patent No. 9,382,185 (2016)
Catalysts for Hydrodeoxygenation of Oxygenated Hydrocarbons, U.S. Patent No. 9,314,778 (2016)
Synthesis of Liquid Fuels and Chemicals from Oxygenated Hydrocarbons, U.S. Patent No. 9,228,134 (2016)
Synthesis of Liquid Fuels and Chemicals from Oxygenated Hydrocarbons, U.S. Patent No. 9,217,114 (2015)
Apparatus and Method for Converting Biomass to Feedstock for Biofuel and Biochemical Manufacturing Processes, U.S. Patent No. 9,212,328 (2015)
Production of Chemicals and Fuels from Biomass, U.S. Patent No. 9,212,320 (2015)
Serial Deconstruction of Biomass, U.S. Patent No. 9,212,316 (2015)
Solvolysis of Biomass Using Solvent from a Bioreforming Process, U.S. Patent No. 9,212,314 (2015)
Organo-Catalytic Biomass Deconstruction, U.S. Patent No. 9,212,104 (2015)
Methods for Biomass Deconstruction and Purification, U.S. Patent No. 9,212,315 (2015)
A Moderate Fraction of a Carbohydrate Derived Component, and a Kerosene Composition Comprising the Moderate Fraction, U.S. Patent No. 9,206,366 (2015)
Solvolysis of Biomass to Produce Aqueous and Organic Products, U.S. Patent No. 9,157,031 (2015)
Solvolysis of Biomass and Stabilization of Biomass Hydrolysate, U.S. Patent No. 9,157,030 (2015)
Reductive Biomass Liquefaction, U.S. Patent No. 9,045,383 (2015)
Dehydrogenation of Alkanols to Increase Yield of Aromatics, U.S. Patent No. 8,969,640 (2015)
Dehydrogenation of Alkanols to Increase Yield of Aromatics, U.S. Patent No. 8,962,902 (2015)
Catalysts for Hydrodeoxygenation of Oxygenated Hydrocarbons, U.S. Patent No. 8,946,458 (2015)
Synthesis of Liquid Fuels and Chemicals from Oxygenated Hydrocarbons, U.S. Patent No. 8,933,281 (2015)
Method of Producing Gaseous Products Using a Downflow Reactor, U.S. Patent No. 8,834,587 (2014)
Methods and Systems for Generating Polyols, U.S. Patent No. 8,754,263 (2014)
Catalysts for Hydrodeoxygenation of Polyols, U.S. Patent No. 8,710,281 (2014)
Liquid Fuel Compositions, U.S. Patent No. 8,697,924 (2014)
Reductive Biomass Liquefaction, U.S. Patent No. 8,642,813 (2014)
Methods and Systems for Generating Polyols, U.S. Patent No. 8,492,595 (2013)
Liquid Fuel Compositions, U.S. Patent No. 8,466,330 (2013)
Synthesis of Liquid Fuels and Chemicals from Oxygenated Hydrocarbons, U.S. Patent No. 8,455,705 (2013)
Method for Producing Bio-Fuel that Integrates Heat from Carbon-Carbon Bond-Forming Reactions to Drive Biomass Gasification Reactions, U.S. Patent No. 8,410,183 (2013)
Synthesis of Liquid Fuels and Chemicals from Oxygenated Hydrocarbons, U.S. Patent No. 8,367,882 (2013)
Synthesis of Liquid Fuels and Chemicals from Oxygenated Hydrocarbons, U.S. Patent No. 8,362,307 (2013)
Synthesis of Liquid Fuels from Biomass, U.S. Patent No. 8,350,108 (2013)
Liquid Fuel Compositions, U.S. Patent No. 8,273,138 (2012)
Catalysts and Methods for Reforming Oxygenated Compounds, U.S. Patent No. 8,231,857 (2012)
Methods and Systems for Generating Polyols, U.S. Patent No. 8,198,486 (2012)
Method for Producing Bio-Fuel that Integrates Heat from Carbon-Carbon Bond-Forming Reactions to Drive Biomass Gasification Reactions, U.S. Patent No. 8,153,698 (2012)
Synthesis of Liquid Fuels and Chemicals from Oxygenated Hydrocarbons, U.S. Patent No. 8,053,615 (2011)
Synthesis of Liquid Fuels and Chemicals from Oxygenated Hydrocarbons, U.S. Patent No. 8,017,818 (2011)
Methods and Systems for Generating Polyols, U.S. Patent No. 7,989,664 (2011)
Synthesis of Liquid Fuels and Chemicals from Oxygenated Hydrocarbons, U.S. Patent No. 7,977,517 (2011)
Method for Producing Bio-Fuel that Integrates Heat from Carbon-Carbon Bond-Forming Reactions to Drive Biomass Gasification Reactions, U.S. Patent No. 7,872,054 (2011)
Methods and Systems for Generating Polyols, U.S. Patent No. 7,767,867 (2010)
Low-Temperature Hydrogen Production from Oxygenated Hydrocarbons, U.S. Patent No. 7,618,612 (2009)
Low-Temperature Hydrogen Production from Oxygenated Hydrocarbons, U.S. Patent No. 6,964,758 (2005)
Low-Temperature Hydrogen Production from Oxygenated Hydrocarbons, U.S. Patent No. 6,964,757 (2005)
Low-Temperature Hydrocarbon Production from Oxygenated Hydrocarbons, U.S. Patent No. 6,953,873 (2005)
Low-Temperature Hydrogen Production from Oxygenated Hydrocarbons, U.S. Patent No. 6,699,457 (2004)
Method for Catalytically Reducing Carboxylic Acid Groups to Hydroxyl Groups in Hydroxycarboxylic Acids, U.S. Patent No. 6,455,742 (2002)
Method for Catalytically Reducing Carboxylic Acid Groups to Hydroxyl Groups in Hydroxycarboxylic Acids, U.S. Patent No. 6,441,241 (2002)
Catalyst to Dehydrogenate Paraffin Hydrocarbons, U.S. Patent No. 5,736,478 (1998)
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