‘Hero of Chemistry’ honored for innovation

Thomas F. Degnan Jr., EG ’77PhD, has been honored as a “Hero of Chemistry” by the American Chemical Society (ACS). Degnan, manager of breakthrough and new leads technology at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co., received his doctoral degree in chemical engineering at UD.

He and six members of his team won the recognition for developing a novel, cost-effective and environmentally friendly polyester production catalyst and process.

The ACS Heroes of Chemistry program recognizes chemical scientists whose work in various fields of chemistry and chemical engineering has led to the successful innovation and development of commercial products based on chemistry.

“This was truly a team effort,” Degnan says. He and his colleagues developed PxMax, a highly selective catalytic process for producing para-xylene. Para-xylene-based polymers have numerous uses including fabric for clothing, tires, home furnishings, liquid crystal displays and soft drink bottles. The reduced cost of the new process helps make polyester products more widely available and more affordable.

“PxMax also has important environmental benefits,” Degnan says. “The process generates less waste by reducing the energy needed for para-xylene separation. The process significantly reduces plant carbon dioxide emissions, a considerable benefit at a time when concerns about global warming are increasing.”

Degnan is a member of the advisory council of UD’s Center for Catalytic Science and Technology and of advisory groups at the University of Notre Dame and Purdue and Johns Hopkins universities. He is the named inventor or co-inventor of about 100 U.S. patents.