Bert Weckhuysen has received a research grant entitled “Sustainable Aromatics Production via Advanced Catalysis for Valorization of Plastic Waste” (SMART-C). SMART-C proposes an innovative approach for converting polyolefin waste into aromatics, thereby achieving high yields in a non-fossil-fuel-based single-step catalytic process. This includes the design of a scalable catalyst material placed in a controlled contact time electrified (joule-heated) fluidized bed reactor. The research grant, worth € 893,000, fosters cooperation between Kevin van Geem (Ghent University, Belgium) and Bert Weckhuysen. The SMART-C project is a synergistic collaboration between the research groups of Van Geem and Weckhuysen, seamlessly integrating their respective expertise to address the critical challenge of polyolefin waste valorization.

This project is part of the Open Competition round of NWO Domain with NWO as partner agency and FWO as lead agency in the so-called Weave funding scheme (research funding for international collaboration).