Plastic: chicken or egg of the waste cycle – That’s the topic Prof. Bert Weckhuysen (chair, UU), Jaap den Doelder ( TU/e), Ina Vollmer (UU) and Lonneke Slenders (Ioniqa) will discussed during the MCEC Focus Session at CHAINS 2020. On this occasion, we asked Ina Vollmer about her views on this matter. How could we deal with
Research into microplastics and nanoplastics and chemical substances
Bert Weckhuysen and Florian Meirer are involved in two major European Horizon 2020 projects that are all connected with research into substances that are harmful to our health. A brief impression of the projects is provided below. Risks of microplastics and nanoplastics during pregnancy and early life Roel Vermeulen (AURORA project coordinator) Plastic in the
Binder Effects in Catalyst Extrudates
PhD defense of Suzanne Verkleij Zeolite-based catalysts have many applications in the (petro-)chemical industry and these catalysts are often used in large, meters-high reactors. Zeolites are often a fine powder and if a large reactor is filled with this fine powder, it is difficult to get a gas or fluid through the reactor. For this
Iron Carbides and Sodium-Sulphur Promotion in Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis Catalysts
PhD defense of Pasi Paalanen Currently, hydrocarbons are used in the vast majority of modern industrial processes leading to the production of transportation fuels, plastics, coatings and other materials. In the foreseeable future the current primary source for these hydrocarbons, namely crude oil from Earth’s crust, will be depleted and new alternatives as a source
VENI Research Awards for Ina Vollmer and Matteo Monai
Ina Vollmer and Matteo Monai both received NWO’s prestigious 2020 Veni grant. Ina’s research will focus on putting polymers under strain for more recycling gain while Matteo will work on designing robust nickel catalysts for cleaner hydrogen production. We congratulate Ina and Matteo on their wonderful achievements! Putting polymer under strain for more recycling gain
Matteo Monai wins the ‘RK Grasselli 2020’ Award
This yearly award (at its first edition) is presented to Italian researchers under the age of 37 who have made exceptional contribution to gas phase catalysis. The award consists of a plate, a prize of 2000 euros and an invited lecture at the University of Bologna. On September 24th 2020, Matteo received the award from Prof.
Water in Zeolite Pores: Modelling of Water-Active Site Interactions
PhD defense of Katarina Stanciakova Katarina Stanciakova has successfully defended her PhD thesis. Her supervisor was Prof. Bert Weckhuysen. Congratulations on this achievement!
Walter Benjamin Fellowship awarded to Nina Genz
Nina S. Genz received a Walter Benjamin Fellowship from DFG (German research foundation) for the research project “Insights into CO2 Hydrogenation: Tuning the Selectivity towards Alcohols by Investigating Ni-Fe Bimetallic Catalysts”. Nina will be funded for 24 months and perform her research project within the group of Bert Weckhuysen. She will study these bimetallic catalysts for unravelling
Florian Meirer promoted to Associate Professor
As of September 2020 Dr. Florian Meirer was promoted to Associate Professor (UHD) in the Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group. He is very much looking forward to continue his work at Utrecht University. Congratulations on this great achievement! Source: website Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis
Anne-Eva Nieuwelink defends PhD in first MCEC Joint Doctorate degree with University of Twente
On 16 September Anne-Eva Nieuwelink defended her PhD at both Utrecht University and the University of Twente (UT). Her counterpart Jeroen Vollenbroek, who mainly did his research at the UT, already defended his PhD in January, but Nieuwelink’s defense had to be rescheduled due to the pandemic. The two researchers form the first MCEC Joint
Aromatization of Oxygenates over Zeolite Catalysts
PhD defense of Beatriz Luna Murillo Beatriz Luna Murillo has successfully defended her PhD thesis. Her supervisors were Prof. Bert Weckhuysen and Prof. Pieter Bruijnincx. Congratulations on this achievement!
Best Student Presentation Award for Sophie van Vreeswijk
PhD student Sophie van Vreeswijk received the Best Student Presentation Award at the virtual 2020 Oak Ridge National Laboratory CNMS User Meeting. She used atom probe tomography to image in 3-D the chemical composition of zeolites. Congratulations to the award!