Center for Sustainable Catalysis and Engineering (CSCE)
The Center for Sustainable Catalysis and Engineering constitutes 2 interdisciplinary teams involved in teaching and research in the chemistry of Catalytic Technology, Analytical Organic Chemistry, Sustainability, Zeolite Synthesis, Heterogeneous Catalysis and Bioplastics.
The center hosts the research groups of:
The mission statement of the CSCE is to produce knowledge to foster a better understanding of the role of heterogeneous catalysis in the upcoming circular and carbon-smart economy. As a group of academics, students and technicians, interested and trained in different disciplines, we are highly committed to search for novel catalysis solutions to drive and enable the sustainable production of chemicals and materials. CSCE research covers the range of fundamental to applied catalysis research, both in chemistry and engineering. CSCE wants to participate, communicate, debate, and disseminate its innovative and in-depth knowledge locally and internationally among colleagues, experts and non-experts, always with the strong ambition to maximize any support for the future sustainable and circular economy. During its mission, CSCE acknowledges the individual expertise and growth path of its members. It will emphasize research integrity and responsibility, and highly values openness and knowledge sharing. CSCE will seek a continuous deepening of its expertise, as well as support collaborative research beyond its own disciplines with a strong commitment to create high scientific, societal and economic value. Creativity, novelty, outside-the-box approaches and even trial-and-error, are all in the modus operandi of the CSCE.
Catalysis and, in particular, heterogeneous catalysis can be very effective in facilitating the selective degradation of spent materials into useful chemicals. As recycling will never be perfect, renewable and alternative feedstock like biomass and carbon dioxide or other small gases will be utilized to fill, thus ultimately with non-fossils, the forthcoming material deficiency. CSCE is developing novel heterogeneous catalysis seeking the selective conversion of these alternative feedstocks. Along this line, CSCE is taking the opportunity to discover novel chemicals and materials, by preserving or utilizing as much as possible the chemical functionality present in the feedstock. New functionality, controlled degradability and lower toxicity upon degradation of chemicals or polymers derived thereof and materials are the key design drivers. For these discoveries, CSCE is developing novel porous materials, catalytic technology, as well as engineering concepts. Examples include novel zeolites, smart refinery schemes and reactor designs. The goal is to tailor-make these materials and concepts to selectively convert recycled or alternative feedstock and add value. Research at CSCE is driven by a deep understanding of the catalytic surface cycle in relation to the identity of the active site and the synergistic effects of active site communities. Besides catalytic testing, synthesis and characterization of the active sites in various porous materials like carbons, oxides and especially zeolites are therefore key targets. In short, CSCE research strategies aim at ‘synthesis-structure-activity’ relations for catalysts; process integration for selective catalytic reactions and ‘synthesis-performance-degradation’ schemes for chemicals and polymers.