Master in

Catalytic Technology

Societal benefit

mobility

consumables

pharmaceutics

economy.

Sustainability

environment

health

resources

working environment

Catalytic Technology

Why choose Catalysis?

…safeguard our world for future generations !

What can Catalysis do for you ?

Enable simplified and greener processes

• Fewer steps

• Clean, Cheap reactants

• Less Waste

• Less Energy

A → B without catalyst

with catalyst

En

erg

y

Reaction path

AB

To use catalysis, you need to

• Understand

• Innovate

• Design your catalyst

• Optimise your process

Renewable feedstocks for the future ?

We need to close the carbon cycle !

.. and catalysts make this possible

1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 2050

oil

‘renewables’

Natural gas

coal

The energy challenge

Store energy efficiently Generate new energy carriers, e

e.g. H2

combination

of chemistry, physics, engineering, even biology;

interested in ?

industrial chemistry e.g. renewable chemicals and fuels,e.g. fine chemicals (pharma, flavours...)

techniques for environmental remediation

Work with a creative and innovative mindset towards

safe processes and productsmaximal valorization of energy and resources,minimal pollution of the environment;

New catalysts / solid catalystshow to make themhow to characterize them with advanced techniqueshow to apply them

Molecular understanding !!

Kiezen voor Katalytische Technologie ...Why choose Catalysis?

7

The Program

sp OPO-titel

Kata

lys

e

6 Heterogene Katalyse

4 Homogene Katalyse

4 Foto- en elektrochemie

4 Biokatalyse

Ma

teri

ale

n

5 Membraantechnologie

5Hoogdisperse materialen: Chemie en

Synthese

Kara

kte

risa

tie

6 Characterization of catalysts

4 Practicum Karakterisatie van katalysatoren

5 Adsorptie

5 Milieu-impact van technologische processen

3 Religie, zingeving en levensbeschouwing

Totaal sp 51

***

*

**Masterproef

- Onderzoek (25sp)

- Verdedging (5sp)

Segment

keuzeopleidingsonderdelen

(aanvullen tot 120sp)

Minorsegment (17-20sp)

- Bijstuurminor

- Minor

- Gerichte minor

Truncus Communis (51sp)

Major

Proces

technologie

(min 11sp)

Major

Moleculaire

technologie

(12sp)

Heterogeneous catalysis

Solid catalyst materials

- Oxide Catalysts

- Zeolites

- Metal Catalysts

Catalytic Reactors

Insights in mechanisms

The industry needs

(new families of) molecules & safe methods to make them !

Sofosbuvir (hepatitis C)

substitutions at PRilpivirine

(HIV)

Osimertinib

(cancer)

C-C bond formation

Remdesivir (Corona)

Base chemicalsFlavours & Fragrances High performance polymers

Homogeneous Catalysis

Homogeneous Catalysis

Insight in Mechanisms

Applications of VITAL importance …

11

Photo- and Electrocatalysis

… use renewabe energy sources for

making fuels

making cgemicals

DesalinationCO2 / CH4 separation

Membrane Technology: energy efficient separation

Membrane Bioreactors

Membrane preparation How do membranes function ?

Catalyst Characterization: Practicum = Hands on !

1st year 2nd semester: Learn to

- use research infrastructure

- analyse data

- draw conclusions

- project future work

N2, water physisorption:

texture analysis,

hydrophobicity

Chemsorption:

Catalyst titration with CO

X-ray diffraction

TGA-DSC-MS

e.g. organics interaction

with solid surfaces

Microscopy

UV-Vis-NIR DRS

EPR spectroscopy

Catalyst Characterization: Practicum = Hands on !

Liquid phase pressure reactors

Electroreactor

Gas Phase reactors

15

The Program

Masterproef

- Onderzoek (25sp)

- Verdediging (5sp)

Segment

keuzeopleidingsonderdelen

(aanvullen tot 120sp)

Minorsegment (17-20sp)

- Bijstuurminor

- Minor

- Gerichte minor

Truncus Communis (51sp)

Major

Proces

technologie

(min 11sp)

Major

Moleculaire

technologie

(12sp)

Ma

jor

pro

ce

ste

ch

no

log

ie

4

verplicht

Chemische Procesanalyse (CPA) NEW

3Design and Analysis of Multiphase

Reactors (DAMR)

4Ten minste

één OPO

Remediëringstechnieken voor luchtpollutie

(lucht)

5Applied soil and Aquatic Chemistry (soil)

4

Vrije keuze

Chemical Process Design (cpd)

4Safety of Chemical and Biological Products

and of Chemical Processes (saf)

Ma

jor

mo

lec

ula

ire

tec

hn

olo

gie

4

verplicht

Physical Chemistry revised

4 Structuurchemie

4 Advanced NMR NEW

6

Vrije keuze

Nanostructure Determination via

Electromagnetic Radiation

6Chemistry and Characterisation of Surfaces

and Thin Films

16

Future-proof: ‘Chemische Procesanalyse’

The data tsunami is coming – also in chemical, pharma and

other process industries! Process analytical technology

(PAT) appears in all stages of production

NIR probes (in-line

measurements)Raman

scanner

Fiber-optic coupled probe

(in-line measurements)

Professional software

• Video cases

• Practice sessions

• Take-home assignments

From data to decisions

Optimal reaction time?

Impurity detection?

Kinetic parameters?

Process monitoring?

…

Industry talks

Janssen, TOMRA,

Allnex, …

High-dimensional data

Actual data from the course

17

The Program

Masterproef

- Onderzoek (25sp)

- Verdediging (5sp)

Segment

keuzeopleidingsonderdelen

(aanvullen tot 120sp)

Minorsegment (17-20sp)

- Bijstuurminor

- Minor

- Gerichte minor

Truncus Communis (51sp)

Major

Proces

technologie

(min 11sp)

Major

Moleculaire

technologie

(12sp)

Industriële stage in 2e semester• 13 weken, 3 dagen / week

• 15 stpt

• Tussen lesvrije week en einde 2e

semester

Major - Minorkeuze

Moleculaire Proces

Technologie

Minorkeuze

andere richtingen

Master project2nd year

Work on your own research project

- Learn to develop a research plan

- Optimize/develop materials and processes

- Practice scientific writing and reporting

- Learn to communicate/publish your results

- Learn critical evaluation of data

- Contribute with your results to science, environment

and society

Kiezen voor Katalytische Technologie ...Perspectives for our Masters ?

Chemistry in Belgium

• 30 % of BNP catalysis !!!

• 63000 direct jobs

• 270000 indirect jobs

HIGH DEMAND FOR

QUALIFIED PERSONNEL

Sectors where you find Masters in Catalysis …

Research &

Development: 26%

Chemistry &

Petrochemistry: 28%

Pharma: 13%

Environmental: 7%

Food : 7%

Government : 4%

in %

n = 190

Education : 4%

None : 4%

Others: 10 %

in %

n = 190

Junior

Researcher: 26%

Occupation of our Masters in Catalysis ?

Senior

Researcher: 8%

Commercial

13%

Process &

Technology:

28%

Policy &

Management

18%

Advisor: 7%

Teacher: 4%

Others: 3%

Who hires our Masters in Catalysis ?

Aquafin

Seghers-Keppel

Waterleau

Environmental

Total

Borealis

Sabic,

Ineos

Petro

Pfizer

Janssen Pharma

UCB

Solvay

Pharma

Soudal

Huntsman

Recticel

Inovyn

Polymer chemistry

BASF, DSM/Fibrant

Lanxess,

Tessenderlo Chemie

3M, Chemours

Base Chemicals

Tate & Lyle

PB (gelatins)

Food

Government

Education

ICT

Consultancy

Misc.

=> Zeer

grote

diversiteit!

Fine Chem.

Taminco;

TFC

Umicore

Hydrogenics

BASF

Catalysts

Profiel: Trees De Baerdemaeker

Jaargang

Werkgever

Functions

2012 – 2016 (PhD)

BASF Ludwigshafen

1. Post-doc at Leuven University, Oxford University

2. Zeolite Research Scientist

- Synthesis of zeolites at Industrial Scale

- New Catalytic Processes

Profiel: Philip Buskens

Jaargang

Werkgever

Functies

positieve

aspecten ?

1990

BASF Antwerpen

1. Ontwikkeling van een coating voor watertransport (3 jr.)

2. Productie-ingenieur aminefabriek (5 jr.)

3. Interne consulting (2 jr.)

4. Hoofd aankoop site Antwerpen (nu):

grondstoffen, externe diensten, machines, ...

geeft leiding aan 130 mensen.

afwisseling

globale context

werken met mensen

Profiel: Frederik Vermoortele

Year

Employer

Functions

2010

Janssen Pharma, Geel / Beerse

1. PhD in Leuven (4 yr.)

2. Process Engineer

3. Manager of the ‘CDPP’ Plant

at Janssen

O

H

O

CN

OCH

3

CH3

Cl

Cl

H3N

NH

COOH

O

O

OMe

OHMeO

O

OMe

OH

O

OH

OH

N

N

O

OH OHNH

2

O

Profiel: Stefaan De Wildeman

Year

Employer

Functions

1998

B4-Plastics

1. Research at KULeuven, UGent (PhD, 4 jr.)

2. Researcher at DSM: junior / project leader

NH3 lyases a-, b-amino acids

3. Start-up: B4 Plastics:

Plastics designed to be degradable !

Profiel: Laurens Claes

Year

Employer

Functions

positive

aspects ?

2013

Trans Furans Chemicals, Geel

1. Research K.U.Leuven

2. Innovation post-doc: catalysis for hops

3. Quality Control Manager at TFC

From renewable resource

to high quality products !

O CH2OH

...

A team of 9 + 2 professors

with complementary expertise

Ameloot De Vos

Sels

Martens Kirschhock

DusselierVankelecom

Sakellariou

De WildemanRoeffaers

Vereecken