Catalysis for Sustainable Processes - Conversion of CO2 to dimethyl carbonate (IRO-scholarship)
details
Description: In the Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis of the University of Leuven (K.U. Leuven), we are looking for a motivated and talented Ph.D. researcher for a 4-year project on the development of heterogeneous catalysts for the conversion of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide to dimethyl carbonate.
Carbon dioxide is produced in large amounts from fuel combustion and represents the main contribution to greenhouse gases. Therefore, CO2 emissions are considered a serious threat to the environment. On the other hand, this implies that carbon dioxide is an easily available, abundant, economical and renewable carbon source. In this project, the target is to identify a suitable heterogeneous catalyst for the conversion of CO2 to dimethyl carbonate. Dimethyl carbonate is a versatile compound with applications as solvent, as fuel additive and as eco friendly alternative reagent for methylation and carbonylation reactions. High-Throughput Experimentation techniques will be employed to enable the rapid and efficient preparation and testing of a large set of heterogeneous catalysts in different reaction conditions, including the use of supercritical CO2.
Key words: Catalysis - Sustainable Processes - Conversion of CO2 - Dimethyl carbonate - High-Throughput Experimentation.High-Throug
Latest application date: 2009-12-31
Financing: iro-scholarship
Type of Position: scholarship
Duration of the Project : 4 years
Research group: Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M#S)
Remarks:
Relevance for development co-operation
The development of a suitable catalytic process for the conversion of the greenhouse gas CO2 to relevant chemical compounds as dimethyl carbonate is a research topic of worldwide interest. The discovery of such a process would be of particular interest for developing countries because the reaction is based on the use of CO2 as feedstock, which is an easily available, abundant, inexpensive and renewable carbon source.
Organisation
The University of Leuven (K.U. Leuven) was founded in 1425 and through the centuries it established a tradition of hospitality towards students and scholars from abroad. Nowadays, K.U. Leuven is a prestigious and internationally renowned university, providing education and carrying out research in many fields of knowledge. It is located in the heart of Belgium, at about 20 km from Brussels. For more information:
www.kuleuven.be
The Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis is an internationally recognised research group in the field of catalysis. The group consists of an interdisciplinary team active in a vast range of research topics: synthesis of microporous, mesoporous, nanosized materials and membranes; structural and surface chemistry, liquid-solid and gas-solid interactions; structure-activity relationships in heterogeneous catalysis; supramolecular and environmental catalysis. The research approach is unique as synthesis, characterisation and testing of the catalytic materials are performed under the same roof, thanks to an extensive set of techniques including state-of-the-art High-Throughput Experimentation facilities.
For more information:
www.biw.kuleuven.be/cok/
Requirements & conditions of employment
The applicant should hold a Master of Science in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or equivalent studies. A good knowledge of English (spoken and written) is required. Due to the multidisciplinary and challenging nature of the project, the candidate is expected to have the curiosity and the flexibility to rapidly learn new topics.
This scholarship is offered to deserving students from developing countries in the frame of the contributions of K.U.Leuven to development co-operation. Commonly referred to as the IRO scholarships (IRO in Dutch stands for Interfacultaire Raad voor Ontwikkelingssamenwerking), this scholarship programme has supported more than sixty Ph.D. graduates over the past five years. More information about the scholarship, including the elegibity conditions and the application and selection procedure, can be found at:
http://www.kuleuven.be/iro/
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