Our research is at the interface between chemical engineering, catalysis, surface kinetics, analytical, and physical chemistry. We aim to bridge the fundamental aspects of chemical reactions and catalysis with reactor design and process development. Our core competencies are:
Below is an overview of the projects we investigate:
Process development for the deasphalting of crude and residues using heterogeneous catalysts
Reactor design and optimization for converting crude (and refinery wastes) to chemicals in one step through steam-fluidized catalytic cracking
Design and development of unconventional catalytic conversion processes using electrons, photons, and microorganisms
Designing sustainable routes to produce fuels and chemicals from algae trough catalytic liquefaction
The catalytic processes we investigate fall into (1) hydrocarbon sustainability, (2) alternative feedstock and (3) circular carbon economy and waste-valorization, such as the transformations of small molecules (carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, alkanes, methanol) or bulkier ones in complex mixtures (refinery residues, crude, biomass, lignin, plastic wastes, used tires) into hydrogen, light olefins/alkenes, platform chemicals or high-quality fuels.
Below is an overall scheme of processes we investigate and more details about them, who works here, and our publications.
Modeling and scaling processes to generate high-pressure hydrogen (H₂) from ammonia
Process development for the deasphalting of crude and residues using heterogeneous catalysts
Stable catalyst design for the viable activation of methane to syngas, hydrogen, and chemicals
Towards a feasible and stable thermocatalytic conversion of CO₂ to methanol and E-fuels
Reactor design and optimization for converting crude (and refinery wastes) to chemicals in one step through steam-fluidized catalytic cracking
Process development and deployment for the direct reforming of crude oil to hydrogen and carbon materials
Design and development of unconventional catalytic conversion processes using electrons, photons, and microorganisms
Upgrading renewables, secondary, and waste streams through innovative hydroprocessing catalysts and reaction pathways
Designing sustainable routes to produce fuels and chemicals from algae trough catalytic liquefaction
Controlling selectivity and stability of zeolite catalysts for methanol to hydrocarbons and ethylene oligomerization