Avondlezing door prof.dr. H.J.Heeres, georganiseerd door de Rotterdamsche Chemische Kring.
Samenvatting
The identification and subsequent commercialization of added value chemicals like plastic precursors from circular sources like biomass and plastic recyclates is high on the global research and development agenda to speed up the transition from a fossil to a circular economy. An attractive approach involves the catalytic conversion of suitable sources to products that are already on the market place and commercially available (drop-in approach). As such, this strategy exploits existing value chains, markets and infrastructure, which will speed up the pace of the development and reduce investment costs. In this presentation, research activities in our group aiming at the identification of suitable catalytic technology for such drop in chemicals from circular carbon sources resources will be reported.
Curriculum vitae
H.J. (Erik) Heeres (25-06-1963) carried out his Ph.D. research at the University of Groningen on the development of novel homogeneous lanthanide catalysts for the conversion of unsaturated hydrocarbons and graduated in 1990. Afterwards, he performed a post-doc at the University of Oxford in the group of Prof. J. M. Brown on asymmetric catalysis. 
From 1991-1999, he was employed at Shell Research B.V. (Amsterdam and Pernis, the Netherlands) and worked on a range of applied catalysis topics. Heeres joined the chemical engineering department of the University of Groningen in 1999 as an assistant professor. In 2003 he was appointed here as a full professor in green chemical reaction engineering. His research interests concern the development of efficient catalytic technology for circular carbon conversions. This involves the use of biomass for biofuels (catalytic pyrolysis, pyrolysis oil upgrading), platform chemicals (levulinic acid, hydroxymethylfurfural), and performance materials. Recently, the group started activities in the field of plastic recycling using pyrolysis technology. The group is actively involved in national and international consortia. Heeres is the (co-) author of more than 280 papers in international peer-reviewed journals and 12 patents in the field of (applied) catalysis and chemical reaction engineering. He is a member of the Koninklijke Hollandsche Maatschappij der Wetenschappen and an associate editor of the journal Fuel Processing Technology.
For publication list and detailed research activities see:
https://www.rug.nl/staff/h.j.heeres/research/publications.html?filter=contributiontojournal
Introducé(e)s zijn van harte welkom.
Stuur daartoe een mail naar chemischekringrotterdam@gmail.com.
