Driving
Chemical Technology

The Laboratory for Chemical Technology (LCT) integrates chemical science and engineering in its research on catalysis, polymerization, kinetics, reactor design and process design. LCT is part of the Department of Materials, Textiles and Chemical Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at Ghent University in Belgium and member of the Centre for Sustainable Chemistry (CSC) of Ghent University. LCT aims at research excellence and bottom-up innovation in the framework of technological, industrial, and societal challenges.

Assets

Software

One of the core activities of LCT is the development of multi-scale models, allowing the simulation and design of chemical processes. Multi-scale modeling has been successfully applied to numerous refining and (petro)chemical processes. It has proven to be a very powerful tool for process optimization and intensification, leading to immediate cost reduction or reducing time to market for new processes. As such, the developed models for chemical processes have a huge economic value.

The in-house developed codes for the multi-scale models can be made available to both academic and industrial partners through non-exclusive, annual licenses. Furthermore, within a bilateral research project these multi-scale models can also be customized to a partner’s specific needs.

A first spin-off has been created (Avgi(external link)), dealing with optimizing steam cracking and maximizing economics. A second spin-off (Polinivo(external link)) focuses on polymer synthesis, modification and recycling.

Bart Hommez(external link)

Infrastructure

LCT has built up as sophisticated and extensive up-to-date infrastructure which can also be made available to third parties.

Among others this involves:

Embedding in Center for Sustainable Chemistry

LCT research is a significant part of CSC.

This center wants to respond to the implementation of SusChem as the European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry at the European level and the implementation of the innovation cluster policy at the Flemish level which resulted in the foundation of Catalisti as the spearhead cluster on Chemistry and Plastics.

The Center for Sustainable Chemistry has a strong focus on research infrastructure and services with industrial relevance.

Elisabeth Delbeke(external link)

ERC funded projects

LCT develops its research excellence through ERC-funded projects via applications by both junior and senior principle investigators. Starting, Consolidator, Advanced, and Proof of Concept ERC grants have been obtained, other applications reached the interview stage including an ERC Synergy Grant.