ERC-grant for Prof. Joris Thybaut
(06-01-2014)
The European Research Council (ERC) has recently awarded a prestigious grant to five researchers at Ghent University. It concerns so-called ‘consolidators’ that have demonstrated already to be able to run their own research group.
The ERC grant amounts to approximately 2 million euro per research group, which allows initiating projects with more risk. Such high risk/high gain research frequently leads to the most innovative discoveries. Such a Consolidator Grant, hence, represents a significant recognition as well as added value for the researchers.
Joris Thybaut, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture – Department of Chemical Processing and Technical Chemistry
Project i-CaD: Innovative Catalyst Design for Large-Scale, Sustainable Processes
Within i-CaD chemical conversion processes will be designed and optimized to transform renewable resources into fuels and chemicals. In particular the required ‘catalysts’, i.e., the materials that enhance the reaction rates and selectivities, will be envisaged. A methodology that has previously been developed and applied towards the refining of fossil resources will be further elaborated to be applicable for oxygen containing feeds, such as biomass.