Prof. Michael Claeys (UCT)

Prof Michael Claeys

Michael is a professor at the Catalysis Institute at University of Cape Town (UCT) since 2010. Here he was instrumental in establishing a large research activity with focus on Fischer-Tropsch catalysis, a technology, which lies at the heart of South Africa’s synthetic fuels and chemicals industry and which is playing an increasingly important role in the production of green future fuels via Power-to-X processes.

Position

Professor

Director of the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Catalysis (c*change)

Company

University of Cape Town (UCT)

Areas of Expertise

Michael obtained his PhD (with distinction) in Fischer-Tropsch catalysis at the University of Karlsruhe, Germany, in 1997. Further research interests include the preparation and characterisation of nano materials and their use in catalytic applications, as well as the development of catalysts and novel instrumentation for characterisation of catalysts at working conditions. He has published extensively on these topics, holds a number of patents and has been awarded an A-rating by the National Research Foundation of South Africa.

A large portion of his research is conducted in conjunction with industrial partners, in particular a longstanding industrial collaboration with Sasol R&D. Michael is the Director of the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Catalysis, c*change, a large virtual and multidisciplinary Centre, where he also acts as the Manager of the Scientific Synthesis Gas Programme, which includes processes of catalytic valorization of CO2.

With partners and leaders who are some of the best in industry and academia, CARE-O-SENE is on track to change the world.
Prof Michael Claeys
Professor University of Cape Town

Dr. Angela Siegel (Sasol Germany)

Dr Angela Siegel

Angela has been working as Manager R&D Shaped Carrier at the Sasol site in Brunsbuettel for more than seven years. In this position, she is mainly responsible for customer-oriented research and development of catalyst carriers. As part of CARE-O-SENE, she contributes her know-how for the development of innovative carriers together with the local team. In addition, she acts as the on-site contact person for the research project.

Angela compares catalyst carriers to the fundament of a house. While often overlooked, they are a crucial component needed for most chemical reactions and processes.

Position

Manager R&D Shaped Carriers

Company

Sasol Germany GmbH

Areas of Expertise

Angela has developed expertise in the areas of alumina-based catalyst carriers at Sasol. Previously, she worked at Engelhard/BASF, where she led the development of spherical silica gels used as adsorbents and catalyst carriers. With her in-depth knowledge, Angela is ideally placed to meet the objectives of the CARE-O-SENE research project: The optimisation and development of different types of catalyst carriers in order to achieve the overarching purpose of decarbonising global aviation.

Angela studied chemistry and did her PhD at the Institute of Technical Chemistry at the University of Hanover.

"Successful research only works in diverse teams and with the possibilities to test ideas. I am pleased that through large-scale projects as CARE-O-SENE or the new research center, our Brunsbuettel site will make an important contribution."
Dr Angela Siegel
Manager R&D Shaped Carrier

Prof. Eric van Steen (UCT)

Prof Eric van Steen

Eric is a professor in Chemical Engineering, and the South African Research Chair Initiative chair in Reaction Engineering in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Cape Town. He is focusing his research on the fundamental understanding of heterogeneous catalyzed reactions in the field of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, selective oxidations and photo-catalysis. He has been collaborating with Sasol for over 25 years.

Position

Professor

Chair of Reaction Engineering (SARChI)

Company

University of Cape Town (UCT)

Areas of Expertise

Eric obtained his doctorate in Chemical Engineering from the Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1993 focusing on kinetic evaluation of iron and cobalt-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. He initiated this research upon joining the staff in Chemical Engineering at the University of Cape Town. 

He is known for this size-dependent thermodynamics to predict phase stability within catalysts. He has developed extensive expertise in the field of molecular modelling to gain a better understanding of surface reactions and their inclusion in reactor models.

"Zitat folgt!"
Prof Eric van Steen
Professor University of Cape Town

Dr.-Ing. Erik Reichelt (IKTS)

Dr.-Ing. Erik Reichelt

Dr Erik Reichelt heads the Systems Process Engineering group at Fraunhofer IKTS, which he took over after completing his dissertation at Technische Universität Dresden. The subject of his research is the efficient generation and utilization of hydrogen and synthesis gas. 

The complete assessment of the value chain emanating from electrolysis also includes Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, which is examined both experimentally and in the context of modeling system concepts in the working group. 

In addition to the development of catalysts as well as their investigation in innovative reactor concepts, the evaluation in the context of power-to-X concepts is also one of the research topics.

Company

Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS)

Position

Group Manager Process Systems Engineering

"Sasol has a more than 70 years experience in Fischer-Tropsch catalysts and technology. Its time to take the next step to lead the industry into a sustainable and carbon free future with the help of our passion."
Dr Dirk Schär
Cohead Catalyst Development

Dr.-Ing. Gregor Herz (IKTS)

Dr.-Ing. Gregor Herz

Dr.-Ing. Gregor Herz heads the Modeling and Simulation group at Fraunhofer IKTS, which he took over after completing his dissertation in the group Process Systems Engineering. While his diploma thesis at TU Dresden and Fraunhofer IKTS focused on the simulation of electrolysis-based Fischer-Tropsch processes, in his dissertation his field of activity has expanded to techno-economic analyses on the utilization of hydrogen in large-scale industrial processes.

In the CARE-O-SENE project, he will be responsible for modeling the process chain from electrolysis over Fischer-Tropsch synthesis to product separation and upgrading. The main focus will be on the impact of new catalyst generations developed within the CARE-O-SENE project on the efficiency of the complete process chain and the resulting product spectrum.

Company

Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS)

Position

Group leader Modeling and Simulation group

"Sasol has a more than 70 years experience in Fischer-Tropsch catalysts and technology. Its time to take the next step to lead the industry into a sustainable and carbon free future with the help of our passion."
Dr Dirk Schär
Cohead Catalyst Development

Maximilian Medicus
(IKTS)

Maximilian Medicus

Maximilian Medicus has been working as a PhD student in the Systems Engineering Group at Fraunhofer IKTS, Dresden, since 2019. He completed his M.Sc. at TU Dresden with investigations of FSP-synthesized Fe-Mn/CeO2 catalysts in heterogeneously catalyzed gas-phase reactions. 

As part of his doctoral research, Max is investigating the scaling and shaping of iron-based Fischer-Tropsch catalysts for the production of fine chemicals such as higher alcohols in fixed-bed reactors. His experiments specifically vary catalyst composition and Fischer-Tropsch operating conditions to quantify and predict effects on target productivity. 

He has also conducted experiments on cobalt-based catalysts and is an expert in catalyst characterization and GC analysis. As part of the CARE-O-SENE project, he is assisting with both experimental and evaluation activities of the fixed-bed reactor experiments.

Company

Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS)

Position

PhD Student

"Sasol has a more than 70 years experience in Fischer-Tropsch catalysts and technology. Its time to take the next step to lead the industry into a sustainable and carbon free future with the help of our passion."
Dr Dirk Schär
Cohead Catalyst Development

Judith Mettke (IKTS)

Judith Mettke

Judith Mettke came to Fraunhofer IKTS in 2021 to write her master's thesis and was able to gain initial experience in the field of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. After completing her master's degree in chemical engineering and process technology at Nuremberg University of Applied Sciences, she has been continuing her work as a PhD student in the Systems Process Engineering group under the supervision of Dr. Erik Reichelt since 2022. 

In the context of her PhD thesis, she is working on the kinetics of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis using spatially resolved concentration profiles and the fixed-bed catalytic testing of catalysts developed in the course of the CARE-O-SENE project.

Company

Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS)

Position

PhD Student

"Sasol has a more than 70 years experience in Fischer-Tropsch catalysts and technology. Its time to take the next step to lead the industry into a sustainable and carbon free future with the help of our passion."
Dr Dirk Schär
Cohead Catalyst Development