Yatong Liu
My name is Yatong Liu. I completed my bachelor’s degree in chemistry and master’s
degree in environmental engineering at Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de
Rennes (ENSCR). I am now working in the field of hydrothermal liquefaction process. My
current research is using catalysed hydrothermal liquefaction to treat biomass for product
upgrade. The aim of this project is to find out some catalytic routes to make upgraded
products from the hydrothermal reduction of biomass as a reductant in subcritical
condition with catalysts.
Research Areas: Biomass and waste utilisation
Habib Suleymanov
For the past 6 years, Habib worked in downstream oil and gas projects in the roles of a contractor, client process engineer and manager. His main expertise is related to refinery technologies, simulation, project management and coordination in a multidisciplinary
environment for large-scale projects with reputable technology licensors, PMC and EPCcontractors.
His research interest is to produce sustainable jet fuel and other valuable chemicals through the Fischer-Tropsch process (FTS) by converting carbon sources from industrial emissions. Real data for emissions is used to build a simulation model on Aspen plus which defines feedstock composition for the FTS process. Feedstock will be replicated on the lab scale in a purposely build lab rig (later on to the pilot plant) and applied to commercial and synthesized FTS catalysts to evaluate the best option to maximise sustainable jet fuel and explore conversion to other valuable chemicals. Product recovery is simulated and the whole system is sized to evaluate the economics and environmental impact. Simulation of different auxiliary processes and systems are outsourced as part of research and design projects.
A similar approach will be followed for alcohol route conversion to sustainable jet fuel from industrial carbon sources by using the same lab system with a focus to produce alcohol. Comparison will be made for the economy of scale with the FTS route.
By the end of this project, Habib aims to recommend the best FTS catalyst composition for realistic industrial feedstock from emissions, optimise the FTS process, and identify valuable by-product chemicals based on economic analysis and comparison with the alcohol route.
Mariya Konstantinova
I graduated from The University of Glasgow in 2016 with a first-class BSc in Chemistry, followed by experience in quality control. My current research is in biomass-assisted catalytic hydrothermal conversion of carbon dioxide into value-added products, where biomass acts as a hydrogen source. The project is inspired by oceanic hydrothermal vents, at which it is postulated primordial life evolved. By mimicking the unique conditions that occur at vent interfaces, and including Earth-abundant metals as catalysts, CO2 can be converted to a range of organic molecules, notably formic acid (Figure). Simultaneously, a range of different biomass sources can be explored as sources of hydrogen that concurrently convert into water-soluble organic molecules and bio-oil.
Research Areas: Biomass and waste utilisation; CO2 utilisation
Tanavadee (Pam) Sirilapanan
I'm Pam from Bangkok, Thailand. I have completed my MSc from UCL and my undergraduate studies, with double degree certificates, from University of Nottingham and Thammasat University in BEng (Hons) Manufacturing Engineering.
My PhD work is based on the techno-economic assessment of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. This mainly includes the engineering design, modelling simulation, process optimisation, and economic analysis of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.
Research Areas: Energy; CO2 utilisation
Hannah Woodward
I started out by doing a BSc in Chemistry followed by a masters in Space studies and now i'm combining the two subjects I love in my PhD in Chemical Engineering. I am currently looking at the catalytic origins of organic compounds in extraterrestrial space which involves testing methods to find a possible source of the carbon that started life on Earth. In particular I am interested in Fischer- Tropsch synthesis and I am creating analogues of metals in the early solar system that could act as a catalyst during the formation of life like molecules. My project is in collaboration with the Diamond Pilot Plant and astrobiologists at NASA who are providing space grains.
Research Areas: Carbon in catalysis; Energy; CO2 utilisation
Ibrahim Alfayez
I acquired my bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia. A few years later, I attended the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA for a master's degree in chemical engineering during which I have explored various research areas from which heterogenous catalysts, simulation work, was what I further explored. Now, in my PhD, I am focusing on carbon dioxide, CO2, utilization, particularly, catalytic CO2 hydrogenation into useful fuels and chemicals.
Research area: CO2 utilization; CO2 hydrogenation into fuels; CO2 hydrogenation into chemicals
Nitchamon Siripanich
King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi:
Aug 2021-Present : Study master degree in Chemical Engineering Practice School
Kasetsart University
Jul 2017-Apr 2021 : Graduated with second class honors Faculty of engineering concentration in Chemical Engineering
