Research
Research
The current challenge of mitigating climate change requires a transition to sustainable feedstocks, as well as a reduction of CO2 emissions. A promising approach to combine these in one solution is by taking CO2 (from point sources or Direct Air Capture) and using this as a carbon feedstock to make fuels and chemicals. In such a system, hydrogen generated from a renewable energy source can be used to convert CO2 to CO by reverse Water-Gas Shift (rWGS), after which CO can be further converted to chemicals and fuels by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS).
This project aims to investigate the relative dependency of hydrogen production, rWGS and FTS. To do so, different catalyst combinations, gas compositions and reaction conditions will be investigated. Various configurations will be studied: either two different catalysts and reactors are employed and optimized for rWGS and FTS individually. The relative dependency of these two processes will be investigated. The effect of transient conditions (e.g. failure of hydrogen production) on these systems and their catalysts will be evaluated: the extent of the catalyst degeneration is investigated, as well as the ability to regenerate the catalyst. Alternatively, one reactor with one catalyst is employed that can immediately convert CO2 to higher hydrocarbons. This catalyst will be optimized to be able to handle CO2-rich streams, for instance by promotion with K and/or Mn. The eventual goal of the project is to compare various configurations and catalysts in terms of robustness and their ability to convert CO2 to valuable products.
CV
CV
2025-present
PhD candidate at ICC, Utrecht University.
Project title: “Towards the Refinery of the Future: Exploring the Combination of Hydrogen Production, Reverse Water-Gas-Shift and Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis to Make Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals”
2023-2025
Master Nanomaterials Science at Utrecht University.
Master thesis at ICC: “Shining a Light on Functionalized Zeolite Films: Enhanced Photochemical Decomposition of Volatile Organic Compounds by Stacking TiO2–Functionalized Zeolite Films”, supervised by R.L. Riemersma, M.E. de Graaf, dr. E.M. Hutter and prof. dr. E.T.C. Vogt.
Internship at TNO: “Dosimetry of Microplastics in In-Vitro Toxicology: Experimental Evaluation of Sedimentation Rate Models”, supervised by dr. L.A. Parker, M. Kloukinioti and dr. F. Meirer.
2018-2022
Bachelor Chemistry at Utrecht University
Bachelor thesis: “Tungsten–Based Catalysts for Methane Dehydroaromatization”, supervised by J.J.G. Kromwijk and dr. W. van der Stam.
Successfully obtained the teacher qualification (“tweedegraads”) for high-school chemistry.