Dr. Niklas Pfriem

Hydrotreating & Reforming

We provide an understanding of remarkable support and confinment effects on tungsten oxide catalyzed aqueous-phase alcohol dehydration, using cyclohexanol as a model relevant to biomass processing. Therefore, we intensively characterize the materials ex-situ and in-situ prior to kinetic testing to yield an overall appilcable kinetic model for the reaction. Our work is expected to lead to optimized metal oxide catalysts in terms of stability and activity in biomass upgrading reactions.

Involvement in a batch-to-continuous scale-up process including independent planning and performing of parameter studies on a 1 kg/h pilot plant for the synthesis of polysiloxanes. Additionally, evaluation of distillation and rectification units as well as assistance in a purification process of a contaminated distillate.

Industrial production of textile chemicals in Batch-reactors. (50 days/year)

Catalysis, reaction engineering, chemical engineering, process engineering. Master's Thesis at University of Toronto, department of chemical engineering