In 2005 the universities of St Andrews and Edinburgh in Scotland together formed EaStCHEM: the Edinburgh and St Andrews Research School of Chemistry. This strengthened the already strong European position in homogeneous catalysis. Professor Paul Kamer accepted a chair at St Andrews that same year. In 2012 he initiated a collaboration with CatchBio.Both EaStCHEM catalysis groups received grants from the main UK funding agency EPSRC to start a major effort in the field of renewable catalyis and to build links with the Dutch consortium CatchBio. The collaboration was suggested to Paul Kamer by Bob Tooze from Sasol, one of CatchBio’s consortium partners. Kamer also involved Nick Westwood and Andy Smith from St Andrews. “Our collaboration in EaStCHEM as well as with CatchBio should both be viewed in the same light: to join forces in an ambitious long term programme. No group, university or even country is large enough to face the gigantic challenges in the field of renewable feedstocks on its own. It is infinitely more complex than initially thought”, Kamer explains. “In my opinion, there is no alternative to a multi-faceted, integrated approach.”
Valuable contribution
EaStCHEM is strong in homogeneous catalysis and CO2 chemistry, but has less expertise in lignin, chemical engineering and heterogeneous catalysis.
Professor Kamer: “We agreed with CatchBio director Bert Weckhuysen that our homogeneous catalysis activities mean a valuable contribution to the existing CatchBio expertise, as does the research on fungal enzymes by Ronald de Vries of the CBS-KNAW. The multi-step conversion of practice grade lignin and lignocellulose feedstocks is extremely complex. It demands all (bio-)chemical specialisations available.”
“Organic chemistry could lead the way downstream, with selective conversion. Selective homogeneous catalysis could for instance solve the step from lignin degradation products to fine chemical products such as L-dopa. Other close links are the conversion of oleates into a,w-diesters studied by David Cole-Hamilton (St Andrews) and the conversion of cashew nut shell oil studied in Groningen.”
Acknowledgement
Kamer notices that collaborations within CatchBio, for instance with Groningen, Utrecht and the RWTH Aachen, were set up remarkably fast. “And apparently, 'Europe' also acknowledges that the combination of fields from renowned institutes within CatchBio really works. One reputation attracts the other. I'm convinced this explains why our application for a Marie Curie ITN* grant of 4 million euros was approved right away”, he says.
“Initiated by Nick Westwood and me, with participation of Andy Smith, almost the same people were behind the proposal. The idea was to combine EaStCHEM, CatchBio en TMFB expertise to cover all expertise in homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis and engineering, besides biocatalysis via CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre and the University of Helsinki.”
Natural processes
Kamer thinks the biggest challenge ahead is to separate the fine chemical pearls from - literally - a soup of compounds: “It is key to find mild, selective separation methods for very high-grade raw materials. In addition, it will be necessary to find selective conversions towards high-value monomers that connect to natural processes. In this way the hard work of nature can be utilized instead of broken down. Instead of adding extra steps to the conventional crude oil conversion process, we should find ways to benefit directly from the work of nature. This still demands a lot of breakthroughs, but ultimately there is no other way.”
Valuable contribution
EaStCHEM is strong in homogeneous catalysis and CO2 chemistry, but has less expertise in lignin, chemical engineering and heterogeneous catalysis.
Professor Kamer: “We agreed with CatchBio director Bert Weckhuysen that our homogeneous catalysis activities mean a valuable contribution to the existing CatchBio expertise, as does the research on fungal enzymes by Ronald de Vries of the CBS-KNAW. The multi-step conversion of practice grade lignin and lignocellulose feedstocks is extremely complex. It demands all (bio-)chemical specialisations available.”“Organic chemistry could lead the way downstream, with selective conversion. Selective homogeneous catalysis could for instance solve the step from lignin degradation products to fine chemical products such as L-dopa. Other close links are the conversion of oleates into a,w-diesters studied by David Cole-Hamilton (St Andrews) and the conversion of cashew nut shell oil studied in Groningen.”
Acknowledgement
Kamer notices that collaborations within CatchBio, for instance with Groningen, Utrecht and the RWTH Aachen, were set up remarkably fast. “And apparently, 'Europe' also acknowledges that the combination of fields from renowned institutes within CatchBio really works. One reputation attracts the other. I'm convinced this explains why our application for a Marie Curie ITN* grant of 4 million euros was approved right away”, he says.
“Initiated by Nick Westwood and me, with participation of Andy Smith, almost the same people were behind the proposal. The idea was to combine EaStCHEM, CatchBio en TMFB expertise to cover all expertise in homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis and engineering, besides biocatalysis via CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre and the University of Helsinki.”
Natural processes
Kamer thinks the biggest challenge ahead is to separate the fine chemical pearls from - literally - a soup of compounds: “It is key to find mild, selective separation methods for very high-grade raw materials. In addition, it will be necessary to find selective conversions towards high-value monomers that connect to natural processes. In this way the hard work of nature can be utilized instead of broken down. Instead of adding extra steps to the conventional crude oil conversion process, we should find ways to benefit directly from the work of nature. This still demands a lot of breakthroughs, but ultimately there is no other way.”
Prof. Paul Kamer and Prof. David Cole-Hamilton, both from the University of St Andrews, will be speaking at the international open symposium ‘Uniting Renewable Catalysis across Europe’, jointly organized by CatchBio, EaStCHEM and TMFB Aachen on 30 January 2014.
* ITN = Initial Training Networks. Marie Curie ITN offers early-stage researchers the opportunity to improve their research skills, join established research teams and enhance their career prospects.