Short films with Bert Weckhuysen and with Krijn de Jong
In April 2013, Utrecht University released a YouTube video with CatchBio director Bert Weckhuysen, and one with CatchBio project leader Krijn de Jong.
Watch the interview with Bert Weckhuysen:
Watch the interview with Krijn de Jong:
ChemistryViews CatchBio interviews
In March 2012, ChemistryViews.org featured interviews with CatchBio's Bert Weckhuysen, Lies Bouwman and Ed de Jong. Read the full story here
Chemistryviews.org is a news and information site with an associated magazine, ChemViews, provided by ChemPubSoc Europe, an organization of 16 European chemical societies including the Dutch KNCV. The site offers news, commentary, opinion, and additional feature material from leading authors to the global chemistry community as well as educational material. It is closely linked to society journals like Angewandte Chemie and Chemistry – A European Journal.
Chemisch 2Weekblad (C2W)
On 25 February 2012, Chemisch 2Weekblad (C2W) published a three page article on CatchBio and catalytic biomass research. Among the CatchBio researchers who have been interviewed, are Bert Weckhuysen, Hans de Vries, Annelie Jongerius, and Jorge Gascon.
Read the full story here (pdf, in Dutch).
More from C2W on the website.
Science publication by Krijn de Jong on bioplastics
A new catalyst, developed by chemists at Utrecht University and consisting of tiny iron spheres, enables efficient conversion to key components of various products including plastics, medicines and paint. The new catalyst was developed by Utrecht chemists Krijn de Jong and his group, including CatchBio researcher Harry Bitter, in cooperation with Dow Benelux and Delft University of Technology.
Their research featured in the 17 February 2012 issue of the scientific journal Science. It got a lot of publicity, of which we highlight a few:
- national morning show RTL Nieuws covered the news
(in Dutch, item starts at 08:07')
- Krijn de Jong was on radio show BNR Duurzaam (in Dutch)
- popular science radio show Hoe?Zo! radio had Krijn de Jong on air (in Dutch)
- popular science website Scientias interviewed Harry Bitter about this research
(in Dutch)
- read the full press release from Utrecht University
Avantium's agreement with Coca-Cola widely covered in the media
Avantium and The Coca-Cola Company have signed a partnership agreement to develop next generation 100% plant based plastic: PEF. This was announced on 15 December 2011. Exceptional functional properties make biobased plastic PEF a suitable alternative for future beverage packaging following technology break-through by Avantium. The news was widely covered in several media.
One of them is Nieuwsuur - watch the item (in Dutch):
Avantium's general director Tom van Aken was on Business News Radio (BNR Denktank) on 31 January 2012: listen to the item.
Ben Feringa on Dutch radio: Casa Luna
After the CHAINS conference, Ben Feringa was on the midnight talk show Casa Luna on 30 November 2011, where he spoke about green chemistry amongst other subjects. Feringa is CatchBio project leader and member of the Management Team. Listen to the show (in Dutch).
Bert Weckhuysen in Nature Chemistry, November 2011: smart observational technique makes it easier to convert oil into petrol
Bert Weckhuysen and his team from Utrecht University, in collaboration with the company Albemarle Catalysts, have succeeded in imaging how well individual catalyst particles do their work. As a result of this research better catalysts can now be found. This will enable the oil industry to continue producing qualitatively good fuels from the dwindling reserves of crude oil that are often of a poor quality. The research was published in the November issue of Nature Chemistry.
Read the full press release.
Several media wrote about this research:
- www.engineeringnet.be
- www.energieportal.nl
- atomiumculture.eu
- www.greencarcongress.com
- www.deingenieur.nl
On 13 September 2011 the Dutch science programme Hoe?Zo!Radio hosted CatchBio project leader Gadi Rothenberg on his newest invention: soluble plastics. Listen to the show (in Dutch).
Bert Weckhuysen and Ben Feringa on BNR Duurzaam radio
On 28 January 2011 The Netherlands celebrated the official beginning of the International Year of Chemistry. Two days earlier Ben Feringa and Bert Weckhuysen were being interviewed about chemistry, katalysis and nanotechnology on BNR Duurzaam radio.
Listen to the show
Erik Heeres on Dutch radio
At midnight 1-2 November 2010 the Dutch Radio 1 hosted Erik Heeres (RUG and CatchBio Bulk cluster committee) to talk about his work on the Jatropha nut. Listen to the show (45 minutes).
Bert Weckhuysen on Dutch radio: Hoe?Zo!Radio
On 27 October 2010 the Dutch science programme Hoe?Zo!Radio hosted CatchBios scientific director Bert Weckhuysen. Listen to the show (in Dutch):
Sacha Kersten on Dutch television: 8 o'clock News
Researcher Sacha Kersten was on the Dutch NOS 8 Uur Journaal on 24 June 2010 because of the opening of a biofuel plant in Delfzijl. Kersten works on the CatchBio project Catalytic steps in the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass via pyrolysis to fuel precursors. Watch the item:
Additionally, in september 2010 Kerstens university (University of Twente) published the article 'Oil from forestry and agricultural waste ' on the subject of pyrolysis.
The Green Masterclass
CatchBio Supervisory Board member Herman van
Wechem (former Shell) was invited for the Green Masterclass at Dutch television, 12 April 2010. Other participants are Hermann Scheer (world pioneer for the promotion of solar energy), Paul Hamm (green venture investor), Colette Alma (director general at VNCI), René Venendaal (entrepeneur in bioenergy) en Rudy Rabbinge (professor Sustainable development and Food security at Wageningen University). View this visionary discussion below (in English) on bio-based entrepreneurship and the role for Dutch academia and industry in the transition to a green economy. Article Science
Indirect Emissions from Biofuels: How Important?
Science, 4 december 2009
Article Dit is Biotechnologie
Tweede-generatie-biobrandstoffen wél duurzaamDit is Biotechnologie, 4 februari 2009
Bert Weckhuysen on Dutch radio
Prof. Weckhuysen, Scientific Director CatchBio, interviewed by Dutch radio on biomass conversion (in Dutch), 21 November 2008:
or go to the website of the Teleac Wetenschapscafé
Article Connexions
Towards a bio-based future: The "green" debateConnexions 2008 3
Article Chemical Science
A fruity alternative to fossil fuels by Janet CrombieChemical Science 2008 3
Article Hypothese (NWO)
Planten en houtsnippers als biologische brandstof door B. van WayenburgHypothese nr. 5 december 2007
Article Biochem
Van koolzaad naar olie, plastic en medicijnen door Anne van der SchootBiochem 03/07
Article Financieel Dagblad
Nieuw gereedschap voor Biodiesel door Joost Schmets Het Financieel Dagblad 24-07-2007
Article Chemie Magazine
CatchBio klaar voor de start Chemie magazine april 2007
Article Ublad
Weckhuysen zoekt naar alternatieve energiebronnenUblad 10-05-2007 nr. 29
Article Biopact
The bioeconomy at work: Dutch biorefinery project CatchBio receives first nodBiopact, 04-04-2007
Watch the 1-minute-movie: CatchBio in a nutshell, by Prof. Weckhuysen (in Dutch)