My decision to spend 2 months at the University of Porto was first influenced by the mild winter and plenty of sunshine. However, upon arrival, I appreciated the inspiring lab environment. The department was filled with talented women leading scientific research and this was very motivating. Additionally, trying local delicacies such as Francesinha and port wine enriched this experience. My absolute favorite place was Miradouro da Serra do Pilar, because of the spectacular night view of the city. 

During my time there, I was privileged to work with Dr. Andreia Peixoto and Ms. Ines Marques, as we turned shrimp shell waste into biochar-based catalyst supports! Given the promise of nitrogen-rich materials in catalysis, our supports were doped with two nitrogen precursors. My learning journey continued through with their characterization using various techniques such as FTIR, XRD, SEM, and BET analyses, followed by catalyst synthesis.

Now in the GreenCats lab, I am testing these catalysts for the HDO of anisole, and I am hopeful for publishable results! This collaboration between Porto and Prague has enriched my knowledge of catalysis and provided me with a deeper appreciation of Green Chemistry and Circular Economy initiatives. I am excited for the outcome of this collaboration. Hopefully, there will be many more collaborations in the future.

Racheal

On the 28th of January 2025, our three studentes attended the 8th Catalytic Seminar for PhD students hosted by the Faculty of Science at Charles University. "I got an opportunity to present my work leading to my master's thesis with the title The influence of synthesis parameters on the structure of copper-based catalysts. It was a great learning experience and introduction to the catalytic community. I interacted with various professors and students on various catalytic topics. I am grateful for the opportunity and I am looking forward to more alike in the future." described Keren her first conference experience.

The new year brings fresh opportunities in the form of new GAČR projects, while also allowing us to reflect on the past year and bring previous projects to a close. To make the most of this transition, our group embarked on a three-day meeting dedicated to thorough discussions and planning.

During this intensive meeting, we reviewed and strategized for our upcoming projects in 2025, ensuring that all aspects were carefully considered. Additionally, we took the time to discuss the progress and future direction of our PhD students' dissertations.

Despite the packed schedule filled with discussions and brainstorming sessions, we managed to find a moment to step outside and enjoy a short walk in the beautiful Průhonice Park. This brief break provided a refreshing pause, allowing us to recharge before diving back into our work.

As we move forward, we are excited about the challenges and opportunities ahead and look forward to another productive year!

As the year draws to a close, it’s natural to reflect on the past twelve months. This autumn was particularly eventful, with several notable invited talks. These included a plenary lecture at the 13th International Symposium on Heterogeneous Catalysis in Burgas, Bulgaria, a lecture at the inspiring Topsoe Advanced Biofuels Seminar 2024 in Lyngby, Denmark, and presentations at Oviedo University and the Technical University of Vienna. Additionally, I participated in several interesting doctoral thesis defences—two at the University of Nova Gorica in Slovenia and one at Oviedo University in Spain—and attended the kick-off meeting of our new European project, ABATE, in Brussels, Belgium.

Choosing a favourite event from these experiences is nearly impossible, as each was incredibly rewarding and featured engaging discussions that extended beyond scientific topics. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of them all. However, if I had to select one standout event, it would be a lecture at Symposion—a conference organized by the students of the Prague grammar school, Gymnázium Jana Keplera. This event was unique because it allowed me to interact with a young audience on the importance and implications of industrial chemistry during my presentation titled “Green Chemistry – Defending Industrial Chemistry.”

Valeriie Korolova has successfully defended her thesis titled "Chemicals and Biofuels from Valorization of Biomass-Derived Aldehydes and Ketones." Her research, encapsulated in eight published manuscripts, represents a significant contribution to the field and underscores the high quality of her work. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Valeriie on achieving this remarkable milestone in her academic journey.

We are thrilled to share that our team has secured two three-year projects funded by the Czech Science Foundation (GAČR):

• Dr. Oleg Kiktyanin will be working on "Advanced Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 Catalysts: From Synthetic Strategies to Catalytic Performance".
• Prof. David Kubička will lead the project "Controlled Modular Design of Hydrogenolysis Catalysts and Their Active Sites – Unlocking the Potential of Hydrogenolysis".

Huge congratulations to both for this fantastic achievement! We can not wait to see the groundbreaking work that comes out of these projects. It also opens several opportunities for newcomers - students to work on ambitious projects. 

We have acquired equipment for the FTIR Antaris spectrometer, which includes three DRIFT cells designed for measuring solid powdered samples with the capability of evacuating and modifying the measuring atmosphere. The first, a standard DRIFT cell, allows convenient sample measurements under laboratory conditions. The two more advanced cells, a low-temperature and a high-temperature cell, enable thermal treatment of samples within a temperature range from -190°C to 900°C, making it ideal for observing material behavior changes with temperature. Additionally, these cells can be purged with inert or reactive gases for further sample modification.

During these treatments, spectra can be continuously monitored to assess changes in the material. The equipment is suitable for studying the surfaces of inorganic materials, such as adsorbents or industrial catalysts, We would like to use it for CO or pyridine adsorption for probing of catalyst surfaces.

We are thrilled to announce the publication of our latest research article in the esteemed Journal of Catalysis. The paper, titled "Evaluation of anisole hydrodeoxygenation reaction pathways over a Ni/Al2O3 catalyst," provides new insights into the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) mechanisms of lignin-derived oxygenates using anisole as a model molecule.

Anisole serves as an exemplary molecule for studying the HDO processes pertinent to lignin-derived oxygenates. Our investigation elucidates the HDO pathway of anisole over a 10% Ni/Al2O3 catalyst. Through adsorption experiments, we determined that anisole is primarily adsorbed on the acidic sites of Al2O3. At reaction temperatures between 200–300 °C, anisole undergoes reactive adsorption, leading to its demethylation. This research provides significant advancements in our understanding of HDO processes and offers valuable insights for the development of more efficient catalytic systems for biomass-derived oxygenates. We are proud of this achievement and look forward to the impact it will have on the field of catalysis.

For full access to the article, please visit the Journal of Catalysis. Stay tuned for more updates and breakthroughs from our research team.

On Monday, April 15, 2024, 24 students from the University of Utrecht (Netherlands) visited our department. They were students in the third year of bachelor's and master's studies in the field of Chemistry and Molecular Biology at the Institute of Chemistry, who go abroad every year. The study tour aims to inform the participants about chemical research and industry abroad and to open up new possibilities for them. We are glad that we were able to offer these students quality lectures in which we introduced them to the history of our school and our scientific topics (sustainable catalysis, CO2 evaluation and alternative fuel sources), as well as a tour through our department, where we showed them our technical possibilities and work environment. Finally, we would like to highlight the interest with which the students willingly participated in the discussion.