Contributors:
In this episode of Innovate and React, we discuss how catalysis can be utilized for water treatment and reducing pollution from shipping. Janek Betting, a PhD researcher from the University of Twente, shares his current research on nitrate and nitrite reduction in wastewater using heterogeneous bimetallic catalysts. We delve into the sources of these pollutants, primarily from agriculture, industrial processes as well as shipping, and explore an innovative project aimed at reducing emissions from cargo ships by using LNG and advanced catalytic processes for emission control. Janek explains the challenges and advancements in designing catalytic reactors and the discovery of hydroxyl amine as an so far overlooked intermediate in this reaction. The conversation also covers the potential applications of this research and the broader impact on both industrial and environmental scales.
Key Topics:
03:44 Catalysis in Shipping: The LNG Zero Project
07:34 Challenges in NOx Removal and Scrubbing
12:17 Optimizing Bimetallic Catalysts
20:53 Experimental Setup and Challenges
26:10 Hydroxyl Amine: The Unexpected Intermediate
37:18 Implications for Drinking Water and Exhaust Gas Catalysis
Further informations:
- Publication: Hydroxylamine: an overseen intermediate that brings into question nitrogen selectivity in metal-catalyzed nitrate and nitrite reduction, Chem. Commun., 2025,61, 12147-12150 https://doi.org/10.1039/D5CC02803E
- Project LNG-Zero
- More about Janek and his research: https://people.utwente.nl/j.betting
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