Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology (IKFT)
The Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology was founded 2011. Its mission is to bridge the gap between fundamental and applied research and the development of new technologies and products in the field of catalysis and process technology of catalyzed processes. The focus of our work is the sustainable utilization of alternative feedstocks and their conversion into energy carriers intermediates. This includes the development of new catalytic systems based on a fundamental understanding of processes on a molecular level. The institute receives basic funding from the Helmholtz Association's program-oriented funding, largely in the Energy research field in the program Materials and Technologies for the Energy Transition.
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On 21 November, the Night of Science took place at KIT, and IKFT contributed to the vibrant program.
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The DGMK event Hydrogen and Syngas - Platform for a sustainable future was jointly organized by the DGMK Divisions "Petrochemistry" and "Conversion of Carbon Carriers", the Division of Industrial Chemistry of the Società Chimica Italiana (SCI) and the ÖGEW Österreichische Gesellschaft für Energiewissenschaften.
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The NFDI4Cat 2.0 kick off meeting took place on 22 and 23 October 2025 at the DECHEMA Haus in Frankfurt (Main). In this second funding period, TT-Prof. Dr. Moritz Wolf joins as a Participant and introduced his activities in data-driven research to the consortium. Together with the established principal investigator Prof. Dr. Olaf Deutschmann and Dr. Sofia Angeli IKFT will shape the future of catalysis-related data and research.
A large group of researchers from KIT attended the 16th European Congress on Catalysis (EuropaCat 2025) in Trondheim, Norway (31.08 to 05.09.2025). Professors, postdoctoral and doctoral researchers from IKFT, as well as ITCP and ITC, contributed with posters, oral presentations, and a plenary lecture, showcasing the catalysis research at KIT.
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Liana Savintseva won the ETOS Research Award. Congratulations!
Suspension aging is critical in the synthesis of Cu/Zn-based methanol catalysts, because this process of chemical transformations includes crystallization of different phases. The evolution of these phases within the precipitate is leading along the so-called transitory tipping point to the target phase zincian malachite. More information can be found in the Research Article by Lucas Warmuth and co-workers (DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202500284).
Veranstaltungskalender
Kinetic studies and comprehensive process modeling of the methanol and direct dimethyl ether synthesis on Cu/ZnO/ZrO2
The aim of our research is to develop reliable and flexible kinetic models for catalytic conversion of H2/CO/CO2 to methanol and DME over a wide range of process conditions. Such models would provide fundamental knowledge in order to contribute to a rational process design for the direct production of methanol and DME from renewable sources and future “Power-to-X” applications. In this talk, our most recent models for methanol and dimethyl ether synthesis on Cu/ZnO/ZrO2 will be presented, as an overview of the work of our group “Catalysis and processes for CO2 fixation” in the field of process modeling.
Gabriela Niquini
IKFT
