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
Integration of higher olefins in the methanol/DME-based production of sustainable aviation fuel
This talk deals with the integration of higher olefins in the methanol/DME-based production of sustainable aviation fuel. In a first part of the talk the Dimethyl ether to olefins process (DtO) is discussed, focusing on recent advances in *MRE-type zeolite catalysis. *MRE -type zeolites have the ability to shift product selectivity towards C3-C11 olefins, providing a promising feedstock for further upgrading into sustainable aviation fuels (C9-C16). The second part of the talk addresses the upgrading of the DtO-product to sustainable aviation fuels by subsequent oligomerization, hydrogenation and fractionation. A special focus is placed on the integration of higher olefins in the oligomerization process and their influence on the fuel properties.
Marc Pfennnings & Trung Hoang
IKFT
