The Industrial Physical Chemistry Group is one of the RSC's many Interest Groups. The Interest Groups are member driven groups which exist to benefit RSC members, and the wider chemical science community, in line with the RSC's strategy and charter.
Aims
To promote the industrial aspects of physical chemistry. This is achieved by encouraging and supporting the exchange of information, knowledge and opinion between industry and academia.
Heterogeneous Catalysts for Sustainable Industry 2020
25 November 2019
This event was co-organised between the RSC Industrial Physical Chemistry Group and the RSC Applied Catalysis Group.
The event was an industry focussed workshop sponsored by BYK Additives and Instruments, Johnson Matthey and Micrometrics. The goal of the seminar was to promote current and next generation heterogeneous catalysts in the development of greener and more sustainable chemical production processes.
As the World shifts to a more environmentally-friendly future, processes and reagents the chemical industry has depended upon for years are increasingly under scrutiny. This situation offers opportunities to improve and be cleaner whilst still providing customers with the high quality they are used to. Such challenges encompass, amongst other things, finding alternatives to traditional homogeneous heavy metal based catalyst systems to identifying new methods for processing sustainable feedstock. Heterogeneous catalysts already offer significant benefits such as catalyst/product separation, reuse and recyclability, which opens the door for them to be the basis for environmentally benign products.
Scientific leaders in the field Dr Xiaolei Fan (The University of Manchester), Dr Thomas Chamberlain (University of Leeds) and Dr Samuel Pattisson (Cardiff University) were invited from academia to provide theory and present their pioneering work developing the next generation heterogeneous catalysts and catalyst supports. Noted industrialists Dr Marco Kennema (BASF), Dr Nicolas Bats (Johnson Matthey) and Dr Paul Murray (Catalyst Consulting Ltd.) gave insights into industry designing new catalysts and optimising current catalyst technologies, while also providing examples of chemical processes suitable for enhancing with sustainable heterogeneous catalysts.
The event was well attended by industry with delegates coming from companies such as Zeiss, Cranfield, BP, Invista, Koura and many more, whose feedback was universally positive. Dr Claire Rees (Koura) praised the “high quality speakers” and that she hoped that these events would “continue […] in the future as the area of heterogeneous catalysis relevant to industry [was] an area often neglected at catalysis conferences”. Dr Philip Hughes (Johnson Matthey) exclaimed his surprise “at the efficiency of clay catalysts compared to homogenous acid catalysts in dehydration reactions”.
Get Involved
We are always looking for new members who are keen to get involved and to help organise our activities. If you would like to find out more please contact the Secretary.
We have an online community, which is based on MyRSC, for anyone who shares our interests.
We also encourage you to connect with us on LinkedIn.
How to Join
RSC members can join the Industrial Physical Chemistry Group by updating their details in the “My communities and subscriptions” tab of the RSC membership area.
Awards
Sheelagh Campbell Award
This award is awarded jointly by the Electrochemistry Group and the Industrial Physical Chemistry Group. It is presented to a PhD student who has not submitted their thesis by the award deadline studying in the UK or Ireland for excellence in research.
Poster competition
See our 2023 winner.
Quick links
Inspiring future industrialists
Our Industrial Physical Chemistry Group (IPCG) teamed up with our Liverpool local section to run an industry day for 13-14 year-old students during Chemistry Week.
Forthcoming events
Forthcoming events organised by the Industrial Physical Chemistry Group.
Contact the Secretary
For further information on the Industrial Physical Chemistry Group you can contact the Secretary, Dr Fiona Hewitt.
Support for interest groups
Useful information and resources for all RSC interest groups.
Downloadable files
Heterogenous Catalysts for Sustainable Industry 2019
Information about IPCG activities in 2017 and 2018
2017 Innovations in Encapsulation Report
Report on the one-day IPCG and FSTG Innovations in Encapsulation meeting in December 2017
Advert for membership of the Industrial Physical Chemistry Group
Download the advert
Seminar - modern analytical pyrolysis approaches to research, innovation and industrial applications
Download for more info
IPCG committee meeting minutes 5th August 2016
History of the Industrial Physical Chemistry Group
Download the History of the Industrial Physical Chemistry Group
Committee
Chair
Dr Oscar Kelly MChem MRSC
Treasurer
Dr Simon Port CChem FRSC