Research

Research conducted by the Heterogeneous Catalysis Group at CKHI focuses on the development of new, typically nanostructured materials as catalysts for the hydrogenation of vegetable oils, biodiesel production via transesterification, photocatalytic hydrogen generation, CO₂ removal or its valorization in catalytic processes for H₂ and CH₄ interconversion, oxidative and photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in water, and the fabrication of sensor materials for electrocatalytic detection of organic compounds in biological fluids or organic and inorganic water pollutants. The synthesis of catalyst supports and heterogeneous catalysts is based on the valorization of solid waste or natural, non-toxic, widely available, and economically viable materials.

The research work of the CKHI's photocatalysis group is focused on the development of new nanostructured photocatalytic materials and their application in energy conversion and environmental protection processes. Special attention is paid to the improvement and modification of existing catalysts for the conversion and storage of solar energy (hydrogen production by photocatalytic decomposition of water, artificial photosynthesis/photoreduction of CO₂). The group's research is also based on the development of nanostructured multifunctional catalysts based on polymer/metal oxide and their application in the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in an aqueous environment. Quantum mechanical calculations in complex reaction systems provide an introduction to the mechanisms and kinetics of the degradation reactions of organic compounds.

The Electrochemical Research Group at CKHI is dedicated to the development of new electrode materials. The main research directions focus on materials for electroanalytical applications and energy conversion. In the development of electrode materials for electroanalytical applications, research is centered on the activity, stability, and selectivity of electrode materials used in medicine, food control, and environmental protection. Electrode materials for energy conversion aim to optimize electrocatalytic processes such as oxygen reduction, oxygen and hydrogen evolution, and methanol electrooxidation. Special attention is given to the principles of “green” chemistry, both in selecting synthesis methods and in defining operating conditions for new electrode materials (e.g., the development of electrode materials for operation in neutral media). Additionally, the CKHI Electrocatalysis Group focuses on the application of electrochemical measurements for analytical purposes, particularly in material characterization, reaction mechanism studies, and related research.

In collaboration with CH, research in the field of enzymatic catalysis at CKHI has been revitalized, focusing on enzyme immobilization on inorganic, natural, and modified, non-harmful supports. The supports under investigation are (alumo)silicate materials (such as bentonites, zeolites, etc.) – green materials that are abundant in nature, low-cost, thermally stable, and resistant to microbial action. The starting materials can be easily modified, enabling the design of supports for various commercial enzymes and enzymes produced through microbiological processes as part of in-house research. The resulting specific and stable biocatalysts can be repeatedly applied in continuous processes across various industries, starting with the food industry (e.g., invert sugar production, starch hydrolysis, functional foods/prebiotics, etc.). The research includes chemical, physical, morphological, structural, and textural characterization of enzyme supports and immobilizates.

In the field of homogeneous catalysis, research at CKHI is primarily focused on studying the kinetics and mechanisms of homogeneous catalytic processes, during which nonlinear phenomena such as damped or undamped oscillations in the concentrations of intermediate chemical species occur, and under well-controlled conditions, even chaos can emerge. Our research in this area particularly focuses on oxyhalogen oscillators, where hydrogen peroxide alternates as a reducing and oxidizing agent. Additionally, research is directed toward developing applications of oscillatory reactions, primarily for the analysis of antioxidant molecules and other pharmaceutically active compounds, as well as for developing new methods for characterizing complex heterogeneous materials, some of which may serve as catalysts or adsorbents.

Catalytic reactions are usually complex physico-chemical processes with complex dynamics and non-linear kinetics. The research carried out at IHTM in the field of modeling the nonlinear dynamics of catalytic processes is primarily aimed at elucidating the mechanism of reactions in which oscillating changes in the concentration of intermediates occur. An important segment of this research is the identification of parameter values in models of oscillatory catalytic reactions in which the oscillatory dynamics take the form of complex chaotic dynamics and mixed mode dynamics.

In the field of chemical engineering, the phenomena of momentum, heat and mass transfer in fluid-particle systems (with and without chemical reaction) are investigated in co-current and counter-current transport, air and water purification, granulation/agglomeration, drying of suspensions and pastes, testing of rotary systems (rotary reactors, rotary beds and fluidized beds) to intensify mass and heat transfer in polymerization, distillation, extraction and crystallization processes. Several laboratory and pilot plants were developed in collaboration with the TMF's Department of Chemical Engineering: a catalytic reactor with a packed catalyst layer (laboratory and pilot plants), a conventional spray dryer, a pilot plant for drying suspensions in a fluidized bed and a modified well bed made of inert material, a pilot plant for granulating powdery substances and for coating solid particles in a fluidized bed, a pilot plant for the removal of liquid/solid waste in a fluidized bed, a combined scrubber/catalyst reactor system for the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOC), a test column for particle fluid dynamics, a test column for tea extraction performance, etc... All of the above equipment is available at TMF and CKHI and can be used in various fields, e.g. chemical engineering and catalysis. This research group is engaged in process modeling and design with a focus on high product quality, low energy consumption and minimal environmental impact while improving process efficiency. In addition, the group also offers consultancy services based on extensive experience in the selection of chemical plants and equipment for the processing and transportation of materials.

Part of the research work carried out at CKHI relates to the development of nanostructured and hybrid materials based on smectite phyllosilicates and their application as adsorbents. The influence of acid modification and modification by the ion exchange method of smectite on the adsorption properties of the modified materials was investigated. Particular attention is paid to the development of multifunctional hybrid nanocomposites, which are created by incorporating organic compounds (quaternary alkylammonium salts, i.e. biopolymers) into the layered silicate structure of smectite. The type and amount of organic phase incorporated into the adsorbent is further related to the adsorption properties of the material. In addition, activated carbons obtained by carbonization of lignocellulosic waste material from the food industry were also tested as adsorbents. The adsorption of various adsorbates was investigated: organic pollutants (textile dyes, phenol and its derivatives, pharmaceuticals, etc.) and inorganic pollutants - mainly heavy metal ions, but also radioactive anions. The adsorptions were carried out on single and multi-component adsorbate solutions and the results of the studies were interpreted with appropriate kinetic, adsorptive and thermodynamic models to fully define the adsorption system.