The Organization

The research and teaching in catalysis, petrochemistry and related subjects (including surface science, adsorption and physical studies of porous materials, reaction kinetics and process engineering) is organised in the Catalysis Group, a joint effort where the university (NTNU, former NTH) and the research company (SINTEF, a large polytechnic research organisation) cooperate and share laboratories and equipment. Personnel from the two organisations work together and participate in teaching and research. About 10-15 students graduate each year (M.Sc.). The group participates extensively in international networks, research programs etc., and cooperates closely with a number of universities and research groups inside and outside the EU.

The group and the laboratories

At present the group comprises about 40 people: 5 professors, about 10 fulltime research scientists holding Ph.D's, 4 Post.doc’s and about 16 Ph.D students. The laboratories and equipment include a large number of micro reactors for catalyst studies, several small pilot plants, all the necessary equipment for catalyst and material characterization (chemisorption, physical adsorption, Temperature Programmed techniques (TPR, TPD, thermal analysis), XPS, Auger spectroscopy, STM, FTIR and others). Recently, in situ IR/Raman and the TEOM-technique (Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance) have been introduced in the laboratory, and we were the first group in Europe to utilize the TEOM technique in catalyst studies. Cooperation with the departments of Physics (surface science), the other groups in the department of Chemical Engineering (all aspects of chemical and process engineering, particularly reactor engineering and colloid and polymer chemistry) and other departments ensures a wide scope and a high quality of the work. The research is funded by the Norwegian Research Council and by industry and spans from fundamental studies of ideal surfaces to studies of real catalysts to process development work in small pilot plans.

The projects

A closer description of the Group and further details on all the projects are given in our Annual Report.