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Annual meeting of the Irish Catalysis Society
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Eli Ruckenstein at 71
Once you're good at something, it's time to learn something new. No one seems to have applied this slogan in chemistry and chemical engineering so rigorously and systematically as Eli Ruckenstein, who is just turning 71. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research has very rightly dedicated its September 1996 issue as a Festschrift to Eli Ruckenstein. Born in Romania, Eli had his education and early career as a Professor of Chemical Engineering at the Technical University of Bucharest till 1969. Coming out for a year as a Visiting Professor in UK/USA proved to be an escape from communist dictatorship; Eli could never go back even for a visit until Romania became afree and open country a few years ago. After a three-year stay at the University of Delaware, Eli moved to the State University of New York at Buffalo and continues there until today. Starting from basic work on heat and mass transfer in laminar and turbulent flows and separation processes and unit operations, Eli went over, one after another, into several other totally new areas: colloids, emulsions, stability of thin films and foams, catalysis, polymer solutions and membranes, immobilized enzymes, nucleation, designing of antifouling surfaces, growth of cancer cells on surfaces, thrombus growth, superconducting materials, etc. To every one of these fields, he made significant contributions in depth, both experimental and theoretical, in this respect, one can apply to Eli what (in 18th century English literature) Dr. Samuel Johnson once said about Oliver Goldsmith: he did not touch anything which he did not adorn.
applied catalysis A: General
In the area of catalysis, Eli covered a whole spectrum of topics: theoretical treatments of the kinetics and thermodynamics of sintering and redispersion of supported metal catalysts, mechanism of oxygen transport in selective oxidation catalysts like bismuth molybdates, electronic theory of metal catalyst poisoning and promotion, behavior of supported metal catalysts, the genesis and design of pores in aluminas, optimum design of dilute zeolite catalysts, catalytic reactions on zeolites, catalytic combustion, reforming and partial oxidation of methane - - this is only a small selection. Eli's prodigious work has resulted in over 700 research publications (32 in 1994, 27 in 1995, and 20 so far in 1996). A large (international) community of Ph.D. students, Post-Docs, and research associates have benefited from their associations with Eli, who is an inspiring teacher with an infectious enthusiasm. Some of his former research associates still recall with gratitude his occasional midnight long-distance telephone calls on research problems disturbing his sleep - - calls which soon led to classic research papers. We wish Eli Ruckenstein many more years of health, happiness, and vigorous scientific activity. P.G Menon
Annual Meeting of the Irish Catalysis Society The inaugural meeting of the irish Catalysis Society (ICS) took place at the University of Limerick on 16th September 1996. This meeting was sponsored by AGB Scientific Ltd. and by the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland, under whose auspices the Society has been formed. Prof. Geoff Volume 147 No. 2 -
3 December 1996
Nll
Webb from the University of Glasgow opened the meeting by presenting a plenary lecture on 'Enantio-selective Catalysis for Asymmetric Hydrogenation'.Chemists involved in research on both heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis from third level institutions throughout the island then presented outlines of some of their work. The presentations included discussions on the modes of operation of ceria-supported catalysts for environmental control (Mr. Colm Gibson, University College Cork), homogeneous catalyzed alkene epoxidation (Dr. Declan Gilheany, University College Dublin), deNOx catalysis in the presence of hydrocarbons (Prof. Julian Ross, University of Limerick), the use of polyoxometallate salts for norbornene polymerisation (Dr. Malachy McCann, St. Patrick's College Maynooth), rare-earth based materials for catalytic combustion for electricity production (Dr. Mike Morris, University College Cork) and Beckmann rearrangement over zeolites (Mr. Pat O'Sullivan, University of Limerick). One of the main aims of the Society is to educate industry, government and the general public about the value of catalytic technology in modern society. The ICS also promotes the use of catalysis for environmental matters. Membership is open to people working in industry as well as those working in academia. In future, the Society will also organise postgraduate lectures and seminars in the various universities and institutes, thus giving postgraduate students an opportunity to meet with students from other institutions to present their work and to learn about the studies undertaken elsewhere. Prof. Joe Cunningham (University College Cork) was elected as President of the Society for the coming year. Prof. Julian
applied catalysis A: General
R.H. Ross (University of Limerick) was elected as Vice- President and Dr. Edwin McCullagh (Athlone Regional Technical College) was elected as Secretary. A.W. Sexton
Recent polish papers A recent issue of Przemysl Chemiczny [75 (1996) 215] contains a paper by W. Kotowski, J. Freiberg, B. Lucke and S. Zamorowska-Biernacik entitled 'Redox Properties of Vanadium-Phosphorus Oxide Catalysts in Selective Oxidation of C4 Hydrocarbons to Maleic Acid Anhydride'. This presents results of studies on the kinetics of n-butane oxidation in the presence of vanadium-phosphorus catalysts. The authors report that the selective oxidation of C4 hydrocarbons to maleic acid anhydride on those catalysts occurs in conformity with a red-ox mechanism. In a recent issue of Przemyst Chemiczny [75 (1996) 329], W. Kisielow, L. Sobolewski, P. Dyla, K. Stanczyk, K. Miga, G. Fabis and E. Kozlowski have published a paper entitled 'Hydropyrolysis and hydrodenitrogenation - - technological aspects of studies on coal'. The authors present technological aspects of the industrial hydropyrolysis process. Direct combustion of carbonisate from the process in a power plant allows the production of electrical energy with an efficiency of up to 43% while decreasing the sulphur dioxide emission by 90% compared to the conventional process of coal combustion. Hydrorefining of oil (obtained by non-catalytic hydrogenation of coal) carried out with the custom-made catalyst removed up to 85% of the nitrogen. The authors underline that the development of such catalysts is an Volume 147 No. 2 - - 3 December 1996
Eli Ruckenstein at 71
Once you're good at something, it's time to learn something new. No one seems to have applied this slogan in chemistry and chemical engineering so rigorously and systematically as Eli Ruckenstein, who is just turning 71. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research has very rightly dedicated its September 1996 issue as a Festschrift to Eli Ruckenstein. Born in Romania, Eli had his education and early career as a Professor of Chemical Engineering at the Technical University of Bucharest till 1969. Coming out for a year as a Visiting Professor in UK/USA proved to be an escape from communist dictatorship; Eli could never go back even for a visit until Romania became afree and open country a few years ago. After a three-year stay at the University of Delaware, Eli moved to the State University of New York at Buffalo and continues there until today. Starting from basic work on heat and mass transfer in laminar and turbulent flows and separation processes and unit operations, Eli went over, one after another, into several other totally new areas: colloids, emulsions, stability of thin films and foams, catalysis, polymer solutions and membranes, immobilized enzymes, nucleation, designing of antifouling surfaces, growth of cancer cells on surfaces, thrombus growth, superconducting materials, etc. To every one of these fields, he made significant contributions in depth, both experimental and theoretical, in this respect, one can apply to Eli what (in 18th century English literature) Dr. Samuel Johnson once said about Oliver Goldsmith: he did not touch anything which he did not adorn.
applied catalysis A: General
In the area of catalysis, Eli covered a whole spectrum of topics: theoretical treatments of the kinetics and thermodynamics of sintering and redispersion of supported metal catalysts, mechanism of oxygen transport in selective oxidation catalysts like bismuth molybdates, electronic theory of metal catalyst poisoning and promotion, behavior of supported metal catalysts, the genesis and design of pores in aluminas, optimum design of dilute zeolite catalysts, catalytic reactions on zeolites, catalytic combustion, reforming and partial oxidation of methane - - this is only a small selection. Eli's prodigious work has resulted in over 700 research publications (32 in 1994, 27 in 1995, and 20 so far in 1996). A large (international) community of Ph.D. students, Post-Docs, and research associates have benefited from their associations with Eli, who is an inspiring teacher with an infectious enthusiasm. Some of his former research associates still recall with gratitude his occasional midnight long-distance telephone calls on research problems disturbing his sleep - - calls which soon led to classic research papers. We wish Eli Ruckenstein many more years of health, happiness, and vigorous scientific activity. P.G Menon
Annual Meeting of the Irish Catalysis Society The inaugural meeting of the irish Catalysis Society (ICS) took place at the University of Limerick on 16th September 1996. This meeting was sponsored by AGB Scientific Ltd. and by the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland, under whose auspices the Society has been formed. Prof. Geoff Volume 147 No. 2 -
3 December 1996
Nll
Webb from the University of Glasgow opened the meeting by presenting a plenary lecture on 'Enantio-selective Catalysis for Asymmetric Hydrogenation'.Chemists involved in research on both heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis from third level institutions throughout the island then presented outlines of some of their work. The presentations included discussions on the modes of operation of ceria-supported catalysts for environmental control (Mr. Colm Gibson, University College Cork), homogeneous catalyzed alkene epoxidation (Dr. Declan Gilheany, University College Dublin), deNOx catalysis in the presence of hydrocarbons (Prof. Julian Ross, University of Limerick), the use of polyoxometallate salts for norbornene polymerisation (Dr. Malachy McCann, St. Patrick's College Maynooth), rare-earth based materials for catalytic combustion for electricity production (Dr. Mike Morris, University College Cork) and Beckmann rearrangement over zeolites (Mr. Pat O'Sullivan, University of Limerick). One of the main aims of the Society is to educate industry, government and the general public about the value of catalytic technology in modern society. The ICS also promotes the use of catalysis for environmental matters. Membership is open to people working in industry as well as those working in academia. In future, the Society will also organise postgraduate lectures and seminars in the various universities and institutes, thus giving postgraduate students an opportunity to meet with students from other institutions to present their work and to learn about the studies undertaken elsewhere. Prof. Joe Cunningham (University College Cork) was elected as President of the Society for the coming year. Prof. Julian
applied catalysis A: General
R.H. Ross (University of Limerick) was elected as Vice- President and Dr. Edwin McCullagh (Athlone Regional Technical College) was elected as Secretary. A.W. Sexton
Recent polish papers A recent issue of Przemysl Chemiczny [75 (1996) 215] contains a paper by W. Kotowski, J. Freiberg, B. Lucke and S. Zamorowska-Biernacik entitled 'Redox Properties of Vanadium-Phosphorus Oxide Catalysts in Selective Oxidation of C4 Hydrocarbons to Maleic Acid Anhydride'. This presents results of studies on the kinetics of n-butane oxidation in the presence of vanadium-phosphorus catalysts. The authors report that the selective oxidation of C4 hydrocarbons to maleic acid anhydride on those catalysts occurs in conformity with a red-ox mechanism. In a recent issue of Przemyst Chemiczny [75 (1996) 329], W. Kisielow, L. Sobolewski, P. Dyla, K. Stanczyk, K. Miga, G. Fabis and E. Kozlowski have published a paper entitled 'Hydropyrolysis and hydrodenitrogenation - - technological aspects of studies on coal'. The authors present technological aspects of the industrial hydropyrolysis process. Direct combustion of carbonisate from the process in a power plant allows the production of electrical energy with an efficiency of up to 43% while decreasing the sulphur dioxide emission by 90% compared to the conventional process of coal combustion. Hydrorefining of oil (obtained by non-catalytic hydrogenation of coal) carried out with the custom-made catalyst removed up to 85% of the nitrogen. The authors underline that the development of such catalysts is an Volume 147 No. 2 - - 3 December 1996