Renewable raw materials can be used to replace fossil raw materials or to manufacture completely new products. PD Dr. rer. nat. Andreas J. Vorholt develops processes that are transferred from laboratory scale to continuously operated miniplants. His research on multiphase catalysis lies at the interface between catalysis, chemical reaction engineering and process intensification. With his research group, he develops, among other things, solutions for catalytic processes for energy storage in single- or multiphase systems.
One focus is on new tandem reactions that offer new synthesis routes by creatively linking technical reactions. For example, by linking homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, long-chain alcohols can be produced that can be used as diesel fuels. In his research, Andreas J. Vorholt also deals with liquid-liquid two-phase systems, in which water plays a major role as a "green" and inexpensive solvent. In addition, he and his research group are investigating new solvent systems such as reactive ionic liquids or designing solvents for the conversion of biogenic material.