The six elements Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir and Pt are collectively referred to as platinum metals due to their many similarities such as atomic radius, ionic radius, electronegativity, melting temperature and density. Platinum metals are widely used in industry, as jewelry and, last but not least, in catalysis. For the chemist, catalysis represents an inexhaustible field of work from which new objectives, selected according to economic and ecological criteria, are constantly emerging. The field of application of platinum metals in heterogeneous catalysis ranges from the Ostwald process (oxidation of NH3 on the platinum network) to exhaust gas catalysts in the automotive industry. In homogeneous catalysis, the complexes of the lighter platinum metals (Ru, Rh, Pd) occupy a special position. Examples include the Wacker process with palladium(II) chloride/copper(II) chloride, the hydrogenation and enantioselective hydrogenation of alkenes with rhodium and ruthenium compounds (Wilkinson, Knowles, Noyori, Sharpless), hydroformylation with rhodium complexes (Wilkinson) and the palladium-catalyzed C-C linking reactions (Heck, Stille, Suzuki, ...).
Chemical catalysts are substances that reduce the activation energy in a chemical reaction, thus changing the kinetics (Arrhenius, Eyring, ...), but do not change the position of the chemical equilibrium and are not themselves consumed. The catalyst remains unchanged after the reaction product has been formed. During a chemical reaction, a catalytic cycle is therefore run through many times (theoretically an infinite number of times) by the catalyst. However, catalysts lose their activity after a certain time. This loss of activity, known as deactivation, is mainly due to ageing and deposition processes; in the case of heterogeneous catalysts, dissolution processes from the carrier material must also be taken into account. Consequently, it is necessary to replace the catalyst at regular intervals, which inevitably raises the question of disposal, both economically and ecologically. The recycling of highly toxic industrial waste containing heavy metals with the recovery of valuable materials is a particular focus of our working group, alongside the synthesis and research of novel ligands and catalyst systems.
Complex catalysis and process analytics
"Recycling of highly toxic industrial waste containing heavy metals with recovery of valuable materials"
"Synthesis of novel, polymerizable platinum complexes and clusters"
"Interaction of amphiphilic, terminal metal-functionalized block copolymers with biomembranes"
"Photochemical oxidation of carbon in a waste sulphuric acid and development of suitable and transferable analytics based on TOC analysis"
Our working group is also very interested in analytical issues in the fields of engineering and life science engineering, as illustrated by some of the topics listed below.
"Process chemical assessment of industrial cooling water systems with regard to service life optimization"
"Influence of oxide films of the spinel structure type on biofilms in industrial process water systems"
"Qualitative credits of wort extracts based on quantitative element compositions"
Project, bachelor and master theses
Are you looking for a topic for a project, bachelor's or master's thesis and don't have two left hands with ten "thumbs" of the left foot? Perhaps you have a specific idea, a particular analytical or inorganic question in mind that you would like to pursue? Then I would like to invite you to a personal meeting. I am very much looking forward to meeting you.
Current topics:
"Credits for the validity of the analytical process according to statistical criteria"
"Synthesis of polymerizable phosphane ligands"
