The methanol to olefins, MtO, process plays a central role in the scheme of the refineries of the future, which rely on renewable resources. The ability of the zeolitic catalysts to tune the selectivity to aromatics and olefins of different length, this process will play an essential role in the production of sustainable chemicals and fuels. For future implementation, various aspects need to be improved: Selectivity control, prevention of coke deactivation and reactivation protocols. In addition, there is much scientific research into the reaction mechanism, which correlates zeolite structure via reaction intermediates to products and coke deactivation. In my talk, I will describe our efforts in developing experimental tools, including synchrotron iPEOPICO, that enable identification of reaction intermediates and products, which relate to product selectivity and deactivation.

Jeroen A. van Bokhoven completed a degree in chemistry at Utrecht University (Netherlands) in 1995 and went on to obtain a PhD in inorganic chemistry and catalysis from the same university in 2000 (with honours). From 1999 until 2002 he was head of the XAS (X-ray absorption spectroscopy) users – support group at Utrecht University. In 2002, he moved to the ETH, where he worked as researcher in the group of professor Prins. In 2006 he obtained an SNF assistant professorship in the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biology. He was the 2008 recipient of the Swiss Chemical Society Werner Prize.

Since 2010, Jeroen A. van Bokhoven has a Chair in Heterogeneous Catalysis at the Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering at ETH Zurich and is Head of Laboratory for Catalysis and Sustainable Chemistry at the Paul Scherrer Institute.

Jeroen Van Bokhoven works in the field of heterogeneous catalysis aiming at producing better catalysts and processes that allow sustainable development. Goal is the determination of structure-performance relationships, which aid the design and construction of better catalysts for cleaner and more efficient processes. His main interests are heterogeneous catalysts and developing advanced tools in X-ray spectroscopy and scattering to study the catalyst structure under catalytic relevant conditions.