Archimedes Science Award 2026
We warmly congratulate Prof. Peter Wasserscheid on his award! He was honored on September 9, 2026, for his outstanding research in the field of hydrogen technologies. Prof. Wasserscheid is not only part of catalaix but also heads several renowned research institutions. Through his scientific work, he has developed essential foundations for chemical hydrogen storage technologies. […]
catalaix Retreat 2026
Our catalaix Retreat 2026 took place from September 16 to 18 at the beautiful Hotel Kastenholz in Wershofen, in the Eifel region. Things kicked off on Wednesday with engaging PI presentations. On Thursday, we had the pleasure of welcoming our guest speakers Nathan West from Eastman Chemical Company and Fabian Roemer from Remondis Recycling for […]
Meet Waralee Dilokekunakul!
Would you like to get a glimpse into the daily work life of a chemist? Meet Waralee Dilokekunakul! She is a chemical engineer at the Chair of Chemical Process Engineering within catalaix and works on innovative approaches to plastics recycling.Her research focuses on PET, one of the most commonly used plastics in our daily lives. […]
Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR)
Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) is an established method for the rapid and non-destructive identification of various types of polymers. In this process, the material is irradiated with near-infrared light. Characteristic molecular bonds—specifically C–H, O–H, and N–H groups—absorb specific wavelengths of the radiation, producing a material-specific absorption spectrum. Since every polymer has a unique chemical structure, a […]
Which plastics are found in the materials that surround us every day?
To investigate this, we used a near-infrared device. This technology allows various polymers to be identified and analyzed. Which plastics can be detected in Felix’s clothing or in the packaging of Justus’s lunch? Would you like to learn more about how the near-infrared device works? Find out more in the next video.
Winner of the 1st catalaix Serendipity Award
From Aachen to Toronto: Sarah Brettschneider, winner of the inaugural catalaix Serendipity Award, presented her research at the 2026 Canadian Society for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Conference and Exhibition, organized by the Chemical Institute of Canada. The event brought chemists and engineers together under one roof for the first time.With her poster titled “Two-Dimensional Polymers […]
Did you know that Styrofoam consists of more than 95% air?
This very property makes polystyrene so lightweight and insulating at the same time. That’s why it’s frequently used for packaging, insulation materials, and coolers. Its water-repellent properties contribute significantly to its long lifespan and also allow it to dissolve in acetone, as you can see in the video. Despite these useful properties, the global recycling […]
Granulator – Size reduction of actual polymer products
At the catalaix research center, we selectively comminute actual polymer products for further analysis and test series. This is an essential step in processing waste streams: smaller particles mean a larger surface area, resulting in improved chemical conversion. Three grinding chamber sizes and power levels enable the processing of various material types and degrees of […]
Innovation begins where disciplines meet.
In May we hosted our 7th catalaix Researcher Workshop and the highlight was an inspiring guest lecture by Prof. Peter Seeberger (Center for the Transformation of Chemistry, CTC) on the topic of “Towards a Circular Chemical Economy.” His lecture formed the basis for subsequent discussions about the transformation of the chemical industry. Our PhD students […]
Interview with Sebastian Rejman
As part of our workshops in March, we were pleased to welcome Sebastian Rejman as a speaker. His contribution provided important insights and linked key questions from research and practice. The open exchange with the participants was particularly valuable. We sincerely thank you for the inspiring input.