07 December
Arthur A, Center Court
09:30 - 16:00
Plastic recycling is already a very prominent part of the evolving circular economy. Not a single technology will bring THE solution and a set of technology developments will be needed, tested and brought to maturity.
In Geleen at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus, several knowledge institutes and companies are researching these challenges to make the next steps happen. Inventions are being made, Patents and scientific papers are being written, pilots and demos build and start-ups launched.
Brightlands is proud to announce a scientific event on the broad scope of circular plastics, which will offer presentations of renowned professors in the field of plastic recycling, combined with a poster session. There will be plenty of opportunities to network and discuss (y)our challenges during a prolonged lunch and a tour on the campus. For those who are interested, you can sign up for a bus tour on the manufacturing site of Chemelot.
When you are working in this field of chemical, mechanical or catalytic plastic recycling, this is a golden opportunity to learn and connect. Hope to see you there!
Proudly presented by Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Brightsite and Brightlands Materials Center.
Program
- 9:30 Walk in, coffee/tea
- 10:00 Introduction by moderator Rinke Altink, Program Manager TNO for Brightsite
- 10:10 What's next in mechanical recycling by Full Professor Kim Ragaert, Maastricht University
- 11:00 Short break Coffee
- 11:15Poster session including lunch
- 12:30 Creating Value from Plastic Waste through Catalysis by Full Professor Bert Weckhuysen, Utrecht University
- 13:20 Chemical recycling: catalytic pyrolysis versus supercritical and conventional pyrolysis by Full Professor Kevin van Geem, Ghent University
- 14:10 Brightlands Circular Space by Managing Director Lia Voermans, BCS
- 14:40 Panel discussion
- 15:00 Campus lab tour / Bus tour on site
- 16:00 Closing
About the speaker: Bert Weckhuysen
Bert Weckhuysen (1968) is a Distinguished University Professor at Utrecht University. He received his Master and PhD degrees from Leuven University, after which he worked as a postdoc at Lehigh University and Texas A&M University. The group has been active in the design, synthesis, characterization and application of catalysts for the manufacturing of our current and future fuels, chemicals and materials. Recent research is devoted to the catalytic activation of CO2 and H2O, as well as the chemical recycling of plastics and the upgrading of municipal and agricultural waste. He has received for his work many awards, including the Emmett Award, Bourke Award, Spinoza Award, Tanabe Prize, and Chemistry Europe Award. He has been appointed Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion and is a member of a.o. the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences, Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Sciences and Arts, and European Academy of Science.
About the speaker: Kim Ragaert
Kim Ragaert obtained her PhD in polymer processing at Ghent University in 2011 and began to develop her research in mechanical recycling of plastics soon after. She became assistant professor at the same university in 2014 and was tenured as associate professor in 2019. During this period, she was a founding member of the resource recovery platform CAPTURE. In September 2021, she was appointed full professor to the Chair of Circular Plastics at Maastricht University.
Kim's scientific strength is in structure-property-processing relationships in thermoplastics, knowledge she applies to assess, quantify, predict and improve the quality of recycled plastics. Given the complexity of the sustainable plastics challenge, Kim is a strong believer in value-chain cooperation, interdisciplinary research and systems thinking.
Kim represents ECOS in several standardization committees on plastics packaging and recycling. Furthermore, she is an associate editor for Waste Management, a consultant for CEFLEX and a member of the CAPTURE strategic board. Kim was the 2020 European Plastics Recycling Ambassador.
About the speaker: Kevin van Geem
Kevin van Geem (full professor) is member of the Laboratory for Chemical Technology of Ghent University. Thermochemical reaction engineering in general and in particular the transition from fossil to renewable resources are his main research interests. He is a former Fulbright Research Scholar of MIT and directs the Pilot plant for steam cracking and pyrolysis. He is the author of more than hundred scientific publications and has recently started his own spin-off company.
He is involved in on-line and off-line analysis of complex petrochemical and biochemical samples using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography. Pyrolysis, detailed kinetic modeling, process, scale-up, modeling, and anti-fouling technology belong to his main expertise.
About the speakers: Lisa Voermans
Lia Voermans (Managing director) is an empathic professional who works on tomorrow's challenges, developing workable solutions on complex tasks. Has the knowledge and skills in creating new values in an interactive and learning network environment with a diversity of stakeholders. Extensive experience in leadership with valuable and complex change processes. Builder of cross-sectoral and cross border triple helix organizations and business consortia on innovation. Developer of innovative programs and transition processes. Coordinator of international strategic platforms on innovation embedment strategies on climate neutral and circularity topics in the chemical sector.
Experienced in leading large and complex strategic transition processes on National and European level with top-level executives from the industry, knowledge and public sector.