Contact Information

Email
carsten.sievers@chbe.gatech.edu
Phone
(404) 385-7685
Fax
(404) 894-2866
Location
ES&T 2218
Research Group
Sievers Group Website
faculty picture

Carsten Sievers

Adjunct Faculty, Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Education

Diploma,Technical Univ. of Munich, Germany, 2003; D.Sc. Technical Univ. of Munich, Germany, 2006

Research

Dr. Sievers’ research interests are in heterogeneous catalysis, reactor design, applied spectroscopy, and characterization and synthesis of solid materials. Combining these interests he seeks to develop processes for the production of fuels and chemicals. His research program combines fundamental and applied research.

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In fundamental studies, a suite of analytical and spectroscopic techniques (e.g. IR, NMR, XAS, Raman) is used to gain knowledge on structure-reactivity relationships of heterogeneous catalysts. Moreover, surface reactions are studied on a molecular level so that mechanisms and reaction pathways can be derived. Information obtained from these studies provides the foundation for intelligent catalyst design.

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Applied studies focus specific catalytic processes. For these projects, continuously operated flow reactor systems are designed. Different catalysts are tested for reactivity, selectivity and stability and the influence of the operating conditions is investigated. Catalyst deactivation is studied in detail to develop suitable regeneration methods or to avoid deactivation entirely by improved catalyst design.

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An important goal of Dr. Sievers’ research is to enable technology for utilization of alternative resources in order to reduce the current dependence of oil. Among these biomass is a particularly promising candidate because it is renewable and can be produced CO2 neutral.

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Dr. Sievers has contributed to 31 peer reviewed publications on heterogeneous catalysis in petroleum refining (isobutane/2-butene alkylation, fluid catalytic cracking, hydrotreating), alkane activation, supported ionic liquid as catalysts for fine chemical synthesis, and biomass processing. He is Vice President and President Elect of the Southeastern Catalysis Society and Program Chair of the ACS Division of Catalysis Technology & Engineering.