Andreas Vorholt

Dr. Andreas Vorholt is a Group Leader for Multiphase Catalysis at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion (MPI CEC) in the Department of Molecular Catalysis. He also serves as an Acting Professor for Technical Chemistry and Petrochemistry at RWTH Aachen University. His research focuses on developing sustainable catalytic processes through multiscale approaches that integrate molecular understanding with process engineering.

Dr. Vorholt's research interests center on multiphase catalytic systems, with particular emphasis on catalyst recycling strategies, novel reactor design, and process intensification. His work bridges chemistry and chemical engineering to develop sustainable solutions for resource conversion. He investigates thermomorphic systems, CO₂-switchable solvents, and alternative reaction media to create more efficient catalytic processes that minimize waste and energy consumption while maximizing catalyst lifetime and recyclability.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on hydroformylation chemistry, tandem catalytic processes, and innovative approaches to catalyst separation. The research spans fundamental mechanistic studies to applied process development at miniplant scale, with particular attention to green chemistry principles and sustainable process design.

• DECHEMA Award (2023)
• Jochen Block Prize of the German Society for Catalysis (2018)
• DECHEMA Young Academic Award (2017)
• Carl Zerbe Award of DGMK (2017)
• H.P. Kaufmann Award of DGF (2016)

Dr. Vorholt supervises a vibrant research group comprising multiple postdocs, PhD students, and technical staff. His group actively collaborates with industry partners and academic institutions worldwide, with a focus on translating fundamental research into practical applications. The group maintains strong connections with TU Dortmund and RWTH Aachen, where Dr. Vorholt holds teaching responsibilities.

The Multiphase Catalysis group operates state-of-the-art laboratory facilities including miniplants for continuous flow chemistry, specialized equipment for multiphase reaction studies, and analytical tools for operando monitoring of catalytic processes. The group's research infrastructure supports the development and testing of novel catalytic systems from bench scale to pilot scale.