Kai-Olaf Hinrichsen

Prof. Kai-Olaf Hinrichsen is a Full Professor and Chair of Technical Chemistry I at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Department of Chemistry. His research bridges chemical engineering and natural sciences, focusing on catalyst design, reactor technologies (e.g., fluidized bed, spinning disc), and process modeling. Key areas include CO2 methanation, methanol-to-olefins (MTO), and additive manufacturing of catalyst supports. He leads interdisciplinary projects in energy supply and sustainable chemistry, leveraging computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and multiphase system analysis.

Education: Diplomingenieur (TU Berlin, 1993), M.Ch.E. (University of Delaware, 1993), Dr.-Ing. (Max Planck Institute, 1996). Habilitation in Technical Chemistry (Ruhr University Bochum, 2002). Awards include the Young Scientist Prize (2000) and Jochen Block Prize (2003). His work emphasizes particle technology, process intensification, and reactor design.

Research highlights include CO2 utilization, catalyst durability, and scalable processes for hydrogen and syngas production. Over 250 publications span catalysis, reactor engineering, and energy systems. Active in industrial collaborations and academic leadership, he guides students in chemical process engineering and sustainability.