Research Areas Catalysis for Eco-friendly Energy

Research Interests HIGHLY EFFICIENT HETEROGENEOUS CATALYSTS AND DESIGN OF COMPACT REACTORS
The preparation of ordered mesoporous heterogeneous catalysts by sol-gel or nano-casting method and the synthesis of nanosized materials are of our interest to develop efficient heterogeneous catalytic systems. In addition, conventional reaction systems such as lab-scale fixed bed reactor, stirred tank reactor and novel micro-structured reactor are designed and applied for further application of compact chemical process design as well. Development of reaction kinetics is also one of main research parts for the development of efficient integrated chemical processes.
FUELS FROM ALTERNATIVE FEEDSTOCKS AND DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTALLY-BENIGN PROCESSES
The efficient utilizations of natural (shale) gases have been receiving enormous interest as an alternative feedstock. C1 chemistry is one of the important methodologies for producing clean fuels and chemicals using heterogeneous catalysts. In our laboratory, the synthesis of alcohols, hydrocarbons and chemical intermediates from syngas has been investigated using ordered mesoporous catalysts through some novel preparation routes such as sol-gel, nano-casting or nano-sized material synthesis. Efficient conversion of biomass into useful chemicals and fuels has been studied via catalytic conversion routes. The application of micro-structured reactors has been our research topics for the development of compact chemical processes.

Selected Publications Dong Hyeon Kim1,†, Hee Hwan Kim1,†, Juchan Kim1, Youngchang Byun2,*, and Kyoung-Su Ha1,*, Recovery of methyl methacrylate from waste poly (methyl methacrylate) pellets using a low-temperature plasma and zeolites, Chemical Engineering Journal, accepted, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.154438
Wonho Jung, Jinwon Lee*, and Kyoung-Su Ha*, A Combined Production Technology for Ethylene and Hydrogen with an Ethane Cracking Center and Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Reactor, Chemical Engineering Journal 462 (2023) 142155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2023.142155
Wonho Jung, Jinwon Lee*, Kyoung-Su Ha*, Ethylene Production Processes in a Carbon-Neutral Strategy, Energy Conversion and Management, 311 (2024) 118462. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2024.118462
Juchan Kim, Jaekwon Jeoung, Jonghyun Jeon, Jip Kim, Young Sun Mok, Kyoung-Su Ha*, Effects of dielectric particles on non-oxidative coupling of methane in a dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor, Chemical Engineering Journal 377 (2019) 119896-119908. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2018.09.057
Daegak Kim, Gyung-Ah Park, Jemi Lim, Kyoung-Su Ha*, Effects of spatially restricted Ni nanocrystals within ordered mesopores on the production of syngas, Chemical Engineering Journal 316 (2017) 1011-1025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2017.02.014
Jongkook Hwang†, Geunjae Kwak†, Yun-Jo Lee, Yong Tae Kim, Inyoung Jeong, Seongseop Kim, Ki-Won Jun*, Kyoung-Su Ha*, Jinwoo Lee*, Direct confinement of Ru nanoparticles inside nanochannels of large pore mesoporous aluminosilicate for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis, Journal of Materials Chemistry A 3 (2015) 23725-23731. https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TA06184A
Kyoung-Su Ha*, Geunjae Kwak, Ki-Won Jun, Jongkook Hwang, Jinwoo Lee*, Ordered mesoporous carbon nanochannel reactors for high-performance Fischer–Tropsch synthesis, Chemical Communications 49 (2013) 5141-5143. https://doi.org/10.1039/C3CC00297G

Professional Experience Principal Investigator (Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, 2009 – 2014)
Team Leader (LG Chem Research Park, 2001 – 2009)