Hamid Al-Megren (Ed.)
Prof. Hamid A. Al-Megren obtained his BSc in Chemistry in 1987 and an MSc in Physical Chemistry in 1992 from the King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and his D.Phil. in Inorganic Chemistry in 2002 from the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, UK. Since 2008 he has been Director of the Petrochemical Research Institute at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He has more than 25 years of research experience in the petrochemical and catalysis reaction. Prof. Al-Megren started his career as a Scientific Researcher at KACST in 1987, then a researcher at the Saudi Arabian Basic Industry Company (SABIC, R&D), moving his way up to become the Manager of Refining and Petrochemicals Division at KACST, then Director of Petrochemical Research Institute, then Coordinator of the Materials and Nanotechnology Sector, ultimately attaining his current role of Assistant Director for Scientific Affairs in Material Research Institute (Sector). His research interests have included hydrotreatment reactions, isomerisation reactions, new mesoporous materials preparation, carbide, nitride, and sulfide catalysts. Prof. Al-Megren has authored and co-authored more than 52 publications in his research field. He is Editor-in-Chief of the
Journal of Applied Petrochemical Research and Editor of the book
Advances in Natural Gas Technology.
Tiancun Xiao (Ed.)
Dr. Tiancun Xiao's Current Position Technical Director of KACST-Oxford Clean Energy Research Centre (KOPRC), a joint Centre of Excellence, focus on more efficient petrochemical process and novel catalyst materials. Founder of Oxford Catalysts Ltd which was floated in London Stock Market in 2006, and now in the name of Velocys, www.velocys.com Senior Research Fellow, Chemistry Department, Oxford University Recent Prizes July 2013, The 1st Prize of UK-China Entrepreneurship Competition March 2005: The Carbon/Telegraph Trust Innovation Award Research Achievements New catalysts for hydrogen production from catalytic water splitting under visible light. Novel process and catalysts for biomass reforming at lower temperature to produce hydrogen. We developed a unique catalytic process to extract hydrogen or generate super heated steam from methanol starting instantly from room temperature. Gas conditioning process and materials, like re-use of methanol catalyst for desulfurisation. Our Fischer-Tropsch catalysts have been validated by several international companies, and is been used in industry. Crude oil structure and property study using NMR and MS. Oil refinery catalysts for hydrogenation, hydrocracking, and hydrogen generation. Coal upgrading and conversion. Education September 1990 - August 1993 Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. D.Phil: Preparation, Characterisation and Catalytic Performance of Silico-Aluminophosphate Molecular Sieves and Their Supported Palladium Catalysts. September 1987 - August 1990 Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Post-graduate: Study on the Deactivation Mechanism of Supported Noble Metal Catalyst by Sulfur Poisoning and Regeneration Methods Awards: Won Chinese Academy President Award for development of regeneration method of the spent catalyst. September 1983 - July 1987 Northwest University, China. B.A. Hons., in Chemistry. Academic Career 2010-now Technical director of the KACST-Oxford Clean Energy Centre, Department of Chemistry, Oxford University, working on the technology for refinery of biomass and fossile fuel. 2006-2011 Chief Technology Officer, Oxford Catalysts Group Ltd, working mainly on the converting of biomass into clean renewable fuels such as diesel and gasoline. July 2003-2007 Team Leader of the Wolfson Catalysis Centre, senior research fellow, Oxford University, June 2000-June 2003Senior Research Fellow of the Wolfson Catalysis Centre, Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, U.K,. May 1999-May 2000 Royal Society BP-Amoco Fellow, working on heterogeneous catalysis and the application of carbides, borides and composite oxides. December 1993 - November. 1995, and January. 1998- April 1999 Associate Professor, Vice Dean of the College of Environmental Engineering, Shandong University, China.