Electronic Precinct - January 1998

European leaders in catalyst research

The agreement was signed in Liverpool, in November, by the Vice-Chancellor and Professor Jean-Claude Bernier, Director of the Chemistry Directorate of the CNRS, Paris.

On the same day, the Vice-Chancellor formally opened the Leverhulme Centre's new teaching and research facilities which have been created in the Department of Chemistry at a cost of £1.8 million.

Professor Eric Derouane, Director of the Leverhulme Centre for Innovative Catalysis, said: 'Over the last ten years, the Leverhulme Centre has created a pool of expertise and an equipment base that is unrivalled in the UK. Our new partner is the leading centre for catalysis research in France. Working together we hope to establish a lead over our international competitors in Asia-Pacific, the Netherlands, Russia and USA.

'Catalysis is used in 80% of the production of the UK chemical industry and we will continue to work closely with that industry, building on the Leverhulme Centre's very successful Industrial Affiliates Scheme, whose members still include the Scheme's founders - BP, ICI, Johnson Mathey and British Gas' he said.

The European Associated Laboratory for High Specificity Catalysis will aim to develop catalysts that improve the efficiency of processes by promoting a 'clean' chemical reaction - minimising production of harmful waste, to bring environmental and financial benefits.