Fausto Gallucci

"I design and develop new processes by controlling the interaction between electrons, molecules, catalysts and membranes."

The research of Fausto Gallucci at the Inorganic Membranes and Membrane Reactors (SIR) research group is related to the development of membranes and novel multiphase reactors, in particular membrane reactors and dynamically operated reactors. His research focuses on the interaction of heterogeneous catalysis, transport phenomena, and fluid mechanics in these novel multifunctional reactors. Particularly interesting application areas are methanol production in zeolite and carbon membranes, methane activation with oxygen selective membranes, the Fischer-Tropsch reaction in carbon based membrane reactors, and hydrogen production by reforming/dehydrogenation reactions with hydrogen selective membranes.

The membrane reactor research is carried out through integration of (in house developed) advanced experimental techniques and experimental Proof of Concept of novel reactor concepts. The SIR chair coordinates and participates in several large European Projects and works in strict collaborations with partners like TECNALIA, KT, POLIMI, ICI, JM and others.

Fausto Gallucci studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Calabria (UNICAL, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy) where he obtained his MSc (2001) and PhD (2006) degrees. He performed his PhD research on hydrogen production from methanol in membrane reactors. In 2007, after having held a position as a postdoctoral researcher at the Research Institute on Membrane Technology  (ITM-CNR, at the UNICAL campus), Gallucci moved to the research group Fundamentals of Chemical Reaction Engineering at the University of Twente (Enschede, The Netherlands). In 2009 he was appointed Assistant Professor (tenure track) there. The following year, Gallucci moved to the Chemical Process Intensification laboratory at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e, The Netherlands) where he was appointed Associate Professor in 2015, leading the Multiphase Reactors research effort. In 2018 he was appointed full Professor at the chair 'Inorganic Membranes and Membrane Reactors'.