Kurt Ruths Prize for Leon Schumacher – Congratulations on this prestigious award!

Propylene is a key raw material for the chemical industry, essential for products such as plastics. However, its production is energy-intensive and requires the use of catalysts. The search for suitable catalysts is particularly worthwhile, as the efficiency of propylene production significantly depends on selecting precisely tailored catalytic materials.

Dr. Leon Schumacher, recipient of the Kurt Ruths Prize, succeeded in generating groundbreaking scientific insights into the catalytic mechanisms involved in propylene production as part of his doctoral research, combining both experimental and theoretical approaches. His work introduced new concepts that have the potential to replace current, energy-intensive industrial processes. Furthermore, he developed innovative methods for analyzing the reaction mechanisms behind propylene formation and used this knowledge to design improved catalysts for more efficient production.

“Dr. Schumacher's research is of outstanding importance, both for the targeted development of catalysts for technically relevant selective oxidation processes and for advancing new spectroscopic methods,” says Professor Christian Hess from the Department of Chemistry, who supervised the dissertation. His work is already attracting significant attention within the scientific community, demonstrated by numerous publications in leading international journals and invited talks at international conferences.

Professor Hess adds: “It is also remarkable that Leon Schumacher completed an additional degree in economics alongside his Master's in Chemistry and PhD studies.”