Prof. Dr. Oliver Kröcher

Head Laboratory for Sustainable Energy Carriers and Processes

Paul Scherrer Institut
Forschungsstrasse 111
5232 Villigen PSI
Schweiz






Professional Experiences
01/2014-03/2021 Head of the Swiss Competence Centre for Energy Research in the field of Biomass (SCCER BIOSWEET).
since 05/2013 Adjunct professor at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne.
since 05/2010 Member of the board of directors of the Hydromethan AG, a spin-off company of the Paul Scherrer Institut.
since 01/2010 Head of the Laboratory for Sustainable Energy Carriers and Processes at the Paul Scherrer Institut.
10/2001-09/2018 Head of the Catalysis for Energy Group (prior name: Exhaust Gas Aftertreatment Group) at the Paul Scherrer Institut.
05/2001-09/2001 Head of the Catalytic Processes Group at Degussa AG, Feed Additives Division.
08/1997-04/2001 Research manager for catalytic processes at Degussa AG (Germany), Feed Additives Division.
Working on:
- Heterogeneous gas phase reactions (propene -> acrolein, ß-picoline -> 3-cyanopyridine, methanol -> methyl mercaptan).
- Development, set-up and operation of process controlled laboratory apparatus and pilot plants.
- Catalyst development, quality control of catalyst production, catalyst changes in production plants.
- Development of process gas analysis systems.
- Plant process development.
02/1994-07/1997 Assistant at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Industrial Chemistry of the ETH Zurich (Switzerland).
Research mentor for diploma students.
Education
02/1994-07/1997 Ph.D. thesis under the supervision of Prof. Dr. A. Baiker at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Industrial Chemistry of the ETH Zurich (Switzerland): "Synthesis of Formic Acid Derivatives by Catalytic Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide".
Working on:
- Heterogeneous (and homogeneous) hydrogenation reactions.
- Sol-gel chemistry.
- High pressure chemistry.
- Multi phase reactions.
- Supercritical fluids.
Additional education in technical chemistry.
02/1993-12/1993 Thesis for diploma examination at the Institute for Organic Chemistry, University of Wurzburg (Germany).
10/1988-01/1993 Chemistry studies at the University of Wurzburg (Germany).
  • H. Redlingshöfer, O. Kröcher, W. Böck, K. Huthmacher, G. Emig, "Catalytic Wall Reactor as a Tool for Isothermal Investigations in the Heterogeneously Catalyzed Oxidation of Propene to Acrolein", Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2002, 41 (6), 1445 -1453.
  • L. Schmid, O. Kröcher, R. A. Köppel, A. Baiker, "Silica xerogels containing bidentate phosphine ruthenium complexes: textural properties and catalytic behaviour in the synthesis of N, N -dimethylformamide from carbon dioxide", Micropor. Mesopor. Mat. 2000, 35-36, 181-193.
  • O. Kröcher, R. A. Köppel, A. Baiker, "Silica hybrid gel catalysts containing ruthenium complexes: influence of reaction parameters on the catalytic behaviour in the synthesis of N, N -dimethylformamide from carbon dioxide", J. Mol. Catal. 1999, 140, 185-193.
  • O. Kröcher, R. A. Köppel, A. Baiker, "Silica Hybrid Gels Containing Group(VIII) Transition Metal Complexes: Preparation, Structural, and Catalytic Properties in the Synthesis of N, N -Dimethylformamide and Methyl Formate from Supercritical Carbon Dioxide.", J. Catal. 1998, 178, 284-298.
  • O. Kröcher, R. A. Köppel, A. Baiker, "Novel Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Catalysts for the Synthesis of Formic Acid Derivatives from CO2", Chimia 1997, 51 (1-2), 48-51.
  • O. Kröcher, R. A. Köppel, A. Baiker, "Highly active ruthenium complexes with bidentate phosphine ligands for the solvent-free catalytic synthesis of N, N -dimethylformamide and methyl formate", Chem. Commun. 1997, 453-454.
  • O. Kröcher, R. A. Köppel, A. Baiker, "Sol-gel derived hybrid materials as heterogeneous catalysts for the synthesis of N, N -dimethylformamide from supercritical carbon dioxide", Chem. Commun. 1996, 1497-1498.
  • O. Kröcher, R. A. Köppel, A. Baiker, "Synthesis of N, N -Dimethylformamide by Heterogeneous Catalytic Hydrogenation of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide", High Pressure Chemical Engineering, P. R. von Rohr, C. Trepp (Eds.), Process Technology Proceedings 12, Elsevier: Amsterdam, 1996; pp. 91-96.
  • A. Baiker, O. Kröcher, R. A. Köppel, "Verfahren zur Synthese von Ameisensäure und ihren Derivaten", Swiss patent application No. 3103/96, 12/18/1996.
  • G. Bringmann, T. Hartung, O. Kröcher, K.-P. Gulden, J. Lange, H. Burzlaff, "Synthesis and Absolute Stereostructure of Dinaphth[2,1-c:1',2'-e]oxepin-3-(5H)-one", Tetrahedron 1994, 50 (9), 2831-2840.
Year Award
2005
Swiss Technology Award 2005
(In the final of the four best projects with nomination for the first prize)
Michael Schär, Oliver Kröcher, Martin Elsener

Hocheffizientes DeNOx-System für Dieselmotoren (Highly efficient DeNOx system for Diesel engines)
2005
Special Environmental Prize 2005 (Price of the ABB Schweiz AG for the most innovative system to reduce CO2 emissions)
Oliver Kröcher, Martin Elsener

Hocheffizientes DeNOx-System für mobile Dieselantriebe (Highly efficient DeNOx system for mobile Diesel engines)
Institution / Function Period

Frontiers in Fuels
Chief Editor

Extended Energy Commission of the Swiss Academies of Sciences a+
Member

since 2022

 

since 2018

European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) on Bioenergy
Steering Committee, Member
since 2010
PSI spin-off Hydromethan AG
Member of the Board of Directors
since 2010
Dechema (German Society for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology)
Member
since 1998