Board of Advisors

The Catalyst Review is proud to introduce its Board of Advisors, comprised of some of the world’s leading experts in the fields of scientific and commercial catalysis. The Advisory Board has been formed to review both the quality and content of The Catalyst Review on a regular basis, and will contribute via the Industry Rumors column and other commentary throughout the year.

Salvatore Ali, PhD is an independent consultant whose long-career spanned most aspects of polyolefins industry. He is providing advisory services to the petrochemical industry on polyolefins catalysts, technologies and polymer products with focus on technology markets, technology commercialization, acquisitions and IP and know-how management. Over the past 30 years, Dr. Ali has served as VP Technology Projects and Licensing ME/CA in LyondellBasell (2005–10), VP Catalyst Coordination in Basell Polyolefins (2001–04), VP PP/PE Technology Licensing and Catalyst BU in Montell (1997–2000), VP and GM of Technipol Technology Company of Montedison Group (1995–96), and GM of the Functional Chemicals BU of Himont Inc. Dr. Ali has a doctorate degree in Chemical Engineering from the Polytechnic of Milan and a Masters in International Business Management at IMD, Lausanne. He has over 40 publications in referred scientific journals and books.

Miguel A. Bañares, PhD obtained his PhD in 1992 at the University of Salamanca (Spain), conducting his research at the Institute for Catalysis, CSIC (Madrid). From 1992-94 he was  postdoctoral fellow at Lehigh University (PA), and at the University of Notre Dame (IN). In 1996, Bañares obtained a position as scientist at the Institute for Catalysis, CSIC, where he was promoted to Senior Scientist in 2003 and Full Research Professor in 2008. He has been the Chairman and Proposer of European Science Foundation COST Action D36. He is now associate editor for Catalysis Today and vice-director of the Institute for Catalysis, CSIC. Bañares served as editorial board member several leading journals. His current focuses is on selective (amm) oxidation reactions, new concepts in glycerol valorization, environmental catalysis all in combination with advanced spectroscopy of catalysts at work (operando methodology), and on process analytical technology.

Carlos A. Cabrera, MBA is the Executive Co-Chairman of Ivanhoe Energy, the former President and CEO of the National Institute of Low Carbon and Clean Energy (NICE), and the former Chairman, President, and CEO of UOP LLC.  Mr. Cabrera serves as a Distinguished Associate to the World Energy Consultancy Firm FACTS, and on the Global Advisory Board of the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. During Cabrera’s 35 years in the refining and petrochemicals industry, he has been granted seven U.S. patents and has authored numerous publications. In 2007 he received the Fuels and Petrochemicals Division Leadership Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, in 2008 received Honeywell’s Senior Leadership Award, and in 2009 he was named among the Executive Corporate Elite by the California-based Hispanic Business Magazine. Mr. Cabrera has an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Avelino Corma, PhD studied Chemistry at the Universidad de Valencia (Spain) and received his PhD in 1976 at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. He was Postdoctoral in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Queen’s University (Canada) from 1977-79. Since 1990, Dr. Corma has served as director of the Instituto de Tecnología Química (UPV-CSIC) at the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, where for 30 years he has done research in heterogeneous catalysis in academia and in collaboration with companies. Corma is an internationally recognized expert in solid acid and bifunctional catalysts for oil refining, petrochemistry, and chemical process in the synthesis and application of zeolite catalysts. His current research covers aspects of synthesis, characterization, and reactivity in acid-base and redox catalysis. In 2002, Dr. Corma received Spain’s Order of Civil Merit and is the recipient of over a dozen other prestigious awards.

Frits Dautzenberg, DPhil is an expert in applied catalysis and process development. He received his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Technical University of Eindhoven (Netherlands). Commencing his industrial career with Shell at their R&D labs in Amsterdam, Dr. Dautzenberg subsequently worked at Shell’s refinery operations in France and their tar sand operations in Canada. Later, he became VP of engineering at Catalytica Inc., a company involved in developing catalyst technologies for the production of clean chemical processes, then VP of technology development with ABB Lummus Global. Dautzenberg has taught a range of industry‑related courses on conceptual process design as adjunct professor, has also published a large number of scientific articles, and holds approximately 20 patents. Dr. Dautzenberg is actively involved with various companies around the world as founding director of Serenix Corporation—a catalyst and process technology consulting company, based in San Diego, California.

George Huber, PhD is an Associate Professor in Chemical Engineering at University of Massachusetts-Amherst. His research focus is on developing new catalytic processes for the production of renewable liquid transportation fuels and chemicals.

Warren Letzsch, PhD is an independent refining consultant with an extensive FCC background with more than 40 years of business experience with catalyst companies, oil refiners, and engineering companies where he has held jobs in research and development, technical service, sales and marketing. He is a chemical engineer with BS and MS degrees from the Illinois Institute of Technology. His positions have included R&D engineering, technical service and sales, leading to senior management positions in sales, marketing, technical development and oversight. He was one of the prime developers of the Shaw/Axens R2R technology that has become the leading resid catalytic cracking process in the world. He has written over 90 articles on refining, authored chapters on catalytic cracking for various books and holds eight patents. He is a member of the AIChE, ACS and has been active with the NPRA for 38 years, for which he received the Peter Andrews award for lifetime service. Letzsch holds BS and MS degrees in chemical engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology and received the Harry McCormack award as the outstanding senior chemical engineering student.

Joseph Porcelli, PhD has a professional career spanning more than 40 years, with such firms as Scientific Design Company, Inc. (SD), ChemSystems, Inc., and the Halcon SD Group, Inc. Dr. Porcelli has been intimately involved in every aspect of chemical process innovation, including: evaluation of process concepts, carrying out and supervising process, catalyst …more »research and development, and leading the effort to commission new plants, processes, and catalysts. Much of his career has been spent as a chief executive in the international chemical arena, and as such he has gained knowledge and experience in all company operating functions. He has negotiated the sale and purchase of packages of technologies and businesses and has conceived of and executed international technology alliances. In 2001, Dr. Porcelli established JVP International, Inc. as a vehicle to offer to the international chemical industry his technical expertise and management experience.