Professor Avelino Corma
Avelino Corma (Moncofar, Castellón, Spain 1951), Professor at the Instituto de Tecnología Química (UPV-CSIC), has been carrying out research in heterogeneous catalysis in academia and in collaboration with companies for nearly 40 years. He has worked on fundamental aspects of acid-base and redox catalysis with the aim of understanding the nature of the active sites and reaction mechanisms. With these bases has developed catalysts that are being used commercially in several industrial processes.
He is an internationally recognized expert in solid acid and bifunctional catalysts for oil refining, petrochemistry and chemical process, especially in the synthesis and application of zeolite catalysts.
He has published more than 1500 research papers, and is inventor on more than 200 patents. Over 20 of those patents have been applied industrially in commercial processes ofcracking, desulfuration, isomerization, epoxidation, chemo selective oxidation of alcohols and chemoselective hidrogenations. Corma earned his BS in Chemistry at Valencia University, PhD at Madrid under direction of Prof. Antonio Cortes, and spent two years postdoc at Queen´s University.
Awards
- EuChemS Gold Medal, European Chemical Society (2024)
- European Inventor Award for Lifetime Achievement from the European Patent Office (EPO). (2023)
- Highly Cited Researchers (HCR): (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
- I Edition of the Universitat Politècnica de València Research Awards: Excellent Publication Award, Excellent Research Career Award in Chemistry and Special Recognition for his outstanding career and for being a reference for other researchers (2022).
- I Santiago Grisolia Prize for Professional Work in the Field of Scientific Research (2022).
- Anassilaos Award: Arte Cultura Economia E Scienze del Regio de Calabria.- Premio Civitas Europae (2021)
- Honorary Academician of the Royal Academy of Medicine of the Valencian Community (2021)
- Heinz Heinemann Award of IACS – The International Association of Catalysis Societies (2020)
- Academic of Honor, Real Academia Canaria de Ciencias (2019)
- Blaise Pascal Medal for Chemistry, European Academy of Sciences (2018)
- The People’s Republic of China Friendship Award (2017)
- Spiers Memorial 2016/Royal Society of Chemistry (2016)
- 48th W. N. Lacey Lectureship Caltech (2015)
- The Jacobus van´t Hoff Lecture 2015 TU Delft Process Technology Institute (2015)
- Hoyt C. Hottel Lecture, MIT (2015)
- Prince of Asturias Award for Technical & Scientific Research (2014)
- Honour Medal to the Invention from the Fundación García Cabrerizo (Spain) (2012)
- Grande Medaille de l´Académie des sciences (France), (2011)
- Scientific Merit of Generalitat Valenciana (2011)
- Gold of Medal for Chemistry Research Career 2001-2010 (2010)
- Eni Award (2010)
- Royal Society of Chemistry Centenary Prize (2010)
- Rhodia Pierre-Gilles de Gennes Prize for Science and Industry (2010)
- Bourdart Award in Advanced Catalysis (2009)
- A. V. Humboldt – J. C. Mutis Research Award (2009)
- Gabor A. Somorjai Award for Creative Research in Catalysis (2008)
- Karl-Ziegler-Lectureship Max Planck Society (2007)
- National Award on Science and Technology of México (2006)
- Alwin Mittasch of Dechema (2006)
- Paul Sabatier of the French Society of Chemistry (2006)
- Iberoamerican Fedaration of Catalysis Societies (FISOCAT) (2006)
- Cross Canada Lecture Award (2006)
- Gold of Medal of the Royal Society of Chemistry os Spain (2005)
- Breck Award of the International Zeolite Association (IZA) (2004)
- Medal of Honor of the García Cabrerizo Foundation (2004)
- The Order of Merit Civil of Spain (2002)
- Eugene J. Houdry Award in Applied Catalysis (2002)
- F. Gault European Award on “Catalysis” (2001)
- Ipatieff Actr at Nortwestern University (2000-2001)
- King Jaime I Award on “New Technologies” (Spain) (2000)
- Iberdrola Science and Technology (Spain) (1998)
- F. Ciapetta award of the North American Catalyst Society (1998)
- CATSA in recognition of research excellence “Dinstinguished Visitor Award of the Catalysis Society of South Africa” (1998)
- Burdiñola Award (Spain) (1997)
- “Profesores Visitantes de Iberdrola” (Spain) (1996)
- Dupont Award on “Materials Science” (Spain) (1995)
- National Award “Leonardo Torres Quevedo” (Spain) (1995)
- Dupont Award (Canada).
Doctor Honoris Causa
- Universidad de Huelva (2023)
- Universidad de Salamanca (2021)
- University San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Perú (2019)
- University Paul Sabatier (2019)
- University of Córdoba (2018)
- University of Cantabria (2016)
- University of Jaen (2015)
- University of Bucharest (2014)
- University of Jilin (2013)
- University Delft University of Technology: TU Delft (2013)
- University of Ottawa (2012)
- Universidad de Alicante (2010)
- Universität Bochum Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Ruhr-University Bochum (2010)
- Universidad de Valencia (2009)
- Universidad Jaime I (2008)
- Technische Universität München (2008)
- Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED) (2008)
- Utrecht University (2006)
Professional Societies and Activities
- PRESIDENT Comité Estratégico de Innovación (CEI) of the Valencian Innovation Agency (AVI) (2018) PRESIDENT Comité Científico de la Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) (2017)
- FOREIGN MEMBER of French Academy of Sciences (2016)
- Member of European Academy of Sciences (2018)
- PRESIDENT of the International Association of Catalysis Societies (2012)
- FOREIGN Member of the Royal Society (2012)
- Member of President´s International Advisory Council of King Abdullah University of Science KAUST (2011)
- Member of Royal Academy of Exact Sciences, Physics and Natural of Spain (2011)
- PRESIDENT of the European Association of Catalysis Societies. (2009-2013)
- Member of National Academy of Engineering NAE (USA) (2007)
- Member of Academia Europea, Chemical Science Section (1996)
- Member of Royal Academy of Engineering of Spain (1994)
Member of Editorial Advisory Board
- Angewandte Chemie (2014 – Currently)
- ChemSusChem (2012 – Currently)
- Green Chemistry (2010- Currently)
- Catalysis Letters (2012-Currently)
- ChemCatChem (2012- Currently)
- Topics in Catalysis (2010- Currently)
- Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (1997- Currently)
- Journal of Catalysis (1999- Currently)
- Dalton Transaction (2000-2010)
- Journal of Catalysis (desde 1999- Currently)
- Catalysis Sciences, Technology, and Innovation (1997-1998)
- Chemical Communications (1997-2000)
- Catalysis Technology (1996-Currently)
- Japanese Catalysis Surveys (1996 – Currently)
- J. Molecular Catalysis (1995 – Currently)
- Catalysis Letters (1994- Currently)
- Catalysis Review S.C. and Eng. (1992- Currently)
- Microporous and Mesoporous Materials (1991- Currently)
- Applied Catálisis. (1988-1992)
