The Authors

Dr Oleg Ilinich is a Senior Chemist at BASF Catalysts LLC in Iselin, New Jersey, U.S.A. He received his M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the St. Petersburg Institute of Technology in Russia, which was later followed by Ph.D. and D.Sci. degrees in Catalysis from the Boreskov Institute of Catalysis (Novosibirsk, Russia). His recent work includes catalyst development as well as kinetic and mechanistic studies for the water-gas shift reaction, methanol steam reforming and direct methanol fuel cells. Prior to joining BASF Catalysts, Dr Ilinich was involved in fundamental and applied research in selective heterogeneous catalysis, and catalytic and gas separation membranes.

Dr Ye Liu is a Senior Research Engineer at BASF Catalysts LLC. He received his B.S. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the Dalian University of Technology, China, and his Ph.D. in Material Science and Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University, U.S.A. His current work involves catalyst development for three-way catalysis, partial oxidation, steam reforming and the autothermal reforming of hydrocarbons. His past research involvement has included catalytic gasification, combustion, sulfur removal in flue gases, and product and process development for carbonaceous materials – activated carbons and carbon blacks.

Christopher Castellano is a Chemist at BASF Catalysts LLC. He received his B.S. in Ceramic Engineering from Rutgers University, U.S.A.; and is currently working on a M.S. in Material Science and Engineering from Columbia University, U.S.A. His current work involves combinatorial catalyst development for environmental applications, as well as flexible fuel catalysts. His previous research involvement has included methanol steam reforming catalysis, NH₃-selective catalytic reduction technology, light-duty diesel catalysts, ozone conversion and high-throughput zeolite synthesis. He is also currently serving as the President of the Rutgers Engineering Society.

Dr Gerald Koermer received a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, U.S.A. in Physical Organic Chemistry and a B.A. in Chemistry from Rutgers College. He has over twenty-four years of experience in catalysis and currently leads the Materials Science and Enabling Technology group at BASF Catalysts LLC's Research and Development.

Dr Ahmad Moini is a Senior Research Associate at BASF Catalysts LLC. He obtained his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Texas A&M University, U.S.A., followed by a postdoctoral appointment at Michigan State University, U.S.A. Dr Moini started his career at Mobil Research & Development Corporation, where he conducted research in microporous materials. He joined Engelhard Corporation (now BASF) in 1996. His research focus is on the synthesis and development of novel catalysts and materials.

Dr Robert J. Farrauto is a Research Fellow at BASF Catalysts LLC. He obtained a B.S. in Chemistry from Manhattan College, New York City and a Ph.D. in Electrochemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, U.S.A. His major responsibilities have included the development of advanced automobile emission control catalysts and process catalysts for the chemical industry. He managed an Engelhard research team that developed and commercialised diesel oxidation catalysts for the European, North American and Asian markets for passenger cars and heavy-duty trucks. Currently he manages a research team developing new catalyst technology for the hydrogen economy, including hydrogen refueling stations and fuel cells for stationary, portable power and vehicular applications. He is also Adjunct Professor in the Earth and Environmental Engineering Department of Columbia University, in the City of New York, where he teaches a course in catalysis.