The Catalysis Institute at the University of Cape Town extends a cordial invitation to delegates from throughout the world to participate in the Syngas Convention ‘Fuels and Chemicals from Synthesis Gas: State of the Art 5’.
The meeting will be held from 22 to 25 March 2026 at the Conference Venue of the Graduate School of Business of the University of Cape Town right at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. The Convention will focus on advancements in the sustainable production of synthesis gas and its conversion.
Abstract submissions are open and will close on the 19th of January 2026.
Early Bird registration closes on the 31st of January 2026.
Syngas Convention 5 (22 - 25 March 26)
Participants are encouraged to present their own work in the form of either an oral or a poster presentation. Themes on which papers are invited include synthesis gas production, Fischer-Tropsch and methanol synthesis as well as CO2 activation.
The convention will in particular focus on:
• Modeling aspects heterogeneous catalysis
• Catalyst synthesis and characterization
• Product formation and selectivity
• Catalyst deactivation
Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung
Prof. Ferdi Schüth is Director of the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research (Mülheim an der Ruhr) and former Vice President of the Max Planck Society (2014–2020). He obtained his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Münster and became Professor of Chemistry in 1995. His research focuses on catalysis, energy conversion, biomass processing, zeolites, mesoporous materials, crystallization, and hydrogen storage. Prof. Schüth has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Stifterverband der Deutschen Wissenschaft and the Gottfried-Wilhelm-Leibniz-Award. He is founding partner of hte AG, editor of Chemistry of Materials, and has authored ~700 publications and ~50 patents.
Eindhoven University of Technology
Prof. Dr. Emiel Hensen holds the Chair of Inorganic Materials and Catalysis at Eindhoven University of Technology and is a leading expert in heterogeneous catalysis for sustainable energy and chemical conversion. His work centers on elucidating reaction mechanisms and active sites through a unique combination of operando spectroscopy, microkinetic modeling, and catalyst synthesis. His group has made pioneering contributions to biomass valorization, CO2 conversion, methane activation, and hierarchical porous catalyst design. Prof. Hensen has published extensively, leads major national and international research initiatives, and is a recipient of the NWO Veni, Vidi, and Vici awards.
Xiamen University
Prof. Ye Wang received his Ph.D. from Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1996 and has been a full professor at Xiamen University since 2001. He served as vice director of Chinese Catalysis Society during 2005-2012 and director of State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces during 2015-2022. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Chinese Chemical Society. Prof. Wang serves as Associate Editor of ACS Catalysis and editorial/advisory board member of Acc. Chem. Res. and Catal. Rev. He has published over 300 papers with >30000 citations and an H-index of 97. His group focuses on heterogeneous, photo- and electro-catalysis for C1 and sustainable chemistry, aiming to achieve precision catalysis for syngas, CO2, methane, and biomass transformations.
University of Bari
Prof. Michele Aresta is a leading expert in carbon dioxide utilization and sustainable catalysis. He holds a PhD in Engineering Honoris Causa from the University of Bath and is CEO of Innovative Catalysis for Carbon Recycling (IC²R Ltd). A former Full Professor at the University of Bari and visiting professor at institutions worldwide, he has held appointments in the UK, China, Singapore, India, and Brazil. His research spans small-molecule chemistry, catalysis, photocatalysis, biomass utilization, and CO2 valorization. Prof. Aresta has authored over 300 peer-reviewed papers and 12 books, holds several patents, and founded the ICCDU conference series.
University of Bayreuth
Institute for Chemical Technology CSIC-UPV (Valencia)
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
University of Kiel
Sasol
For any further information on the Convention, please do not hesitate to contact the conference secretariat.
The Syngas Convention is organized by the Catalysis Institute at the University of Cape Town.
