New professor at the Boku: Green fuel for the future!

New professor at the Boku: Green fuel for the future!

Wien, Österreich - Matthias Kuba took over the foundation professorship for thermochemical synthesis gas production at the Institute for Process and Energy Technology at the Boku Vienna on April 1, 2025. He brings extensive experience from his research and teaching, focuses on the development of innovative technologies for the production of green gases, sustainable fuel and circulatory chemicals. These aspects are crucial for the transformation of the chemical industry to more sustainable practices.

Chemical industry plays a central role in almost all industrial value chains, and their products are decisive preliminary products from other industries. In this context, the industry sees a need to defloss the production chains and to create greenhouse gas-neutral, circular fabric and energy conversion. This is seen as an important step towards increasing sustainability in various sectors, as can be seen from a comprehensive approach of the "Shapid" project, which is directed by nine Fraunhofer institutes and is based on the principles of green chemistry ( Fraunhofer Iff ).

research focus and challenges

In Cuba's research work, special attention is paid to the use of vertebral shifting systems. These technologies enable the conversion of biogenic residual material into high -quality synthesis gas at high temperatures of over 800 degrees Celsius. After cleaning the synthesis gas obtained, various synthesis methods can be used to produce synthetic natural gas replacement, sustainable fuels and chemical products. One of the biggest challenges in this research is the interlinking of different process steps, which must be viewed in the context of the biorefinery ( OTS ).

KUBA and his colleagues also plan to scale the developed processes up to demonstration standards in order to enable the industrial implementation of complete process chains for biogenic residues. This practical research, which is closely linked to industrial partners, is said to have measurable effects on the development of sustainable technologies.

academic qualifications and commitment in teaching

Matthias Kuba studied process engineering at the Vienna University of Technology, where he wrote his master's thesis on thermochemical synthesis gas production. After a doctorate at Best-Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies GmbH, which dealt with ashechemistry and process optimization, his career led him back to Vienna via a post -doc phase, where he led the research group for thermochemical gas production. In 2024 he received his habilitation for process engineering for thermochemical conversion of biomass and residues, which further consolidated his expertise in this area.

Overall, Matthias Kuba's new professorship represents a significant contribution to the further development of sustainable technologies in the chemical industry and promotes close integration between academic research and industrial application.