Biofuels advocate wins China's highest science award
The People's Republic of China has honored its leading scientists for their innovative work. Petrochemical scientist turned biofuels advocate Min Enze and botanist Wu Zhengyi shared the highest prize for contributions to their fields. The 'State Supreme Science and Technology Award' is the country's highest national science honor. Chinese president Hu Jintao presented the 5 million yuan (about US$600,000) awards at the annual national science-technology award ceremony at the Great Hall of the People.
Premier Wen Jiabao said in a keynote speech that China had reached a stage in its history where it was more dependent on scientific and technological innovation, and it should strive to enhance its innovative capabilities, which were a national strategic priority. The Communist Party of China should become "friends with scientists" and "extensively take their advice" he said.
The 2007 prize is shared by Min Enze and Wu Zhengyi. 84-year-old Min Enze - who obtained his PhD at Ohio State University in 1951, one of the first Chinese students to do so - is known as the founding developer of China's oil refining catalysts and is recognized for his later work on green chemistry and biofuels as a way to turn China's environmental crisis around. 92-year-old botanist Wu Zhengyi is a renowned plant taxonomist.
Prizes are awarded in five categories, including the Natural Science Award and the Technological Invention Award. This time a record high of 90 projects won awards in these two categories. At the event, it was announced that in 2007 China saw a 30 percent increase in patent applications, signalling the nation's increasing awareness of the importance of scientific and technological innovation.
From black to green chemistry
As a top petrochemical scientist, Min Enze helped kickstart the country's industrial boom 50 years ago. He has devoted most of his life to the petrochemical industry - notorious for its pollution - and began research on green chemistry only seven years ago to search for alternatives.
In a twist of irony, the 84-year-old got the award for his efforts to tackle China's environmental damages through developing an innovative process for manufacturing biodiesel based on hydrogenating natural oils. In 2000, he published a key article titled "The Future of the Refinery", introducing the idea of biodiesel production and integrated biorefineries.
The award review committee praised his work as an explorer in the research and development of petrochemical green chemistry, as well as his efforts to make better biofuel. "Biodiesel research meets the needs of our country," Min said after he received the award from President Hu Jintao:
energy :: sustainability :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: biodiesel :: petrochemistry :: green chemistry :: science :: China ::
He said he has been focusing on green chemistry, particularly biodiesel production, since the turn of the millennium. "I left the things of today to my students, and dedicate myself to the things of tomorrow and the days after," he said.
By the 1980s, it had become clear that chemical processes which eliminate pollution at the source rather than post-treatment were needed. Min, who was vice-president and chief engineer at RIPP, called for basic research and drew up a roadmap for technology innovation.
He led a five-year National Natural Science Foundation of China research project to develop green chemical technologies. Producing biodiesel fuel by developing oil-bearing plants will turn agricultural and forestry products into industrial products, said Min.
However, becoming a chemist was not the scientist's childhood dream. "I wanted to be an engineer to build a bridge across the Yangtze River," he recalled. But his uncle, a banker, wanted him to become an industrialist; so in 1943, Min switched to chemical engineering, an unusual move at that time, he said.
In 1947, Min set sail for the United States and began studying for a PhD at Ohio State University's department of chemical engineering. After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the US refused to let Chinese students leave - unwilling to let them take the skills and knowledge they had picked up to new China.
So Min stayed and got married in 1950. He worked for a chemical company in Chicago for four years, where he investigated ways to prevent corrosion and deal with the problem of ash deposits in boilers. In 1955, the couple returned to China.
He discovered that refining technology had to be developed from scratch and petroleum refining catalysts were the most needed for the production of aviation fuel.
Min threw himself into new research, and the past four decades have seen him lead the development of manufacturing technologies for new generations of cracking catalysts. Now his green diesel process is pointing the way forward for China's nascent biodiesel industry.
Min, a native of Sichuan Province, is a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciencesis, the Chinese Academy of Engineering and of the Third World Academy of Sciences. The scientists was also a member of the Sinopec Science and Technology Committee and a senior advisor to the Research Institute of Petroleum Processing (RIPP).
References:
China Vitae: Min Enze.
Xinhua: China awards top scientists - January 9, 2008.
EastDay: China awards top science prize to scientists, enterprises - January 8, 2008.
China Daily: Petrol expert turns to biofuel - January 9, 2008.
Premier Wen Jiabao said in a keynote speech that China had reached a stage in its history where it was more dependent on scientific and technological innovation, and it should strive to enhance its innovative capabilities, which were a national strategic priority. The Communist Party of China should become "friends with scientists" and "extensively take their advice" he said.
The 2007 prize is shared by Min Enze and Wu Zhengyi. 84-year-old Min Enze - who obtained his PhD at Ohio State University in 1951, one of the first Chinese students to do so - is known as the founding developer of China's oil refining catalysts and is recognized for his later work on green chemistry and biofuels as a way to turn China's environmental crisis around. 92-year-old botanist Wu Zhengyi is a renowned plant taxonomist.
Prizes are awarded in five categories, including the Natural Science Award and the Technological Invention Award. This time a record high of 90 projects won awards in these two categories. At the event, it was announced that in 2007 China saw a 30 percent increase in patent applications, signalling the nation's increasing awareness of the importance of scientific and technological innovation.
From black to green chemistry
As a top petrochemical scientist, Min Enze helped kickstart the country's industrial boom 50 years ago. He has devoted most of his life to the petrochemical industry - notorious for its pollution - and began research on green chemistry only seven years ago to search for alternatives.
In a twist of irony, the 84-year-old got the award for his efforts to tackle China's environmental damages through developing an innovative process for manufacturing biodiesel based on hydrogenating natural oils. In 2000, he published a key article titled "The Future of the Refinery", introducing the idea of biodiesel production and integrated biorefineries.
The award review committee praised his work as an explorer in the research and development of petrochemical green chemistry, as well as his efforts to make better biofuel. "Biodiesel research meets the needs of our country," Min said after he received the award from President Hu Jintao:
energy :: sustainability :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: biodiesel :: petrochemistry :: green chemistry :: science :: China ::
He said he has been focusing on green chemistry, particularly biodiesel production, since the turn of the millennium. "I left the things of today to my students, and dedicate myself to the things of tomorrow and the days after," he said.
By the 1980s, it had become clear that chemical processes which eliminate pollution at the source rather than post-treatment were needed. Min, who was vice-president and chief engineer at RIPP, called for basic research and drew up a roadmap for technology innovation.
He led a five-year National Natural Science Foundation of China research project to develop green chemical technologies. Producing biodiesel fuel by developing oil-bearing plants will turn agricultural and forestry products into industrial products, said Min.
However, becoming a chemist was not the scientist's childhood dream. "I wanted to be an engineer to build a bridge across the Yangtze River," he recalled. But his uncle, a banker, wanted him to become an industrialist; so in 1943, Min switched to chemical engineering, an unusual move at that time, he said.
In 1947, Min set sail for the United States and began studying for a PhD at Ohio State University's department of chemical engineering. After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the US refused to let Chinese students leave - unwilling to let them take the skills and knowledge they had picked up to new China.
So Min stayed and got married in 1950. He worked for a chemical company in Chicago for four years, where he investigated ways to prevent corrosion and deal with the problem of ash deposits in boilers. In 1955, the couple returned to China.
He discovered that refining technology had to be developed from scratch and petroleum refining catalysts were the most needed for the production of aviation fuel.
Min threw himself into new research, and the past four decades have seen him lead the development of manufacturing technologies for new generations of cracking catalysts. Now his green diesel process is pointing the way forward for China's nascent biodiesel industry.
Min, a native of Sichuan Province, is a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciencesis, the Chinese Academy of Engineering and of the Third World Academy of Sciences. The scientists was also a member of the Sinopec Science and Technology Committee and a senior advisor to the Research Institute of Petroleum Processing (RIPP).
References:
China Vitae: Min Enze.
Xinhua: China awards top scientists - January 9, 2008.
EastDay: China awards top science prize to scientists, enterprises - January 8, 2008.
China Daily: Petrol expert turns to biofuel - January 9, 2008.
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