Oleon leads WP1 “Production and characterization of building blocks” on hydrophilic and hydrophobic building blocks. Furthermore, it participates in WP2 “Synthesis and physicochemical characterization of surfactants” and in WP3 “Synthesis of bio-based hydrotropes and chelates”. Finally, it assists in scale-up operations in their pilot plant facilities.
Oleon, part of Avril, is a global leader in oleochemical products such as fatty acids, esters, dimers and specialty oleochemicals.
Jurgen Van Holen – R&D manager synthesis & Analysis
Jurgen Van Holen holds a PhD from the university of Gent in combinatorial chemistry. He started working in 2000 at UCB where he has developed UV curing resins, for different coating applications, both solvent-free and waterborne systems. In 2012 he became R&D manager at Henkel, working on UV curing acrylic adhesives. He is currently working as R&D Manager Synthesis and Analysis at Oleon NV. He holds several patents mainly for UV curing materials, such as biobased urethane (meth)acrylates. In 2021 he received the “Open Innovation” award from Hexion Inc. with his proposal for “Create the Future with Lower Yellowing, Renewable Resins and Raw Materials” innovation challenge.
Bert De Schrijver – Team Leader Synthesis & Analysis
Bert De Schrijver graduated as Master in Bioscience engineering (major in chemistry and bioprocess technology) from Ghent University in 2015. During his studies, he has been focusing on organic synthesis and wrote a dissertation on the synthesis and enzymatic conversion of novel types of beta-lactams. After his studies, he started working in the R&D team of Oleon as R&D engineer. Currently, he is team leader of the R&D synthesis and analysis team of Oleon Ertvelde.
Gilles De Smet – R&D engineer Synthesis & Analysis
Gilles De Smet obtained a M.Sc. in chemical engineering (major in process technology) from the university of Leuven in 2017, and a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Antwerp in 2023. His research was focused on transition metal catalyzed transformations of biorenewable substrates towards bulk and fine chemicals. He joined Oleon NV in august 2023 as an R&D engineer working in the synthesis & analysis division.