The Faculty of Science at Chiang Mai University recently organized the 38th Congress on Science and Technology of Thailand (STT38) under the theme “Science for the Future of Mankind”. HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously presided at the Royal Opening Ceremony and Prof. Dr. Aaron Ciechanover, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel; Nobel Laureate 2004 gave the Keynote Talk on “Drug Development in the 21st century – are we going to cure all diseases? 

Over 40 invited speakers took part in this event including our very own Dr. Kajornsak Faungnawakij from Nanomaterials for Energy and Catalysis Laboratory (NEC) who gave a talk on “NanoCatalysts for Biodiesel Application”. 

“Nanocatalysts are playing crucial roles in biorefinery and biofuel industry which would leads Thailand to the low carbon and bio-based society” said Dr. Kajornsak. “Studies have shown that nanocatalyst can be used for biodiesel production with yield of more than 96%. The catalyst is well used to convert the oil with higher acid value into biodiesel. It is porous with particle sizes of 30–100 nm which helps to increase catalytic activity, stability, and improved efficiency of transesterification”.

 Dr. Kajornsak informed participants that in the era of nanotechnology where size of every object is going to become smaller and smaller with their enhanced properties; catalysts of nano size are also used in several chemical processes and beneficial for human being. The application of nanocatalyst does not only apply to the energy sector but other sectors as well such as water purification, fuel cell, drug delivery, and photocatalytic activities.

 He went on to inform that the research focus at his lab is on nanomaterial synthesis, processing and utilization in nanocatalysis for biomass conversion to various products, including biofuels, biochemical platforms, organic acids and soil conditioner.