The Unternehmerschaft Chemie Niederrhein has once again honoured an outstanding thesis from the Faculty of Chemistry at Hochschule Niederrhein with this year's Chemistry Sponsorship Award. This year's prize, worth 1,500 euros, went to Kevin de Greeff for his master's thesis entitled "Modelling and optimisation of the filtration process of sodium hydrogen carbonate of an industrial belt filter", which he completed at Solvay GmbH in Rheinberg.
The prizewinner is no stranger to the Unternehmerschaft Chemie Niederrhein: Kevin de Greeff had already attended various formats organised by the association in the past. For example, he was honoured as a prizewinner in the Lower Rhine regional Jugend forscht competition and took part in the Krefeld Chemistry Academy. His career emphasises the lasting effect of promoting young talent at an early stage and providing continuous support.
In his work, de Greeff developed a digital model ("digital twin") of an industrial belt filter used in soda production. The aim was to optimise the filter process so that the sodium hydrogen carbonate obtained - known as the main ingredient in baking powder - is particularly pure and dry, while minimising losses through dissolution. By combining laboratory tests, practical measurements and mathematical modelling, he was able to map the processes in detail and determine the optimum operating conditions mathematically.
"Mr de Greeff has demonstrated extensive knowledge of process engineering and mathematical optimisation as well as practical skills in setting up and operating pilot plants," recalls Norbert Mülders, Chairman of Unternehmerschaft Chemie Niederrhein, who witnessed the development process first-hand as plant manager at Solvay GmbH in Rheinberg. "The model now provides Solvay with a tool with which the belt filter can always be operated under economically optimal operating conditions, even if the properties of the incoming suspension change."
Kirsten Wittke-Lemm, Managing Director of Unternehmerschaft Chemie Niederrhein, is also impressed: "Mr de Greeff's thesis is one of the outstanding theses in the Technical Chemistry department at The Hochschule Niederrhein. It combines scientific depth with direct benefits for industry. It is precisely practical projects like this that show how important close cooperation between the Hochschule Niederrhein and companies is for the Niederrhein as a centre of innovation."
The Unternehmerschaft Chemie Niederrhein awards the Chemistry Promotion Prize annually to graduates whose work is characterised by a high level of practical relevance, technical excellence and innovative strength. The call for entries for the 2026 Chemistry Award has already been published.
