Lecture by Honorary Doctor: Hydrogen peroxide, carbon dioxide and alkenes – key molecules in green transition to chemicals and materials

Welcome to join the lecture of Honorary Doctor Tapio Salmi with the topic: Hydrogen peroxide, carbon dioxide and alkenes – key molecules in green transition to chemicals and materials, 9.9.2026 in SÄ105 from 10:00 to 12:00!

Abstract of the lecture

The inevitable shift from fossil resources to renewable raw materials and recyclable products is a strong stimulant to current research in chemistry and chemical technology. Hydrogen, hydrogen peroxide, carbon dioxide and complex molecules from biomass are the key molecules, the building blocks in the production of bulk products such as ammonia and methanol but also in sophisticated synthesis of fine chemicals, ingredients in pharmaceutical and alimentary products as well as degradable polymers.

Very hydrogen and oxygen can be obtained by water electrolysis, hydrogen peroxide by direct synthesis from hydrogen and oxygen and various alkenes, molecules with reactive double bonds are available from biomass, e.g. fatty acids and terpenes.

Hydrogen peroxide is used to prepare epoxides from alkene components, and the epoxides are carbonized by carbon dioxide. The carbonates obtained in this way are valuable building blocks particularly for polymers, e.g. polyurethanes. Catalysis plays a key role in these demanding transformations.

Catalyst development, kinetic and mass transfer studies are presented in the lecture, showing the pathway from molecular-level considerations to mathematical modelling of chemical reactors for recently developed epoxidation and carbonation processes.

Honorary Doctor Tapio Salmi

Professor Salmi, Doctor Honoris Causa at the University of Oulu and Technical University of Tallinn, is a researcher and educator in the field of chemical engineering.

He works as a Professor of Chemical Reaction Engineering at Åbo Akademi University and visiting professor at Università di Napoli ‘Federico II’.

During the years 2009-2013 and 2019-2023 he has served as an Academy Professor appointed by the Research Council of Finland.


Coffee service is available for the onsite participants. No pre-registration is required.

You are warmly welcome!

Additional information

Planning officer
Auli Turkki
Environmental and Chemical Engineering research unit
auli.turkki@oulu.fi
+358 29 4482368

Docent Satu Pitkäaho
Environmental and Chemical Engineering research unit
satu.pitkaaho@oulu.fi
+358 29 448 2374

Prof. Riitta Keiski
Environmental and Chemical Engineering research unit
riitta.keiski@oulu.fi
+358 40 726 3018