Expertise Summary

I graduated with a first class degree in Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Industrial Chemistry at University Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Malaysia. After that I pursued my PhD in the field of applied chemistry at National University of Singapore (NUS). My PhD study involved the synthesis and optimization of the catalysts for preparation of optically pure chiral building blocks. Before joining UNNC, I have taken a post-doctoral research fellow position in Centre of Surface Chemistry and Catalysis (COK, KULeuven, Belgium) in order to widen my knowledge in the field of applied chemistry. In this post-doctoral project, I was working with my promoter and collaborators in valorization of ionic liquids for industrial application.

I teach in the areas of applied chemistry and thermodynamics.

Modules: 

• Introductory Chemistry H81ICH
• Engineering Thermodynamics H81ETD
• Interfacial Chemistry H82INC

I am interested in the optimization of chemical processes through reaction engineering, in particular the synthesis and application of solid materials for catalytic production of chemicals, conversion of waste materials and energy storage.

My current research projects are related to Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) of graphene from pyrolyzed gases from waste, catalytic thermal cracking of algae to biofuels, and synthesis of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs).

Recent publications

1. K.L. Fow, M. Ganapathi, I. Stassen, K. Binnemans, J. Fransaer, D.D. Vos, Catalytically active gauze-supported skeletal nickel prepared from Ni–Zn alloys electrodeposited from an acetamide–dimethyl sulfone eutectic mixture, Catal. Today 2015, 246, 191–197.
2. K.L. Fow, M. Ganapathi, I. Stassen, J. Fransaer, K. Binnemans, D.D. Vos, Highly active gauze-supported skeletal nickel catalysts, Chem. Commun. 2013, 49, 8498-8500.
3. K.L. Fow, Y.–Z. Zhu, G.K. Chuah, S. Jaenicke, Dynamic kinetic resolution of 1-phenylethanol by immobilized lipase coupled with in situ racemization over zeolite beta, in: Practical Methods for Biocatalysis and Biotransformations (Ed. J. Whittall, P. Sutton), John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 2009, p. 133.
4. K.L. Fow, L.C.H. Poon, S.T. Sim, G. K. Chuah, S. Jaenicke, Enhanced asymmetric reduction of ethyl 3-oxobutyrate by baker’s yeast via substrate feeding and enzyme inhibition, Eng. Life Sci. 2008, 8, 372-380.
5. K.L. Fow, S. Jaenicke, T.E. Müller, C. Sievers, Enhanced enantioselectivity of chiral hydrogenation catalysts after immobilization in thin films of ionic liquid, J. Mol. Cat. A: Chem. 2008, 279, 239-247.
6. S. Jaenicke, G.K. Chuah, K.L. Fow, in: Dynamic kinetic resolution combining enzyme and zeolite catalysis, Science and Technology in Catalysis 2006 (Proceedings of TOCAT-5)
7. Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis (eds: K. Eguchi, M. Machida, I. Yamanaka), Elsevier 2007, 172, p. 313-316.
8. Y. Zhu, K.L. Fow, G.K. Chuah, S. Jaenicke, Dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols combining enzyme-catalyzed transesterification and zeolite-catalyzed racemization, Chem. Eur. J. 2006, 13 (2), 541-547.

Research Grant and Contracts

2016

• UNNC FoSE Small Research Grant (SRG), PI, RMB 15,000
• Project title: Synthesis of porous metallic catalyst by decomposition of metal organic frameworks

2014

• National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Co-investigator, RMB 250,000
• Project title: Conducting polymer with a metallocene pendent group for electrochemical energy storage