Feb 23 2011
A Queen’s University professor who has pioneered world-leading research in green chemistry has been named the top chemist in the United Kingdom.
Professor Ken Seddon, who leads the University’s Ionic Liquids Laboratories (QUILL), came first in the UK in the Times Higher Education listing of the world’s 100 Top Chemists of the Past Decade.
Queen’s chemists took both the first and second UK places. Professor Seddon’s colleague, Dr John Holbrey, a Senior Research Fellow in QUILL, was the second highest ranking UK chemist. They are two of only four UK chemists included in the list, which is based on the impact of their work (the number of citations received).
Professor Seddon is acknowledged as a global leader in research on ionic liquids, which have the potential to impact on the daily lives of everyone in the world, massively reducing industrial pollution, improving working conditions and enhancing job and wealth creation. Ionic liquids are not flammable, release no fumes and can help make chemical reactions faster and cheaper.
Congratulating the two Queen’s chemists, Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Gregson said: “I am delighted to congratulate Professor Seddon and Dr Holbrey on this recognition, although it comes as no surprise. Queen’s is justifiably renowned for its research in green chemistry – an area of growth within the University.
“QUILL is a world-class centre working with international partners on research which will benefit global society. It demonstrably leads the world in the development of an exciting new scientific process, inspiring a whole new generation of international researchers and delivering solutions to a problem of global proportions.”
Professor Seddon said: “This news is an absolute demonstration that the work we carry out in collaboration with our 16 industrial members is an ideal combination of fundamental and applied chemistry, recognised by the worldwide chemical community.
“I am particularly pleased on behalf of Dr John Holbrey. For a Senior Research Fellow to come second in the UK, ahead of every other lecturer, reader and Professor in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is an amazing achievement.”
QUILL’s research partners include Shell, Procter and Gamble and Petronas, the Fortune 500 oil and gas corporation owned by the Malaysian government. QUILL houses the only Petronas academic-based laboratory of its kind in Europe.
In 2006 QUILL were awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education. The award – part of the national honours system – recognises and honours outstanding achievement by universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
The previous year Professor Seddon and Dr Holbrey were awarded the 2005 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award from President Bush, and QUILL and Merck were jointly awarded the Teamwork in Innovation Award from the Royal Society of Chemistry, for “the development and commercialisation of ionic liquids in the chemical industry”.