On Friday, October 19, 2018, Grégory CHATEL, who specializes in green chemistry at the Laboratory of Molecular Chemistry and Environment (LCME) at the University of Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB), will defend his habilitation to supervise research (HDR) based on his work entitled "Unconventional activation environments and methods in green chemistry: reactivities, mechanisms, and applications in fine chemistry and for the valorization of plant biomass and waste."
The defense will take place at 2 p.m. in the Revard amphitheater, building 8B, on the Bourget-du-Lac campus.
SUMMARY
His research in green chemistry since 2009 has focused on several topics related to sonochemistry (the use of power ultrasound in chemistry), ionic liquids (low-melting-point salts used as solvents and/or catalysts), and the valorization of plant biomass (from sugars, cellulose, lignin, and vegetable oils). The experience and expertise he has acquired in these complementary fields in several laboratories form the basis of his 2018-2023 research project presented as part of this Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (HDR). It focuses on the use of unconventional activation media and methods (ultrasound, microwaves, supercritical fluids, and original solvent systems) for applications in green chemistry, particularly in fine chemistry (production of "platform" molecules) and the valorization of plant biomass and waste (extraction/transformation and purification of molecules of interest to the cosmetics and dietary supplement industries). The three areas of the proposed research strategy are developed through concrete projects of various kinds, ranging from fundamental to applied research.