Dirk is a passionate chemist with many years of experience in industrial R&D, working on batch, semi-batch, and plug-flow processes. He is interested in optimising lab-scale equipment to match (pilot-)plant-scale operational parameters and optimising single reactor and medium throughput equipment. He thrives when lab-scale kinetics match those of industrial processes and enjoys working on less common chemical transformations.

His specific areas of expertise cover semi-batch gas- and slurry-phase olefin polymerisation processes, industrial processes for production of linear and branched α-olefins, and molecular (cross-)couplings. During his work on controlled semi-batch olefin polymerisation equipment using both parallel and single reactor systems he optimised reactor setups to match (pilot-)plant operational data, as well as wrote and control software for optimal operation of parallel reactor systems. While working on ethylene oligomerisation (α-olefins), propylene dimerisation (to 4-methyl-1-pentene) or ethylene/carbon dioxide cross-coupling (to acrylates) he optimised operation of both plug-flow and (semi-)batch reactor systems and assessed processes for industrial viability.

Dirk reached his level of expertise while working for SABIC STC-K in KAUST, Saudi Arabia and during several industrially sponsored positions in academia. His work exposure encompassed many industrially relevant processes, where his educational background has given him a broad understanding of numerous analytical and control processes, and various fields of synthetic chemistry, resulting in unique insights in innovation and R&D reactor design.