Research Focus

The research interests are in heterogeneous catalysis, applied spectroscopy, and characterization and synthesis of solid materials. Combining these interests I also develop processes for the production of fuels and chemicals. My research program combines fundamental and applied research. Some more details as follow:

• Synthesis of solid materials with catalytic potential.
• Heterogeneous catalysis.
• Catalytic conversion of biomass to fuels and bulk chemicals.
• Enable technology for utilization of alternative resources in order to reduce the current dependence of oil.

Education

B.S, Chemical engineering, Hochiminh University of Technology, Vietnam, 2006.

M.S, Chemical engineering, Pukyong National University, Republic of Korea, 2011.

Ph.D, Chemical engineering, University of Genova, Italy, 2015.

Publications

1. T.K. Phung, A.A. Casazza, B. Aliakbarian, E. Finocchio, P. Perego and G. Busca, Catalytic conversion of ethyl acetate and acetic acid on alumina as models of vegetable oils conversion to biofuels, Chemical Engineering Journal, 215–216 (2013) 838–848. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2012.11.057.
2. T.K. Phung, M.M. Carnasciali, E. Finocchio, G. Busca, Catalytic conversion of ethyl acetate over faujasite zeolites, Applied Catalysis A: General, 470 (2014) 72-80. doi:10.1016/j.apcata.2013.10.028
3. T.K. Phung, A. Lagazzo, M.Á. Rivero Crespo, V. Sanchez Escribano, G. Busca, A study of commercial transition aluminas and of their catalytic activity in the dehydration of ethanol, Journal of Catalysis, 311 (2014) 102-113. doi:10.1016/j.jcat.2013.11.010
4. T.K. Phung, C. Herrera, M. Ángeles Larrubia, M. García-Diéguez, E. Finocchio, L.J. Alemany, G. Busca, Surface and catalytic properties of some γ-Al₂O₃ powders, Applied Catalysis A: General, 483 (2014) 41-51. doi:10.1016/j.apcata.2014.06.020
5. T.K. Phung, L. Proietti Hernández, G. Busca, Conversion of ethanol over transition metal oxide catalysts: Effect of Tungsta addition on catalytic behaviour of Titania and Zironia, Applied Catalysis A: General, 489 (2015) 180-187. doi:10.1016/j.apcata.2014.10.025
6. T.K. Phung, L. Proietti Hernández, A. Lagazzo, G. Busca, Dehydration of ethanol over Zeolites, Silica Alumina and Alumina: Lewis acidity, Brønsted acidity and Confinement effects, Applied Catalysis A: General, 493 (2015) 77–89. doi:10.1016/j.apcata.2014.12.047
7. T.K. Phung, G. Busca, Diethyl ether cracking and ethanol dehydration: Acid catalysis and reaction paths, Chemical Engineering Journal, 272 (2015) 92-101. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2015.03.008
8. T.K. Phung, R. Radikapratama, G. Garbarino, A. Lagazzo, P. Riani, G. Busca, Tuning of product selectivity in the conversion of ethanol to hydrocarbons over H-ZSM-5 based zeolite catalysts, Fuel Processing Technology, 137 (2015) 290-297. doi:10.1016/j.fuproc.2015.03.012
9. T.K. Phung, G. Busca, Ethanol dehydration on silica-aluminas: active sites and ethylene/diethyl ether seletivities, Catalysis Communications, 68 (2015) 110-115. doi:10.1016/j.catcom.2015.05.009
10. T.K. Phung, G. Busca, On the Lewis acidity of protonic zeolites, Applied Catalysis A: General,doi:10.1016/j.apcata.2014.11.031 (In press).