Paul Watts – Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Staff
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CHAIR IN MICRO/FLUIDIC BIO/CHEMICAL PROCESSING
RESEARCH CHAIR: MICROFLUIDIC BIO-CHEMICAL PROCESSING
PROFESSOR PAUL WATTS
Primary discipline: Chemical Science
Faculty: Science
RELEVANCE OF RESEARCH
Within InnoVenton at NMMU Professor Watts will further develop the continuous flow methodology to investigate how small production platforms can enhance chemical manufacture within the South African economy. In addition, research will be undertaken to investigate the integration of synthesis and purification within continuous flow systems.
BIOSKETCH OF INCUMBENT
Professor Watts graduated from the University of Bristol (UK) in 1995 with a first-class BSc in Chemistry. He continued his studies at Bristol, obtaining a PhD in bio-organic natural product chemistry in 1999. His PhD focussed on the synthesis of isotopically labelled compounds for use in determining biosynthetic pathways to polyketide-derived natural products. He subsequently worked at the University of Hull (UK) where he led the micro reactor and continuous flow technology group, being promoted to full professor in August 2011. He has published nearly 100 papers in the field and regularly gives lectures on the topic at worldwide conferences. He is on several editorial boards and is an associate editor of the Journal of Flow Chemistry.
CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS
Research interests include:
- Improving organic synthesis utilising new technology;
- Green chemistry;
- Process intensification;
- Electrochemical synthesis;
- Catalysis (and biocatalysis) in continuous flow reactors;
- Process analytical technology; and
- Nanomaterial synthesis.