Manuela Oykova

Professional experience

01/07/2021 – 01/09/2021 – Guest researcher – Eindhoven University of Technology (ТU / e), Eindhoven, The Netherlands
01/10/2020 until now – Assistant – Institute of Organic Chemistry with Center of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IOCCP – BAS), Sofia, Bulgaria
01/04/2019 – 31/07/2019 – Intern, Higher National School of Chemistry in Rennes, Rennes, France
01/03/2018 – 01/05/2018 – Intern, Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction Acad. “Kiril Bratanov”, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IBIR – BAS), Sofia, Bulgaria
01/10/2016 – 31/01/2017 – Intern, Institute of Physical Chemistry “Acad. Rostislaw Kaischew”, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IPC – BAS), Sofia, Bulgaria

Education and training

15/09/2013 – 15/07/2020 – Master of Industrial Chemistry, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy (UTCMS), Sofia, Bulgaria

Main research interests

Modification of mesoporous materials with nanoscale transition metals and metal oxides. Physicochemical characterization of modified materials by: temperature-programmed gravimetric analysis, IR and UV-spectroscopy, adsorption methods, etc.

Investigation of catalytic properties of modified nanocomposite materials:

– conversion of methanol into hydrocarbons, hydrogen, CO₂ and methane as a source of alternative environmentally friendly fuel from renewable sources and for the production of gas mixtures for certain industrial processes;

– catalytically complete oxidation of volatile organic compounds to protect and clean the environment;

– conversion of alkyl-aromatic hydrocarbons for the needs of the petrochemical industry;

– selective oxidation of alcohols and olefins in the gas or liquid phase in order to obtain intermediates of interest for the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

Selected publications

Co-author of 4 research papers

Total citations (excluding self-citations): 17, h-index – 3

• Oykova, M., Popova, M., “CO2 Hydrogenation to Renewable Methane on Ni/Ru Modified ZSM-5 Zeolites: The Role of the Preparation Procedure”, Catalysts 2022, 12(12), 1648; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal12121648
• Oykova, M., Popova, M., “Hydrodeoxygenation of Levulinic Acid to γ-Valerolactone over Mesoporous Silica-Supported Cu-Ni Composite Catalysts”, Molecules 2022, 27(17), 5383;

https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27175383

• Oykova, M., Popova, M., “Hydrodemethoxylation/Dealkylation on Bifunctional Nanosized Zeolite Beta”, Materials Today Communications, Molecules 2021, 26(24), 7694;

https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26247694

• Oykova, M., Popova, M., “Selective Production of Phenol on Bifunctional, Hierarchical ZSM-5 Zeolites”, Molecules 2021, 26(12), 3576; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26123576

Latest projects

Member of the research team

• “Obtaining value-added materials by converting platform molecules from lignocellulose biomass”, IC-IT/04/2023-2025, 2023-2025
• “3D printed catalysts based on waste materials for sustainable production of synthetic fuels and valuable chemicals”, KP-06-H69/3 3DCatFuel&Chem, 2022-2025
• “STRAIGHTENING TRAINING, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CAPACITIES IN THE VALORISATION OF BIORENEWABLE RESOURCES”, 951996 Biomass4Synthons, 2021-2024
• “Recycling of waste products for sustainable energy generation”, FNI, 2021-2022
• Center of Excellence in mechatronics and clean technologies, in the framework of the “Science and Education for Smart Growth” Operational Program 2014-2020 under the procedure for selection of projects BG05M2OP001-1.001-0008, 2018-2023

Honours and awards

• Best Poster Award in Topic B: MATERIALS FOR CLEAN ENERGY STORAGE, MetMat 2022.