Dr. Oana Leonte

Oana Leonte is the Research Director at Berkeley Polymer Technology. Her interest is in Nanoscience and Technology, Wafer Materials, Processing, Failure Analysis, Catalysis, Polymers and their application in industry.

Led R&D solid state chemistry group of catalysts and catalytic processes; used surface area and porosimetry measurements, chemisorption, GC, TPR, TEM, TGA, DSC, XRD, EXAFS, ESCA, IR, UV-vis, AAS, ES, neutron activation, microactivity test.

* Investigated synthetic methods for heterogeneous catalysts, ceramics and composite materials supports
preparation including formulation, active phase support interaction, metal redispersion, role of promoters
and molecular design. Controlled porosity sol-gel alumina synthesis.
• Conducted studies on thin films as applied to ceramic and composite materials.
• Designed Pd alumina supported catalysts & regeneration technology: gasoline & C3 hydrogenation.
• Scaled-up catalytic processes and catalyst manufacturing up to 500 kg batches.
• Performed failure analysis for catalytic technologies and implemented solving solutions: identified failure root cause in selective hydrogenation of residual gas from acetylene plant.
• Literature search (scientific, patent literature or other public information).
• Developed conceptual chemical process and economic estimates based on literature data.
• Troubleshooting of chemical manufacturing processes providing creative solutions to technical challenges.
• Performed research in aromatic heterocyclic chemistry at laboratory and pilot scale.

Used GC, GC-MS, HPLC, NMR, process modeling & optimization, scale-up.
• Discovered and patented a new semiconductor catalyst active in alkyl pyridine hydrodealkylation.

Optimized, scaled-up and manufactured batch and flow chemical processes up to 15,000 t/year for organics: monomers (monopropylene glycol, break fluid lubricants, glycerol); polymers (Thiocol); EG CVD silicon and silicon monocrystal for wafer fab.