Professor Jack Fletcher
Director: Centre for Catalysis Research
Department of Chemical Engineering
Building No 54, Cnr Ring Road and South Lane
Upper Campus, University of Cape Town
Private Bag X3
7701 Rondebosch
South Africa

Tel: +27 21 650-4433
Fax: +27 21 650-5509
Email: jack.fletcher@uct.ac.za

Background
Professor Fletcher is the Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Director of the Centre for Catalysis Research, and Contract Director of the National Hydrogen Catalysis Competence Centre (HySA/catalysis). His areas of specialisation include catalysis by noble metals, zeolite catalysed conversion of phenol and derivatives, wax hydrocracking, shape selectivity in zeolites and molecular sieves, hydrogen processors and fuel cells.

Qualification
1984
PhD, Cape Town

1980
BSc(Eng)Chem, Cape Town

1977
School Graduation, Ferguson High School, Newport News, Va. USA

1975
Matriculation, Pretoria Boys High School

Employment History
Jan 08 – current
Head of Department, Chemical Engineering, UCT

Jun 07 – current
Contract Director DST Hydrogen Catalysis Competence Centre, HySA/catalysis

Jun 04 – Dec 07
Director DST – NRF Centre of Excellence in Catalysis, c*change

Jul 99 – current
Director Centre for Catalysis Research, UCT, CatCentre

Jun 94 – Jun 99
Director Research & Development, Süd-Chemie Group (Germany & USA)

1990 – 1994
Deputy Director Catalysis Research Unit, University of Cape Town

1986 – 1990
Programme Manager, Division for Microelectronics and Communications Technology, CSIR

Publications

McEwan, L, Julius, M, Roberts, S and Fletcher, JCQ (2010).  A review of the use of gold catalysts in selective hydrogenation reactions.  Gold Bulletin 43 (4) 298 – 306.

Kukard, R, Wynne, P, Böhringer, W, Fletcher, JCQ (submitted). Hop over or spill over – The end of a hitherto well established hydrocracking reaction mechanism? Brosius, R and Fletcher, JCQ (2010).  Direct measurement of recycle ratios in internal recycle laboratory reactors.  Chemical Engineering Journal 161 196–203.

Fletcher, JCQ (2009).  Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies – the beginnings of a National development programme in South Africa.  Keynote Address.  South African Chemical Engineering Congress, Somerset West South Africa, 22 – 23 September 2009.

Kukard, RS, Fletcher, JCQ and Böhringer, W (2009).  The effect of zeolite type on the hydrocracking of long n-paraffins.   South African Chemical Engineering Congress, Somerset West South Africa, 22 – 23 September 2009, UF673, ISBN 978-1-920355-21-0.

Lucus, N, Bordoloi, A, Amrute, A, Kasinathan, P, Vinu, A, Böhringer, W, Fletcher, JCQ and Halligudi, SB (2009). A comparative study on liquid phase alkylation of 2-methylnaphthalene with long chain olefins using different solid acid catalysts. Applied Catalysis A: General 352 74 – 80.

Justus, J, Vinu, A, Devassy, BM, Balasubramanian, VV, Böhringer, W, Fletcher, JCQ and Halligudi, SB (2008). Highly efficient and chemo selective catalyst system for the synthesis of blossom orange fragrance and flavoring compounds. Catalysis Communications 9 1671-1675.

Blom, B, Klatt, G, Fletcher, JCQ and Moss, JR (2007).  Computational investigation of ethene trimerisation catalysed by cyclopentadienyl chromium complexes.  Inorganica Chimica Acta 360 (9) 2890-2896.

Böhringer, W, Kotsiopoulos, A, de Boer, M, Knottenbelt, C and Fletcher, JCQ (2007).  Selective Fischer-Tropsch wax hydrocracking – Opportunity for improvement of overall gas-to-liquids processing.  Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis.  Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis, Catalysts and Catalysis 163 345-365.

Moeketsi, KP, Devassy, BM, Böhringer, W, Halligudi, SB and Fletcher, JCQ (2007).  Transalkylation of coal derived higher methylphenols with phenol to produce cresols and xylenols.  International Pittsburgh Coal Conference 2007, Sandton, South Africa, 10 – 14 September 2007.

O’Connor, CT, Sauerbeck, S, Moon, G, Böhringer, W and Fletcher, JCQ (2007).  The effect of different Si/Al ratios and reaction conditions on the phenol methylation activity of MCM-22.  Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis 170 1088 – 1095.