Fules & Energy

Prof. Zeev Aizenshtat
Head of Laboratory
Fules & Energy
School of Applied Science
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
Tel: 972-2-6585561, 972-2-6585318
Fax: 972-2-6528250, 972-2-6526704
email: zeev@vms.huji.ac.il

This group is engaged in organic geochemistry, chemical ecology, stable isotopes in the carbon and sulfur cycles, fossil fuels, bio-remediation of petroleum spills, development of analytical tools for monitoring new technologies, marine geobio-chemistry, organic archeology, pyrolysis processes and combustion of fossil fuels and petrochemicals as additives for motor-fuels and oils.

The group's activities are focused on the axis of carbon-sulfur cycles in the bio-geosphere. The technological-economical pendulum, moving from energy to ecology during the last 25 years, has dictated the changes of our applied research. However, the interdisciplinary approach has always been our unique contribution, to both basic research and applied projects. Until 1988, the majority of the group's efforts were invested in the development of new processes to utilize Israeli bituminous rocks, and at the same time, were involved in oil and gas exploration.

This expert group is well-equipped for such organic geochemical studies. Since the thermal processes suggested require better understanding of polymeric matter behavior under pyrolysis, the group has begun the study of kinetics modeling. The study of Solar Lake in the Sinai led to a collaboration on joint projects between the group and the microbiologists of the "Moshe Shilo" Center for marine geo-biochemistry, thus making it a member of the Center.

In order to understand the mechanisms controlling the introduction of reduced sulfur formed by dissimilatory processes into organic matter, the group studied the reactions of sulfides and polysulfides with organic molecules. By working on both chemical behavior of polysulfides with organic matter and catalytic removal of sulfur from fossil fuels, this study, which started in 1979, coined the term Secondary Enrichment,. The group is now involved in projects designed to utilize the Dead Sea asphalts for pharmaceutical and cosmetic purposes. Other projects include the development of tools to monitor and optimize processes for the utilization of bituminous rocks and other fossil fuels, sulfur removal from heavy diesel, bio-removal of crude oil spills and single compounds modeling of the bacterial activity, and the study of resins from amphorae found at excavation sites on Massada.

The activities yielded several patents and about 100 reports for funding agencies and industries, as well as 150 refereed papers in international journals.

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