Professor Chris Rayner

Profile

I am a synthetic organic chemist by training. I studied for my BSc and PhD at the University of Liverpool, and then spent 2 years working for Prof. Leo Paquette at the Ohio State University in Columbus Ohio working on complex natural product synthesis.

I joined the University of Leeds in 1989, and was promoted to Professor of Organic Chemistry in 2006. Alongside my academic interests, I am also very passionate about enhancing the broader impact and commercialisation of academic research, and as part of this, I am Director of two spin out companies, C-Capture Ltd and Keracol Ltd.

Research interests

My research is in two main areas.

The chemistry of carbon dioxide, particularly use of high pressure CO₂ in chemical processes, and reaction of CO₂ for removal from gas streams for applications in capture and storage (CCS) and biogas upgrading. 

Much of this is being commercialised through my spin our company, C-Capture Ltd (www.c-capture.co.uk)

Extraction and utilisation of natural products in consumer products and as novel medicines.

The chemistry of dyes and dyeing processes, especially those utilising natural dyes.

Much of this work is in collaboration with Dr Richard Blackburn (School of Design) and is being commercialised through our spin out company, Keracol Ltd (www.keracol.co.uk).

I am also very interested in the scale of of chemical processes through working with engineers, through C-Capture Ltd and the Institute of Process Research and Development.

Student education

I teach various aspects of organic chemistry, particularly chemical reactivity and synthesis. I also am very active in the area of teaching of Sustainability relating to both chemical products and the impact of CO₂ on climate change and mitigation strategies.

Research groups and institutes

• Institute for Process Research and Development

Current postgraduate researchers

• Muhammad Wathon
• Oliver Stanfield
• Casey Kavaliauskas