The High-Quality Development Conference of Molecular Sieves under the Background of 2025 Carbon Neutrality was Successfully Held

From July 19 to 21, 2025, the Post-conference Forum of the 21st International Zeolite Conference on the High-Quality Development of Zeolites Under the Dual-Carbon Background was successfully held at our university. The forum was co-organized by China University of Petroleum (East China), the State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, and the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, with support from the Shandong Chemical Industry and Engineering Society. Under the theme "High-Quality Development of Zeolites Under the Dual-Carbon Background," the event aimed to advance the sustainable development of zeolite materials in the context of global energy transition and climate change challenges.

The forum was co-chaired by Professor Zifeng Yan from the College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at our university, Professor Jiang Heqing, Deputy Director of the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Professor Valentina Valtcheva from the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). It brought together more than 300 renowned domestic and international experts and scholars in the fields of zeolites and catalysis from 20 countries and regions, including the United States, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan, and China. The program featured 4 plenary lectures, 48 parallel session presentations, 24 oral presentations in the graduate student forum, and 63 poster presentations. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on recent research advances in the field, explored future directions in zeolite and catalysis research, and promoted the innovation and development of zeolite technology under the dual-carbon goals.

The opening ceremony of the conference was presided over by the conference chairman, Professor Yan Zifeng from the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of our university. Vice President Zhou Peng of China University of Petroleum (East China), Vice Director Jiang Heqing of the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Process Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Vice Chairman Liu Hongying of the Qingdao Science and Technology Association delivered speeches respectively. Vice Principal Zhou Peng delivered a speech, expressing his congratulations on the convening of the conference at our school. He welcomed experts and scholars from all over the world to attend the event and introduced the school's educational situation. In his speech, Principal Zhou pointed out that molecular sieves, as a key material that connects basic research and industrial applications, have always been an important force driving social progress and technological innovation. In the current era where the "dual carbon" goal is driving a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation to accelerate, the field of molecular sieves is experiencing unprecedented development opportunities and profound transformation. We look forward to continuing to pursue green development at this meeting, leading the forefront of industrial transformation and upgrading, and jointly deconstruct this contemporary issue of "molecular sieve paradigm transformation". Director Jiang Huaqing delivered a speech, expressing his expectation that this conference would closely align with the "carbon neutrality" theme, thoroughly exploring the innovative applications of molecular sieve technology in the fields of green energy, environmental protection, and catalysis. This would provide an important platform for exchanges to promote the high-quality development of molecular sieve technology. Vice Chair Liu Hongying's speech introduced the achievements of Qingdao in accelerating the construction of the "10+1" innovative industrial system. She also emphasized that molecular sieve technology is playing an indispensable core role in promoting green chemical innovation, improving energy conversion efficiency, optimizing resource utilization, reducing carbon emissions, and purifying the environment.

Chinese Academy of Sciences academician, Professor Chen Xiaoming from Sun Yat-sen University, American National Academy of Engineering member, Professor Christopher W. Jones from Georgia Institute of Technology, Italian Academy of Sciences member, Professor Girolamo Giordano from Calabria University, European Academy of Sciences member, Professor Jiři Čejka from Charles University in Poland, President of the International Zeolite Association, Professor Mintova from the French National Research Center, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of JACS, Professor Christophe Coperet from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, and the highest award winner of the International Zeolite Association, Professor Suk Bong Hong from Pohang University of Science and Technology, all renowned experts in the field of zeolites attended the conference.

At this conference, Professor Christopher W. Jones from the National Academy of Engineering of the United States, Professor Chen Xiaoming from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Sun Yat-sen University, Professor Christophe Coperet from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, and Professor Suk Bong Hong from Pohang University of Science and Technology of South Korea delivered excellent keynote speeches on topics such as "CO2 adsorption conversion porous materials", "porous metal-organic materials", "TS molecular sieves" and "small pore molecular sieves".

This conference brought together top experts and scholars from both domestic and international fields of molecular sieves and catalysis. The conference focused on the theme of "High-quality Development of Molecular Sieves under the Background of Dual Carbon Goals", and conducted in-depth exchanges and discussions on key cutting-edge issues such as the progress of zeolites in the fields of catalysis and adsorption, catalysis - characterization - synthesis, and sustainable solutions for engineering porous materials. It also explored the application prospects of molecular sieve technology in multiple fields such as energy, environment, and chemistry, providing new ideas and technical support for global responses to climate change and energy challenges. The co-chair of the conference and the president of the International Zeolite Association, Professor Mitova, delivered an academic summary of the conference, stating that with the increasingly severe issues of global climate change and energy crisis, the proposal of the "dual carbon" goal has brought unprecedented challenges and opportunities to global industrial development. In this context, molecular sieves, as an important catalytic material, have particularly significant applications in energy transition, green chemistry, and sustainable development. Molecular sieves are not only one of the core technologies in fields such as catalytic reactions, gas separation, and environmental protection, but also play an increasingly crucial role in efficient energy utilization and reduction of carbon emissions.

This conference also held a special session for the Shandong Chemical and Chemical Engineering Society. Prof. Wan Ying from Shanghai Normal University, a member of the Catalysis Committee of the Chinese Chemical Society, and Prof. Jiang Jiuxing from Sun Yat-sen University, a member of the Molecular Sieve Committee of the Chinese Chemical Society, delivered special academic reports. The sixth换届 meeting of the Catalysis Professional Committee of the Shandong Chemical and Chemical Engineering Society and the first establishment meeting of the Molecular Sieve Professional Committee (in preparation) were also held. Liu Baosheng, the secretary-general of the Shandong Chemical and Chemical Engineering Society, read out the "Approval of the Shandong Chemical and Chemical Engineering Society on Agreeing to the Application for the Election of the Catalysis Professional Committee" and the "Approval of the Shandong Chemical and Chemical Engineering Society on Agreeing to the Preparation for the Establishment of the Molecular Sieve Professional Committee", and elected the chairperson, vice-chairpersons, secretary-general and members of the sixth session of the Catalysis Professional Committee of the Shandong Chemical and Chemical Engineering Society and the first session of the Molecular Sieve Professional Committee of the Shandong Chemical and Chemical Engineering Society (in preparation).

This conference specially established the "Green Carbon" graduate student symposium forum, providing an excellent platform for graduate students to engage in high-level exchanges in line with the international academic frontiers. The forum featured 24 captivating oral presentations and 63 high-quality poster sessions, which attracted the active participation and enthusiastic response from a large number of graduate students. A total of 11 outstanding oral presentations and 10 outstanding poster presentations were selected successively. This academic arrangement not only provides a platform for young scholars to present their research results, but also creates rare opportunities for academic exchanges and intellectual collisions, effectively promoting academic innovation and talent cultivation.

At the closing ceremony of this conference, an awarding session was specially arranged. Professor Jiang Heqing, the vice director of the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Process Technology and the co-chair of the conference, presided over the awarding ceremony for the Outstanding Oral Presentation Award and the Outstanding Poster Award of the "Green Carbon" Graduate Forum.

This conference is not only an academic event, but also a valuable opportunity for deep interaction between the industry and the research community. Through this conference, experts, scholars, researchers and enterprise representatives jointly discussed and promoted the innovative development in the field of molecular sieves. This has injected new impetus into the development and industrial application of molecular sieve technology, and will undoubtedly have a positive and far-reaching impact on global energy transformation and climate change mitigation.