„Fluidized bed Pope” Prof. Lothar Mörl was awarded for his lifetime academic work
The Process engineer at the Otto-von-Gueriche University Magdeburg Prof. Dr. Lothar Mörl was awarded with the Hugo-Junkers-Innovation Award 2010 by the Minister of Economic Affairs of Saxony-Anhalt. The scientist and long time professor at the University of Magdeburg was recognized for his lifetime academic work in the field of fluidized bed technology, which earned him the name “fluidized bed Pope”. According to the jury, he committed himself in an outstanding way for the use of new innovative method in the production of marketable products, for example, the roasting of coffee beans or the precise manufacturing of granules in the pharmaceutical or food industry.
In 1961, Lothar Mörl started his study in the field of 'Chemical engineering at the Technical University "Otto von Guericke" in Magdeburg, and in 1967, he successfully completed his study to become a graduate engineer. In 1972, he earned his PhD in engineering. As chief assistant, he turned in his scientific work of the fluidized bed technology and finalized his habilitation in 1982. From 1976 to 1978, Lothar Mörl worked in the Department of Research and Development of the SKET Magdeburg. In 1978, he was appointed to be a lecturer at the Technical University of Magdeburg and continued his research in the field of fluidized bed technology. As a result, he was a driving force in the developing, testing and implementing of several important industrial applications of fluidized bed process in East Germany and abroad (licensing), such as detergent granulation, sugar drying, and coffee roasting. In 1982, he became a Professor of "thermal separation”. In 1992, Prof. Lothar Mörl was appointed to become the chair of the Institute of Chemical Apparatus and Environmental Engineering at the Technical University "Otto von Guericke" Magdeburg.
He is particularly interested in working with medium-sized companies in the region, for example, the development of Wirbelschichtkandierung (fluidized bed candying) of roasted coffee with the company Röstfein Kaffee GmbH Magdeburg. From these projects, there were often patentable solutions to problems; therefore Prof. Mörl is a co-inventor on more than 180 patents. He received an honorary doctorate for his extraordinary works from the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia, Bulgaria in 2000.
The fluidized bed process had a long tradition at the Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg and is now an international leader in innovative technology for high quality granules. In this process, waste products are converted into granules, so that the materials are processed industrially further better. The required properties of the granules produced, such as size, moisture or composition are precisely controlled by this technology in a complicated process. It has created an innovative system and process that allows producing new and higher value property profiles for fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and food and biotechnology products.
The Hugo-Junkers-Innovation Prize is awarded every two years by the regional Ministry of Economic Affairs honouring companies and individuals who invest their courage and commitment in innovative products, thereby strengthening the economic power of the region.
Further information under www.innovationspreis-sachsen-anhalt-2010.de
19.11.2010
Prof. Dr. Lothar Mörl
Foto: Universität Magdeburg