Projects
NMR-Relaxorption: Measuring and understanding NMR relaxation during sorption in porous materials. KU Leuven
Simultaneous NMR and physisorption for the characterization of metal-organic framework adsorbents KU Leuven
Development of a novel Low-Field Magnetic Resonance Sensor for studies of porous solids KU Leuven
Low field nuclear magnetic resonance is a unique technique for obtaining local information inside large opaque materials, and extract physicochemical parameters such as porosity and permeability. This information is invaluable for the understanding of carbonate and sandstone reservoir rocks, as well as porous materials such as geo-polymers and building materials such as clay-based ceramics, calcium- silicate blocks and new generation hybrid ...
Understanding the biochemical basis of xylanase functionality in the bread preparation. KU Leuven
Arabinoxylan (AX) is the primary non-starch carbohydrate in cereal cell walls and is as such present in wheat flour and meal. It constitutes an important part of our daily dietary fibre intake. Because of its properties, AX directly influences the quality of products made from wheat in general and that of bread in particular.
Endo-β-(1,4)-D-xylanases, enzymes able to hydrolyze internal β-(1,4)-linkages in AX, are commercially available ...
Multiscale analysis and modeling of carbonation-induced changes in microstructure and transport properties of blended cements KU Leuven
Carbonation of concrete can trigger corrosion of steel reinforcement which is one of the main causes of damage of concrete structures. Concrete with supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) is even more vulnerable to carbonation due to the intrinsic features of hydrate phase assemblage, pore structure and transport properties. Little is still known about the microstructural changes and water release due to polymerisation of hydrates upon ...
Characterization of Geopolymers with Magnetic Resonance techniques KU Leuven
Inorganic polymers made by alkali-activation, aka geopolymers (when Al-silicate), are novel materials often used in construction that are more sustainable than ordinary Portland cement and can deliver exceptional properties (high-temperature and acids/alkalis resistance among others). The relation between structure and function requires in-depth characterization using preferably non-invasive approaches capable to probe the bulk of the ...
The relationship between wheat bran properties and their impact on bread making KU Leuven
Wheat bran, a co-product of the industrial roller milling of wheat, can be added to food products such as bread because of its nutritional profile and physiological effects. However, incorporation of wheat bran in bread systems can negatively affect final product quality. Next to possible taste issues, bran-enriched bread modifies crumb texture and shows a lower loaf volume as compared to white bread. Some intrinsic bran properties are ...
Luminescent Lanthanide Doped Nanoparticles as Bimodal Contrast Agents for MRI and Optical Imaging. KU Leuven
This manuscript covers the development of five different multimodal contrast agents for MRI and optical imaging, which are all unique in their design and properties.
The first approach involves linking multiple paramagnetic gadolinium(III)-chelates based on 2-[4,7,10-tris(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetrazacyclododec-1-yl]acetate (DOTA) ligand to the surface of NaGdF4:Yb3+,Tm3+ upconverting nanoparticles with an average particle size of 20 ...