Prof. Dr. Le Minh Thang (second, right) with her students at a lab at the Institute of Chemical Engineering at Hanoi University of Science and Technology. (Photo: VNA) Environmental protection is a matter of concern, especially in Vietnamwhere the number of old vehicles remains high, causing significant exhaustemissions.
Thang, a senior lecturer at the Department of Organic andPetrochemical Technology of the Institute of Chemical Engineering at HanoiUniversity of Science and Technology, is dedicated to solving issues thatinvolve exhaust fumes and wastewater treatment processes for the protection ofthe environment and people’s health.
Thang’s findings have been widely applied, with many of her ideasproving highly effective.
She has published more than 100 scientific articles in prestigiousinternational and national journals and was honoured with the KovalevskayaAward in 2022 for her outstanding achievements in scientific research.
New invention
In 2009, Thang led a team of scientists on a four-year research projecton developing a catalytic converter to reduce motorcycle emissions.
“Catalytic converters for the treatment of exhaust from internalcombustion engines have been studied for a long time and widely applied.However, these parts are made from palladium and platinum. The rare andexpensive metals are not suitable for application in Vietnam due to their highcost,” she said.
“Therefore, my research team and I set out to create a catalyticconverter from a mixture of transition metal oxides to replace precious metals.This is much cheaper and easily applied in developing countries such as Vietnam,”she said.
This converter is much cheaper and has the same efficiency asother commercial products. The catalytic converter has been used for Vespascooters and was tested for efficiency by Vietnam Register.
The scientist has undertaken other research on the treatment ofexhaust gases of fuel combustion, the selective oxidation of propylene/propanefrom natural gas, and photocatalytic treatment of organic compounds and heavymetals in wastewater.
In 2021, Thang was one of three Vietnamese female scientists whowon the Hitachi Global Foundation Asia Innovation Award for the project oncatalytic converters from transition metal oxide and technology of exhaust gasand wastewater treatment to protect life on land and in water.
“This research work has provided a cost-effective solution to dealwith environmental pollutants. The converter can reduce pollutant emissions bymore than 90 per cent while it is stable under extreme conditions and has along service life,” she said.
“We have initially commercialised the product with a number ofindustrial plants that use fuel-burning processes,” she added.
After graduating from the Institute of Chemical Engineering atHanoi University of Science and Technology in 1997, Thang worked as a lecturer.
In 1999, she obtained a master's degree and was selected tocontinue her doctoral studies at Ghent University in Belgium from 2000 to 2005.
Returning to Vietnam in early 2005, she continued her research onpetrochemical catalysis with many research projects at home and abroad.
Thang was the youngest female Associate Professor in Vietnam in2009 and was recognised with the title of Professor in 2019.
There are many factors behind her success, including her family,workplace, and luck, the scientist said.
“But the most important thing is persistence in scientificresearch and the foundational knowledge that has been accumulated during theprocess of serious study,” Thang said.
Moreover, it entails the training in techniques andproblem-solving approaches.
Thang said she had experienced many failures. However, she kepttelling herself to go ahead.
“Just keep going, you will find a way out,” she said.
Promoting women in science
Thang said women have the ability to do any job, even jobs thatare thought to be suitable for men.
“There’re no boundaries for women in science. Women can do any jobas long as they have enough love and passion for it,” she said.
Thang is the President of the Women's Intellectuals Association ofHanoi University of Science and Technology. She always encourages young femalelecturers and students to develop their own careers. There are fewer women inengineering professions, but she believes that women can have the sameprofessional capacity or even better than men.
“I hope female scientists are given more conditions to do theirjobs. I hope there will be more policies to promote women's participation inscience, so that they can develop their talents to the fullest,” she said./.
VNA
