Division Award detergent chemistry

On 16 October 2024, the GDCh Division of Detergent Chemistry presented the 2024 Division Award to Dr. Felix Müller at the European Detergents Conference in Berlin.

"The award is presented to Dr. Felix Müller in recognition of his long-standing active support for the work of the GDCh Division of Detergent Chemistry. During his more than 27 years of membership of the Division, he has made an exceptional personal contribution in many different ways, both professionally and organisationally. With Felix Müller, we are honouring a personality who has made a particular contribution at the interface between science and industry. For more than a decade, Felix Müller has shared his extensive knowledge of surfactants as a speaker and course leader at more than 20 GDCh training courses with almost 200 early-career scientists. In addition, since 2002, Felix Müller has held various roles in the Division, as a board member, Deputy Chair and member of the scientific advisory board. Felix Müller’s influence extends far beyond the work of the Division into academia and the economy, as his mandates on various advisory boards impressively demonstrate."

With a two-year delay due to the coronavirus pandemic, the GDCh Division of Detergent Chemistry presented the 2020 Division Award to Dr. Astrid Rohrdanz on 26 October 2022 on the occasion of the European Detergents Conference – in Berlin, in the long-awaited in-person ceremony.

"The award is presented to Dr. Astrid Rohrdanz in recognition of her many years of active support for the work of the GDCh Division of Detergent Chemistry. During her now 27-year membership of the Division of Detergent Chemistry and the Detergents Main Committee (HAD), she has supported the Division’s work in many ways, both professionally and organisationally. Among other roles, she was a member of the Board and Deputy Chair of the Division from 2006 to 2009. Since 2010, she has advised the Board as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board. In addition, she was Chair of the HAD from 2005 to 2019. Alongside her commitment to the conceptual development of the Division’s work, she addressed issues relating to laundry and cleaning detergents in her professional career and sought to share her knowledge with others through participation in conferences and international projects."

On the occasion of the 16th European Detergents Conference, which took place as a virtual event on 28 October 2020, the Division of Detergent Chemistry presented this award 2020 to Prof. Dr. Heinz Rehage.

"The award is presented to Prof. Dr. Heinz Rehage in recognition of his fundamental work in the fields of surfactant and colloid research. His work on foams, gels, emulsions, nanoparticles and ultrathin films is characterised by a high degree of creativity, while at the same time being highly practical and application-oriented. In particular, his work on controlled colloidal systems points to new avenues for innovative strategies in materials science. Prof. Dr. Heinz Rehage has received numerous awards, including the 2001 Innovation Award of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. He worked for many years on the Board of the Division of Detergent Chemistry and was also involved in other scientific organisations, such as the Colloid Society and several IUPAC commissions."