Current winner

Distinguished for his fundamental studies and industrial application of ionic liquids based on choline chloride in areas such as electrodeposition, electropolishing and ore processing.

About the winner

Andy Abbott's research interests have been primarily in the area of green solvents.  He has carried out extensive research into the characterisation of supercritical fluids and ionic liquids.  The research has encompassed diverse applications including electrochemistry, synthesis, novel materials and biocatalysis.

In 1999 his work on the formation of ionic liquids based on choline chloride led to the formation of a joint venture company, Scionix Ltd, which was formed between the University of Leicester and Whyte Chemicals Ltd.  Andy is currently the research director of this company.

Scionix now produces ionic liquids on a tonne scale, primarily for use with metal finishing applications such as metal deposition and electropolishing.

The ionic liquids developed at Leicester are at the centre of a large European Integrated Project with 33 partners developing new electroplating procedures.  A lot of the current activity is concerned with the application of ionic liquid technology to an industrial scale.

In 2005 he was appointed to a chair in physical chemistry at the University of Leicester.  Prior to working in Leicester he carried out research at the Universities of Connecticut and Liverpool and he obtained his PhD from the University of Southampton in 1989.