According to the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Xiamen University, Wan Huilin, an outstanding member of the Communist Party of China, a renowned physical chemist and educator, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a model worker in the national education system, a recipient of the National May 1st Labor Medal, and a recipient of the Chinese Catalysis Achievement Award, peacefully passed away at 1 a.m. on April 28, 2024. He was 86 years old.
Wan Huilin
Public records show that Wan Huilin was born on November 20, 1938, in Hankou, Hubei Province. In 1958, he entered Central South Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (now Central South University), and in 1959, due to his outstanding performance, he was selected to transfer to the Department of Chemistry at Xiamen University, where he stayed on as a teacher after graduating as a postgraduate student.
He held various positions at Xiamen University, including Director of the Catalysis Teaching and Research Office, Dean of the Department of Chemistry, Dean of the College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Director of the State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces and the Academic Committee, Chairman of the Technical Committee of the National Engineering Laboratory for Clean Production of Alcohol Ether Ester Chemicals, Director of the Academic Committee of Xiamen University, Chairman of the Catalysis Professional Committee of the Chinese Chemical Society, and Executive Committee Member of the Department of Chemistry at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In 1997, he was elected as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Wan Huilin devoted his life to catalytic chemistry research, delving deep into areas such as the theoretical simulation of chemical nitrogen fixation and ammonia synthesis catalysts, selective oxidation of light alkanes, and other fields, producing a series of original and significant research achievements that have had a profound impact both domestically and internationally. He remained committed to frontline teaching for a long time, and the book "Principles of Catalysis," which he co-authored, was one of the earliest systematic introductions to catalytic chemistry in China.
(Original title: Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Xiamen University Professor Wan Huilin Passes Away at the Age of 86)
