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Freek Kapteijn (1952, Amsterdam) graduated in 1974 at the university of Amsterdam in Chemistry and Mathematics. His Ph.D. on the metathesis of alkenes was received at the same university. As postdoc he focused on Coal Science and Heterogeneous Catalysis. In 1987 he received a tenured position at the University of Amsterdam. In 1992 he moved to Delft University of Technology where he was appointed "Anthonie van Leeuwenhoek" professor in 1999. He has assumed leadershipof the Catalysis Engineering section in 2008. Kapteijn had visiting appointments in Nancy, France (Villermaux, ENSIC) and Zurich, Switzerland (Prints, ETH), and as guest Professor at Zhejiang Normal University, Chinasince 2008. He is co-author of over 550 publications in scientific journals, and thesis advisor of over 55 Ph.D. students. Current interests include the synthesis, characterization and application of structured catalysts (metal-organic frameworks, zeolites, monoliths, catalytic membranes) in multiphase and multifunctional conversion processes, adsorption and diffusion in zeolites, MOFs and their membranes, and transient kinetics. The related specific applications of heterogeneous catalysis cover selective hydrogenation and oxidation, hydroisomerization, N₂O decomposition, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, MTO and fine chemicals production. Energy efficient alternatives for alkane-alkene and CO₂ separation and adsorptive heat pumps are subject of development. Light-matter interactions are a special topic with MOFs, targeting photocatalysis and water splitting, next to their use in electrocatalysis for energy storage.

Currently Kapteijn coordinates the EU-FP7 project M4CO2 (MOF-based mixed matrix membranes for CO₂ capture in pre- and post combustion), developing energy efficient membranes to reduce the costs of CO₂ capture.