Zeopore's mission to redefine catalyst engineering requires a combination of deep technical expertise and manufacturing optimization. Breno Villa, process engineer, focuses his efforts on maximizing Zeopore’s current production output while building the technical and operational roadmap for our transition to full industrial-scale production as the company continues to scale its technology for global impact.
Previously, Breno built a successful career path at Donaldson, where he navigated complex industrial applications across multiple global markets. After moving from a large corporate environment to Zeopore’s specialized team, Breno started applying his expertise and experience to the manufacturing of modified zeolites at scale. "This role aligns perfectly with my ambitions, as it allows me to optimize industrial processes through intensification and streamlining," Breno explains. "We are currently maximizing our existing output while simultaneously building the foundation for full-scale industrial production," Breno explains. Breno’s fascination with how things are made and produced, began over a decade ago when he dived into the biochemistry of artisanal sourdough baking, eventually leading him to pursue a Master’s degree in biochemical engineering technology from KU Leuven.
Breno specializes in bridging the gap between laboratory-scale innovations and full-scale industrial applications. At Zeopore, his core focus is on the optimization of our unique mesoporization processes at industrial scale. He ensures that our high-performance zeolites are produced with maximum efficiency, intensified and streamlined to ensure manufacturing robustness and commercial viability while securing product performance and environmental gains. The alignment between his past roles and his new mission is clear. Breno excels in environments where process optimization and industrialization are keys to success. At Zeopore, he takes direct ownership of projects, where every adjustment to a flow reactor or tweak in filtration impacts final product performance. Born and raised in Brazil, Breno has been an active member of the international community in Leuven for ten years. He lives in the city with his wife and two young sons, where they fully embrace the Belgian quality of life. Whether he is cycling across town, exploring local parks, or enjoying a Belgian beer, Breno brings the same energy and curiosity to his personal life as he does in production at Zeopore.