Education

2022 – present PhD studies at Riga Technical University 2022 Master of Engineering Sciences in Chemical Technology, Riga Technical University, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry

Scientific interests and competence

Extraction and depolymerization of birch bark, composite materials from wood and its processing residues

The most important projects

2021 – present ERDF project No. 1.1.1.1/20/A/071 “Research of the production and application of high specific surface birch outer bark betulin particles in dispersed systems” 2020 – present ERDF project No. 1.1.1.1/19/A/089 “Birch bark as a valuable bio-based feedstock for development of formaldehyde-free particle boards and suberinic acid polyols for polyurethanes” 2018 – 2020 ERDF project No. 1.2.1.2/16/I/001 “Commercialization of technology of ecological binder containing suberinic acids for wood composites” 2018 – 2019 ERDF project No. 1.1.1.1/16/A/042 „Biorefinery concept for birch bark processing into value added green products and materials”

The most important publications

Makars R., Rizikovs J., Godina D., Paze A., Merijs-Meri R. Utilization of Suberinic Acids Containing Residue as an Adhesive for Particle Boards. Polymers, 2022, 14(11), 2304. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym1411230 Rizhikovs J., Brazdausks P., Paze A., Tupciauskas R., Grinins J., Puke M., Plavniece A., Andzs M., Godina D., Makars R. Characterization of suberinic acids from birch outer bark as bio-based adhesive in wood composites. International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives, 2022, 112, 102989. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijadhadh.2021.102989 Rizikovs J., Godina D., Makars R., Paze A., Abolins A., Fridrihsone A., Meile K., Kirpluks M. Suberinic acids as a potential feedstock for polyol synthesis: Separation and characterization. Polymers, 2021, 13(24), 4380. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13244380