Biorefinery Laboratory

In order to achieve the transition from a fossil-based economy to a sustainable bioeconomy, the processing of wood and other biomass needs to be efficient.

About the Laboratory

The research carried out in the Biorefinery laboratory seeks solutions for the efficient use of biomass and the diversification of biorefining systems, where the cascade principle is followed - biomass is primarily used to obtain a higher value product and the by-product of this processing process is the raw material for the next process.

Keywords: activation, anhydrosugars, catalytic hydrolysis, depolymerization, ecological binder, extraction, N-doping, Pickering emulsions, pyrolysis, pretreatment, self-binding biocomposites, steam explosion, suberinic acids, supramolecular gels, triterpenes, wood thermoprocessing and impregnation

Research Directions

Catalytic pretreatment with extraction of furfural and acetic acid and use of lignocellulose residue for the development of fibers and second-generation biofuels (biobutanol, bioethanol);
Steam explosion pretreatment for obtaining self-bonding composite materials and thermal insulation materials;
Thermochemical processing of lignocellulose into anhydrosugars (levoglucosan, levoglucosenone) with an emphasis on the development of new end products;
Carbonization, activation and N-doping of biomass to produce carbon materials as catalysts for fuel cell cells, supercapacitor electrodes and lithium-ion batteries;
Extraction of birch outer bark, purification, modification and development of new products based on extracts containing triterpenes (supramolecular gels, Pickering emulsions, cosmetics, nutritional supplements), as well as development of betulin extraction and purification methods;
Depolymerization of the birch outer bark suberin, modification, purification of the obtained suberinic acids and development of new products (binders, coatings, impregnation solutions, polyols and additives);
Improvement of the properties of wood and wood materials using heat treatment, impregnation with thermoreactive polymers and environmentally friendly binders for a wider use in construction;
Development of chromatography methods for the analysis of biomass processing products.