Dr. sc. ing. Jānis Rižikovs

Scientific interests and competences

• Research area is related to biomass thermal and chemical processing, including physical activation, fast and slow pyrolysis, torrefication, hydrothermal treatment, densification and extraction underpinned by detailed analytical quantitative and qualitative characterisation, mechanical testing, feasibility studies and practical tests on laboratory scale units.
• Extraction of birch outer bark to obtain extract (betulin) for cosmetics, food supplements and medicine.
• Obtaining of natural binder (suberinic acids) and its use for obtaining mechanically strong and moisture-resistant biocomposites, as a result closing the cycle of use of birch wood. Optimization, scaling and commercialization of relevant processes.

Cooperation with universities

Participation in the doctoral and master thesis defense councils of Latvia (Riga Technical University and University of Latvia) and Lithuania (Vilnius Gediminas Technical University).

Technology commercialization activities

• Ecological binder from birch outer bark suberinic acids Suberbinder
• Extraction of betulin from birch outer bark - BetulinLab

Expertise

Since 08.2023. Expert in an Expert Committee of the Latvian Council of Science in the following areas:

1. Chemical engineering sector; Wood chemistry subsector

2. Material science sector; Wood materials and technology subsector

    

Since 10.2019 Member of the Engineering and Technology Expert Commission of the Latvian Science Council (LZP).

Since 10.2016 Independent expert for European research and innovation projects H2020. Expert candidature number: EX2016D280924

Membership in organizations

Since 03.2023. Chair of the Scientific Council of LSIWC

Since 11.2022 Corresponding member of LZA

Since 05.2018 Full member of the Latvian Academy of Agricultural and Forest Sciences in the forestry department

Since 10.2017. State representative of Latvia in BBI JU State Representatives Group

2009 - 2019. Chairman of the trade union of the LSIWC

Awards and achievements

In 2018, annual award of the forestry industry “Zelta čiekurs” (“Golden Pine cone” translated from latvian) in the nomination "The Investment of Science in the Development of the Sector". Group of researchers of the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, Jānis Rižikovs, Aigars Pāže, Ance Pļavniece, Daniela Godiņa, Raimonds Makars in cooperation with representatives of JSC "Latvijas finieris" on the study "Research of Industrial production of Betulin".

In 2016, the Latvian Academy of Sciences chose as one of the 11 most significant achievements in science the idea “Developed Commercial Concept of Complex Processing of Birch outer Bark in Products with High Value Added" announced by our group in nomination "Advances in Applied Science" (Collective of authors: Jānis Zandersons, Jānis Rižikovs, Aigars Pāže, Kristīne Meile, Ance Pļavniece, Ausma Tardenaka, Baiba Spince).