Overview
The research activities performed in our group cover several aspects of bioprocess engineering in the field of biorefining and environmental biotechnology :
-
Characterization of feedstocks to be valorised, (bio)processed materials and environmental materials to be (bio)remediated: e.g. lignocellulosic biomass, halophytic species, bio-wastes, contaminated soil and water, etc.
-
Downstream processing - physical and chemical refining process to recover, purify and valorise the synthesised bioproducts.
-
Conversion and bioconversion (fermentation) processes with chemical, enzymatic and biological catalysts, applied to produce high-value bio-based chemicals, fuel & fuel additives, food additives and purified botanical extracts.
-
Upstream processing - physico-chemical and biological treatments applied to fractionate biomass and generate intermediates (e.g. organosolv delignification, extraction, “electro-fractionation”, enzymatic hydrolysis).
-
-
Biorefining, i.e. biomass processing to produce a wide range of bio-based products (with minimal waste generation and maximal value):
-
Bioremediation of (bio)wastes, contaminated soil and water by using (electro-)chemical, enzymatic and biological catalysts and "green" processes to degrade or convert harmfull pollutants to environmentally safe to recycle or to dispose materials
