Bioresource Chemistry and Technology
The research group, Bioresource Chemistry and Technology, contributes to both fundamental and applied aspects of the sustainable utilisation of biomass for materials, chemicals, and bioenergy by the creation of knowledge and development of technologies within this subject area.
This includes a fundamental understanding of the chemistry and physical properties of the cell walls in plants, and how this intricate biocomposite interacts with external factors (e.g. biological agents, chemicals, catalysts, and water) during processing or use. It also includes studies of molecular level interactions, between plant cell wall polymers and fungi, enzymes, water, and chemical reagents, as well as attention to sustainability aspects, as technologies are transferred from laboratory scale to industrial scale biomass utilisation.
On the applied side of our research you will find biochemical conversion of biomass to advanced biofuels (bioethanol, biogas and marine shipping fuels) as well as utilisation of wood and wood-based materials for construction purposes.
We are interested in both obtaining a fundamental understanding of the structure-function relationships of woody materials and in utilisation of this knowledge for development and optimisation of processes for the production of biobased commodities.
Thus, deconstruction of lignocellulose is central to our work, both for protection of biobased structural elements during service life, as well as during the production of biobased chemicals and fuels.
Decomposition of wood cell walls is an essential theme in such diverse areas as wood construction, biorefining, conversion of woody biomass in Nature and preservation of archaeological wood.
Within the topic of wood deconstruction we seek to obtain a better understanding of degradation mechanisms in wood, especially how these are influenced by water, from biophysical studies of physical and chemical effects of degradation in wood cell walls.
The aim of our work is to improve knowledge and methods for preventing fungal degradation in wood constructions and for boosting plant biomass decomposition for efficient biorefining.
HØSTTEK - Development of Protein-Lignin Glues for use in Wood Composites (GUDP, 2021-2025). Contact: Anand Ramesh Sanadi, anrs@ign.ku.dk
Natural durability of wood (GBHF, 2023-2026). Contact: Emil Engelund Thybring, eet@ign.ku.dk
Fungal degradation of wood under precisely controlled internal and external moisture conditions (FORMAS, 2023-2027). Contact: Emil Engelund Thybring, eet@ign.ku.dk or Lisbeth Garbrecht Thygesen, lgt@ign.ku.dk
VIGOT - Green agenda within the vocational training of carpenters (NNF, 2023-2026). Contact: Lisbeth Garbrecht Thygesen, lgt@ign.ku.dk
Oak – an important species in future forests (GBHF, 2023-2026). Contact: Lisbeth Garbrecht Thygesen, lgt@ign.ku.dk
IEA Bioenergy, Task 39 - Biofuels to decarbonize transport (Energistyrelsen (EUDP), 2025-2027). Contact: Sune Tjalfe Thomsen, stt@ign.ku.dk
LignoSolve – Supercharging wood’s natural resilience by impregnating with lignin, (Innovation fund Denmark 2025-2026), Contact: Emil Engelund Thybring, eet@ign.ku.dk or Sune Tjalfe Thomsen, stt@ign.ku.dk
LignoSolve – Boosting wood’s natural durability, (Spin-outs Denmark 2025-2026), Contact: Tor Ivan Simonsen TSI@ign.ku.dk
Lignin i opløsning: En verden af muligheder åbner sig (The EMD foundation 2025-2026), Contact: Emil Engelund Thybring, eet@ign.ku.dk or Sune Tjalfe Thomsen, stt@ign.ku.dk
HYPERLIGNO - Innovative, sustainable wood protection by hyperlignification (Innovation fund Denmark 2026-2030), Contact: Emil Engelund Thybring, eet@ign.ku.dk or Sune Tjalfe Thomsen, stt@ign.ku.dk
Evergreen Prize, (2026-2029) Contact: Emil Engelund Thybring, eet@ign.ku.dk or Sune Tjalfe Thomsen, stt@ign.ku.dk
DURALIGNO: Nature-Inspired Durability Through Hyperlignification of Wood, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, (2026-2027), Contact: Sune Tjalfe Thomsen, stt@ign.ku.dk or Emil Engelund Thybring, eet@ign.ku.dk
From water purification to plywood: (2025-2027) Aase og Ejnar Danielsens fond and Johan Heinrich Hoffmann og hustrus Mindefond, Contact Anand Ramesh Sanadi, anrs@ign.ku.dk
Holdbare biogene materialer til tryksat lokal afledning af regnvand (IGN funding, 2024-2026), Contact: Lisbeth Garbrecht Thygesen, lgt@ign.ku.dk
Methods for preventing fungal decay of wood in wet conditions (SNS Nordic Forest Research, 2025-2027), Contact: Lisbeth Garbrecht Thygesen, lgt@ign.ku.dk
Bevaring af vikingernes eg - Bæredygtig og sikker samlingspleje,( Augustinus Fonden, 2026-2029), : Lisbeth Garbrecht Thygesen, lgt@ign.ku.dk
- Biorefinery – From Plants to Bioenergy, Biochemicals, Biomaterials, and High Value Products
- Biosolutions for Circularity and Side Stream Valorization
- Energy Systems and Climate Mitigation
- Tree biology and arboriculture
The research group Bioresource Chemistry and Technology collaborates with Danish and International players from both academia and industry - all leaders in their field of expertise.
Collaboration (active within the last 5 years or so, i.e. 2021-->)
- Aalto University, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Finland
- Aalborg University, Department of the Built Environment, Denmark
- Aarhus University, Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering
- A.P. Møller Maersk
- Danish Technological Institute
- DTU (Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering)
- DTU (DTU National Food Institute)
- DTU (Technical University of Denmark), Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering
- ETH Zürich, Institute of Building Materials
- EtOH Spirits
- Federal University of Lavras, wood science, Brazil
- Frøslev Træ
- Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Department of Wood Biology and Wood Products, Germany
- GXN/3XN
- Hamlet Protein
- INRAe Nantes, Biopolymers Interactions and Assemblies, France
- Jyoti Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, India
- LignoSolve
- Lund University, Division of Building Materials, Sweden
- MAN Diesel & Turbo
- Mercer Rosenthal
- Monstrum
- Månson
- Nature Energy
- Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research
- Roskilde University
- Sani Membrane
- Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology EMPA
- Tailorzyme
- The Footprint Firm
- The National Museum of Denmark
- The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Conservation
- U.S.D.A Forest Products Laboratory, U.S.A
- University of Nairobi, Kenya
- University of Southern Denmark, Mads Clausen Institute, Denmark
- Wood Treatment Technology, Denmark
Networks
- Green Solutions Center, UCph
- IEA Bioenergy Task 39 – Biofuels to decarbonize transport
- ISPS - International Society for Plant Spectroscopy
- Q-net – Quantitative wood anatomy network
- WSE - The Northern European Network in Wood Materials Science and Engineering
Members of the Research Group
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