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 composite (GUDP, 2021-2024). Contact: Anand Ramesh Sanadi, anrs@ign.ku.dk, or Julian Christ jc@ign.ku.dk
- Grand Fir for construction wood (STARK Fonden, 2021 – 2023, Martha & Paul Kerrn-Jespersens Fond, 2021 – 2023). Contact: Emil Engelund Thybring, eet@ign.ku.dk
- Natural durability of wood (GBHF, 2023-2026). Contact: Emil Engelund Thybring, eet@ign.ku.dk
- Influence of amount, location and state of water on fungal degradation of wood (FORMAS, 2023-2025). Contact: Emil Engelund Thybring, eet@ign.ku.dk or Lisbeth Garbrecht Thygesen, lgt@ign.ku.dk
- CLEO – A carbon-neutral fuel for the maritime sector (Energistyrelsen EUDP, 2020 – 2023). Contact: Yohanna Cabrera Orozco, yco@ign.ku.dk
- FASTWOOD - Genomic selection for superior heartwood formation in two commercial timber species: teak (Tectona grandis) and European oak (Quercus robur). Contact: Yohanna Cabrera Orozco, yco@ign.ku.dk or Lisbeth Garbrecht Thygesen, lgt@ign.ku.dk
- Cleaning waste with waste: using bio-based industrial sidestreams to remove micro- and nanoplastic from water bodies (VILLUM FONDEN, 2022-2024). Contact: Demi Tristan Djajadi, dtd@ign.ku.dk
- ReMAPP - Ressource Efficient Microalgae Protein Production (The Innovation Foundation, 2018-2023). Contact: Sune Tjalfe Thomsen, stt@ign.ku.dk
- VIGOT - Green agenda within the vocational training of carpenters (NNF, 2023-2026). Contact: Lisbeth Garbrecht Thygesen, lgt@ign.ku.dk
- Heartwood formation in oak (Gluds legat, 2023-2024). 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
- Advanced composite materials from recycled wood (MPKG, GBHF, Aase og Ejnar Danielsens fond). Contact: Anand R. Sanadi, anrs@ign.ku.dk, Emil Engelund Thybring, eet@ign.ku.dk or Julian Christ, jc@ign.ku.dk.
- IEA Bioenergy, Task 39 - Commercializing Conventional and Advanced Transport Biofuels from Biomass and Other Renewable Feedstocks (Energistyrelsen (EUDP), 2022-2024). Contact: Sune Tjalfe Thomsen, stt@ign.ku.dk
- Kan dansk bøgetræ blive til motorvejsbroer og grønt brændstof? (EMD and GBHF foundations 2022-2023), Contact: Emil Engelund Thybring, eet@ign.ku.dk or Sune Tjalfe Thomsen, stt@ign.ku.dk
- Biorefinery – From Plants to Bioenergy, Biochemicals, Biomaterials, and High Value Products
- Energy Systems and Climate Mitigation
- Tree biology and arboriculture
- Plant-based Materials: Structure and Performance from Nano to Macro Scale
The research group Bioresource Chemistry and Technology collaborate 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. 2018->)
- A.P. Møller Maersk
- Aalborg University, Department of the Built Environment, Denmark
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
- Federal University of Lavras, wood science, Brazil
- Hamlet Protein
- INRAe Nantes, Biopolymers Interactions and Assemblies, France
- Kebony
- Lund University, Division of Building Materials, Sweden
- MAN Diesel & Turbo
- Månson
- Nature Energy
- Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research
- Roskilde University
- Sani Membrane
- Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology EMPA
Tailorzyme
- 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 Southern Denmark, Mads Clausen Institute, Denmark
- Wood Treatment Technology, Denmark
Networks
- IEA Bioenergy Task 39 – Commercializing Liquid Biofuels
- IEA Bioenergy Task 42 – Biorefinery
- ISPS - International Society for Plant Spectroscopy
- Partnerskabet for bæredygtig bioraffinering
- Q-net – Quantitative wood anatomy network
- WSE - The Northern European Network in Wood Materials Science and Engineering
Members of the Research Group
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Search in Name | Search in Title | Search in Phone | |
| Anand Ramesh Sanadi | Associate Professor | +4535336520 | |
| Andrea Ponzecchi | PhD Fellow | +4535331329 | |
| Anne Blicher | Laboratory Technician | +4535328028 | |
| Britta Skov | Laboratory Coordinator | +4535331696 | |
| Emil Engelund Thybring | Associate Professor - Promotion Programme | +4535334433 | |
| Julian Christ | Postdoc | +4535329754 | |
| Kosma Jan Celmer | Research Assistant | +4535336409 | |
| Lisbeth Garbrecht Thygesen | Professor | +4535331733 | |
| Maja Katharina Fjalland | Industrial PhD | ||
| Sune Tjalfe Thomsen | Associate Professor | +4535336262 | |
| Tor Ivan Simonsen | Postdoc | +4535336349 |
