New materials from sustainable resources are needed for the transition to a green, circular economy. Chalmers University of Technology and the Wallenberg Wood Science Center are making a future-oriented investment by recruiting two new Assistant Professors, who focus on innovative materials from trees.
Chalmers is partner in the research center, Wallenberg Wood Science Center,(WWSC), focusing on new materials from trees and is creating knowledge and skills for a sustainable future. To further develop and broaden scientific competence within the center, Liyang Liu and Amparo Jimenez Quero, have recently been recruited as Assistant Professors at Chalmers.
"We are extremely pleased to have recruited a new generation of highly promising researchers to Chalmers and WWSC. They will bring exciting new expertise and can contribute to many interesting research collaborations," says Lisbeth Olsson, Professor of Industrial Biotechnology, and co-director of WWSC.
Understanding lignin can lead to innovative materials
Liyang Liu, Assistant Professor at the Division of Chemical Engineering, works with understanding the structural properties of lignin, one of the main components of wood. The knowledge can be used to create, among other things, eco-friendly polymeric foams, strong adhesives, nanocomposite, and 3D Printing inks.
“WWSC is a world-leading research center on wood and its valorisation for making innovative and sustainable materials. Chalmers has a long history in wood science and lignin research. As a chemist working on bio-based materials chemistry, it is my dream to work in such a prestigious institute and continue my research on biorefinery and green chemistry,” he says.
Why is your research important?
“Lignin from terrestrial plants has versatile and functional chemical structures, leading to advanced physical properties and unique biological activities. Understanding the structure-property of these macromolecules will allow us to create advanced polymeric materials with improved materials performance – but also a reduced environmental footprint.
Side-streams from industrial processes as primary resources
Amparo Jimenez Quero, Assistant Professor at the Division of Industrial Biotechnology, specializes in the valorisation and characterization of biomass and green extraction methods. She also works with filamentous fungi as biotechnological tool and for biocomposite production.
“The WWSC initiative exemplifies how industry and academia can collaborate to create a more sustainable society. My aim is to bring impactful solutions through research, relying on the support of industrial partners to guide and financially support our endeavours. By doing so, we not only propose solutions but also educate future engineers to implement these solutions in the private sector,” she says.
Why is your research important?
“In a society marked by excessive consumption and improper waste disposal, adopting a circular approach is crucial. Integrating side-streams from industrial processes as primary resources not only reduces waste but also utilises undervalued resources for materials, food, feed ingredients, and medical or cosmetic applications.”
Wallenberg Wood Science Center
- Wallenberg Wood Science Center is a research center with a focus on new materials from trees and is Sweden’s largest initiative in the field.
- WWSC is a joint research center between KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Chalmers University of Technology and Linköping University.
- The base is a donation from Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (KAW).
- The center is supported by the Chalmers Foundation.
- The Swedish industry is supporting WWSC via the platform Treesearch.
Read more about the researchers and their projects:
Three questions for Amparo Jimenez Quero, Assistant Professor at the Division of Industrial Biotechnology, The Department of Life Sciences
Tell us about your research topics – what problems are you trying to solve, and how?
“My research passion lies in making biobased products more sustainable by exploiting underutilised resources. I aim to adapt processes for efficient and clean use of natural resources, implementing green extraction techniques and fungal biotechnology. This approach minimizes waste generation, utilises natural resources efficiently, and preserves their properties. By avoiding further processing of biopolymers, we harness nature's inherent properties to enhance the functionality of the products we create.”
What will your greatest contribution to the center and university be?
“With a broad background in circular valorisation of biomass, encompassing different types and strategies, I aim to introduce diverse perspectives to ongoing projects at Chalmers and the WWSC. Additionally, my experience in EU projects could be valuable for future collaborative proposals in this network.”
What are your future plans?
“In 2024, I will commence the FORMAS and VR starting grants awarded in 2022 and 2023 (MYCOMYM and FUN2FIGHT), respectively. I will also continue to coordinate the Horizon Europe project CIRCALGAE, and activities in the H2020 project, SISTERS, will persist. Additionally, my postdoc Pamela Freire will initiate her Marie Curie project, ECHOS.
During 2024 I am recruiting, at the moment one PhD student and two postdocs, and later this year further recruitment is planned.
Furthermore, the acquisition of new green extraction equipment may lead to collaborations with other researchers at Chalmers.”
Three questions for Liyang Liu, Assistant Professor at the Division of Forest Products and Chemical Engineering, the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Tell us about your research topics – what problems are you trying to solve, and how?
“In Chalmers, I will supervise the lignin science and technology group. Lignin is one of the major components in wood, accounting for 15 to 30 percent by weight. My group aims to investigate the chemical reactions of lignin and structure of lignin and wood. I want to convert these biomacromolecules into cutting-edge materials, which can include eco-friendly polymeric foams, strong adhesives, nanocomposite, and 3D Printing inks – all created in more sustainable ways. Crucial for the rational design of lignin-based materials is understanding their structural properties. Armed with this knowledge, we will create a series of innovative materials, develop advanced characterization methods, and innovate materials processing means. Our work is more than just scientific advancement; it is about paving the way to a greener Swedish economy that’s rooted in renewable resources.”
What will your greatest contribution to the center and university be?
“Besides the research output, I will guide students at different levels in Chalmers, including lecturing master-level students, training PhD students, and mentoring postdocs. I will develop workshop training programs on lignin characterization and sustainable chemistry for junior researchers, e.g., WWSC PhD students. These research output and teaching experiences can catalyse current lignin research and develop collaboration opportunities with senior researchers in and beyond Sweden. By involving in the Resources Smart Processing program in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, I hope to develop a network with industrial collaborators, provide innovative solutions for their technical problems, and contribute to the bio-based economy in Sweden.”
What are your future plans?
“I will develop an interdisciplinary research program on lignin science and technology at Chalmers. My starting package includes one PhD student, who will join us in March 2024. My group will then devote itself to three main areas related to lignin science and its application for the next four years:
- Creating versatile and uniform lignin building blocks
Lignin is a vital resource owing to its production and availability; however, its heterogeneous structure limits its valorisation. In this section, I will develop green processing methods to convert the lignin into a library of versatile and uniform lignin building blocks. - Establishment of lignin characterization platform
Understanding our starting materials, including their structure and properties, is invariably the first step toward designing high-performance materials. However, our current characterization methods have limitations regarding tedious preparation methods and have issues with inter-lab reproducibility. In this section, I will continually advance the techniques and build a platform on lignin characterization in Chalmers. - Developing advanced lignin-based materials based on the work in the areas 1 and 2.
Contact
- Assistant Professor, Industrial Biotechnology, Life Sciences
- Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering