Biomass Based Products
Simply, earth’s living organisms are biomass. Biomass is organic material that stores sunlight in the form of chemical energy. In the effort to become less dependent on fossil fuel, secure energy resources, and protect the environment, there’s a growing global market for renewable and sustainable products from biomass, commonly referred to as bio-based products. Examples include biofuels, biochemicals, and natural fiber composites and bioplastics.
Our research program is directed at exploring the fundamental principles of catalytic and biocatalytic conversion of biomass to biofuels, biochemicals and materials. Topics include bioenergy and biofuels (Ragauskas, Trinh, Dalhaimer), green chemistry (Ragauskas, Laursen, Trinh, Dalhaimer) and design of (bio)catalysts (Laursen, Trinh).
| Faculty Researchers |
|---|
| Paul Dalhaimer |
| Siris Laursen |
| Arthur Ragauskas |
| Cong Trinh |
| Thomas Zawodzinski |
Recent News
Ragauskas Adapts Biomass Research to Keep Plastics from Going to Waste
UT–ORNL Governor’s Chair for Biorefining Art Ragauskas and team are investigating new methods for reclaiming and reusing plastic waste.
Siris Laursen Receives 2018 NSF CAREER Award
Associate Professor Siris Laursen was selected by the National Science Foundation as a 2018 recipient of its prestigious CAREER award.
Spinning Biomass into Gold
UT-ORNL Governor’s Chair Art Ragauskas and other researchers are exploring ways to generate a profit from lignin, which is currently regarded as waste.