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Department of Chemical Engineering
Annual Report 2015
33
BIOREFINERY AND FIBRE TECHNOLOGY
Academic staff
Professor Øyvind W. Gregersen
Associate Professor Størker Moe
Adjunct Professor Kristin Syverud
Professor Emeritus Torbjørn Helle
Post Docs.
Celaya Romeo, Javier (from 06.10.2014)
PhD candidates
Ottesen, Vegar
Torstensen, Jonathan Økland
Aaen, Ragnhild (from 24.08.2015)
Jakobsen, Trygve (from 26.11.2015)
Guests
Molnes, Silje Nedland
Jan Hill, (15.03.2013 – 30.06.2015)
TEACHING
The Biorefinery and Fiber Technology group educate
chemical engineers and PhDs for the Norwegian pulp,
paper and biorefinery industry. The estimated need from
the industry is 4-6 engineering graduates and about 2
PhD candidates per year. We have now developed the
curriculum of our courses in the 4
th
and 5
th
year to
include bioenergy and biorefinery concepts on an equal
basis with pulp and paper. This reflects a similar change
in our research focus and starting industrial
development. During 2013-2014 we initiated a closer
teaching cooperation with the department of
biotechnology within the combined area of biorefinery
and biochemical engineering. Biorefinery related topics
are now offered to students from both biotechnology
and chemical engineering, with packages of electable
subjects designed for both classes of students. We have
revised the contents of the “Biorefinery and fibre
technology” course to make it as useful as possible for
this new cooperation.
PARTNERS
The Biorefinery and Fibre technology group, Paper and
Fibre Research Institute (PFI) and parts of the Ugelstad
laboratory (colloid and surface chemistry) are located in
the same building on the NTNU Gløshaugen campus and
are working in close cooperation. In addition, Sintef,
Innventia (Stockholm), UIB, Åbo Akademi and MIUN
(Sundsvall) are important research partners. We also
cooperate closely with industry partners such as Norske
Skog, Borregaard AS Peterson and Statoil.
RESEARCH
Our research is focused on bioenergy/biorefinery,
improvements in the pulp and paper process and on
improved end product quality. Our main research
activity is done through PhD and Post Doc. fellows.
Examples are:
Optimal pre-treatment for the hydrolysis of
lignocellulose for biofuel and biorefinery processes
Formation of inhibitory degradation products during
pretreatment and depolymerisation of lignocellulose for
biofuel and biorefinery processes
Barrier properties of nanocelluloseand chemically
modifiednanocellulose.
Interaction between nanocellulose and the other
components in the papermaking furnish.
2D and 3D characterisation of polymer composites
containing nanocellulose.
Swelling and strength properties of nanocellulose
composite materials
Transport properties of polymer materials containing
nanocellulose.
Nanocellulose as a rheology modifier
Nanocellulose for increased oil recovery