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Hafsat Hussaini Ibrahim

Value added products from lignin valorisation.

Email: h.h.ibrahim2@ncl.ac.uk

Supervisors

Project description

The search for a sustainable and CO2 neutral source of energy has led to increased use of biomass as a renewable feedstock. Biomass mainly consists of three polymeric units: cellulose, hemicellulose (carbohydrate fraction) and lignin.

Most bio-refineries concentrate on cellulose and hemicellulose to produce advanced generation biofuels. There is also considerable potential to produce platform chemicals such as HMF and furfural for industrial use. Lignin is thus waste in the process stream.

My project will integrate lignin valorisation into producing bioethanol and platform chemicals. I will use ozone to deconstruct lignocellulose biomass. This will allow for easy conversion of cellulose into value-added products. These products include bioethanol and platform chemicals (furfural, HMF). I will follow this with fractionation of the residual lignin and further conversion into value-added products. Examples are polymers, pesticides relievers, adsorbents, engineered plastics and low-cost carbon fibre. This will lead to increased profitability and sustainability of the biorefinery industry.

Interests

Biomass conversions.

Qualifications

  • MSc Chemical Process Research and Eevelopment.
  • BSc Applied Chemistry