Energy- and Biorefining

The aim of the Bio and Circular Economy research group is to develop processes to improve energy and eco-efficiency, to conserve the limited resources of raw materials and to reduce environmental emissions. The goal of the group is the production and recovery of bioenergy, biochemicals, metals and nutrients from different industrial and urban feedstocks. To achieve the goals, the group covers research ranging from molecular-level to large-scale processes.

The research particularly in energy and biorefining as part of CNESS aims to investigate conversion technologies for bio- and waste feedstock materials to energy products and chemicals via thermochemical processes, such as gasification, pyrolysis, torrefaction and combustion. Besides power and heat, the products can be gaseous, liquid and solid biofuels (to replace fossil fuels) and chemicals, such as hydrogen (H2). Feasibility and sustainability of the conversion processes at different scales is also of interest. The research methods include experimental testing at laboratories, as well as mathematical modelling. The activities of the team include also teaching in courses related to energy- and biorefining solutions.

The research group is involved in UPCE (University Platform for Circular Economy) at Tampere University as well as in various national and international networks, including International Water Association (IWA), Industrial Biotechnology Cluster Finland (IBC), and the International Society for Microbial Electrochemistry and Technology (ISMET). In addition, the Energy and Biorefining energy group contributed in the CNESS Summer schools in 2022 and 2023.

,,,https://research.tuni.fi/upce/

Ongoing projects:

→ UPCE

→ International Water Association (IWA)

→ Industrial Biotechnology Cluster Finland (IBC)

→ International Society for Microbial Electrochemistry and Technology (ISMET)

→ Cost Action (CA17133 and CA19123)

→ BL2F financed by EU Horizon

PI

Jukka Konttinen

Professor
biojalostuksen kemia
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Tampere University
+358400247445
jukka.konttinen@tuni.fi

More information

About me

Biorefining via thermochemical conversion of solid fuels (gasification, pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction, combustion and related environmental technologies), hybrid energy production in distributed scale (solid biofuels, biogas, liquid biofuels, solar). Chemical process engineering, research & development & design, modelling and simulation of chemical processes, experimental research of processes in different scales (from laboratory to commercial scale ), preparation of research & development projects, their accomplishment and coordination.

Research unit

Bio and Circular Economy

Research career

• Since 2014 Tampere University of Technology (Tampere University from 2019), Professor, Chemistry of Biorefining and in 2017-2018 Head of Laboratory of Chemistry and Bioengineering.

• 2009 – 2014 University of Jyväskylä, Professor, Renewable Energy.

• 2007-2008 Andritz Oy/Carbona Oy, Research Director

• 1999-2006 Åbo Akademi University, Senior Researcher

• 1998 D. Sc. (Chem Eng.) Åbo Akademi University

Project links

Top achievements

Supervisor or instructor in Ph.D. Theses (10 completed, 3 in progress): Bajamundi Cyril: Academic Dissertation in May, 2015. Kramb Jason: January, 2017. Keipi Tiina: December, 2017. Doppaneni Tharak: April 2018. Lampio Kaj: August 2018. Pääkkönen Anna: December 2019. Bhatnagar Anubhuti: September 2022, Niemelä Niko: April 2022, Abhishek Singhal: May 2023. Kanellis Georgios: 2012 – 2024, Losoi, Pauli: 2018-2023. Avishek Goel 2021 – 2025, Babak Arjmand 2022 – 2026. Also supervisor in 70 Master's Theses and 25 Bachelor's Theses.

Supervisor of Best Academic Dissertation (Tiina Keipi), awarded in 2019 both by Tampere University and Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland TEK.

Since 2010: Pre-examiner or opponent in 15 academic dissertations, also external reviewer of 7 academic professorship/expert positions.

Years 1999 – 2006 and 2009-2012: Carbona Inc. as part-time Consultant. Key merit: Successful process design related with a 20 MW Skive gasification CHP plant in Skive, Denmark. Years 1992- 1995: Enviropower Inc., Research engineer: Succesful pilot-scale demonstration of a renegenative sulfur removal process.

Funding

Selected publications

• Singhal A., Roslander C., Goel A., Ismailov A., Erdei B., Wallberg O., Konttinen J., Joronen T. (2024): Combined leaching and steam explosion pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass for high quality feedstock for thermochemical applications. Chemical Engineering Journal, Volume 489, 1 June 2024, 151298. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.151298

• Losoi P., Konttinen J., Santala V. (2022): Substantial gradient mitigation in simulated large-scale bioreactors by optimally placed multiple feed points. Accepted for publication in Biotechnology and Bioengineering. https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.28232

• Bhatnagar, A., Khatri, P., Krzywonos, M., Tolvanen, H. & Konttinen, J. (2022): Techno-economic and environmental assessment of decentralized pyrolysis for crop residue management: Rice and wheat cultivation system in India. Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132998

• Goel A., Moghaddam E. M., Liu W., He C., Konttinen J. (2022), Biomass chemical looping gasification for high-quality syngas: A critical review and technological outlooks. Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 268, 15 September 2022, 116020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2022.116020

• Lappalainen J., Baudouin D., Hornung U., Schuler J., Melin K., Bjelić S., Vogel F., Konttinen J. and Joronen T. (2020): Sub- and Supercritical Water Liquefaction of Kraft Lignin and Black Liquor Derived Lignin. Energies, 13(13), 3309. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13133309

• Doddapaneni T., Ramasamy P., Tolvanen H., Rintala J., Konttinen J. (2018): Techno-economic evaluation of integrating torrefaction with anaerobic digestion. Applied Energy Volume 213 (March), pp.272–284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.01.045

• Keipi T., Li T., Løvås L.T, Tolvanen H., Konttinen J. (2017): methane thermal decomposition in regenerative heat exchanger reactor: Experimental and modelingstudy. Energy. Energy 135 (September), pp. 823-832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2017.06.176

• Kramb, J., Konttinen, J.T., Gomez-Barea, A., Moilanen, A., Umeki, K. (2014) Modeling biomass char gasification kinetics for improving prediction of carbon conversion in a fluidized bed gasifier. Fuel 132 (September), pp. 107–115. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2014.04.014

• Konttinen J., Backman R., Hupa M., Moilanen A., Kurkela E., (2013) Trace element behaviour in the fluidized bed gasification of solid recovered fuels – A thermodynamic study. Fuel 106 (April), pp. 621–631. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2012.10.009

• Konttinen, J.; Zevenhoven, C.A.P.; Hupa M.M. (1997): Hot Gas Desulfurization with Zinc Titanate Sorbents in a Fluidized Bed. 2. Reactor Model. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 36 (6), pp. 2340-2345.

• Konttinen, J. T.; Salo, K.; Ghazanfari, R.; Feher, G.; Lehtovaara, A.; Mojtahedi, W.: Pilot Scale Experience on IGCC Hot Gas Cleanup. In: Proceedings of the Advanced Coal-Fired Power Systems '95 Review Meeting, Volume 1. June 1995. U. S. Department of Energy, Morgantown Energy Technology Center. Morgantown, WV, USA, 1995.

Co-PIs & emerging PIs

Chao He

Associate Professor
Environmental and energy engineering
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Tampere University
+358504766776
chao.he@tuni.fi

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7869-7627

More information

About me

I am an Associate Professor in Bio and Circular Economy. Meanwhile, I am holding Academy Research Fellowship from the Research Council of Finland (RCF).

Currently, I am acting as Chairman of Finnish Thermal Energy Research Association (FTERA), PI in Energy & Biorefining in Climate Neutral Energy Systems and Society (CNESS) research platform at Tampere University, co-PI for Biorefinery platform in Bio and Circular Economy infrastructure (BIC-FIRI) funded by RCF, and university member of the International Water Association. I am actively serving the academic community as Associate Editor in Waste Management (Elsevier), Editor in Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering (Elsevier), Social Media Editor in Separation and Purification Technology (Elsevier), editorial board member in Waste (MDPI), etc..

My research group focuses on circular economy innovation (CEI) by developing low-carbon clean technologies for sustainable waste management and carbon-neutrality based on multidisciplinary sciences in environmental and energy engineering, thermochemical and physicochemical processes, chemical reaction engineering, materials design and applied catalysis. I have been exploring energy-efficient processes, technologies, and catalysts for energy conversion and nutrients recycling of sewage sludge, sustainable disposal of municipal solid wastes, bio-refinery of biomass wastes, and technology-critical elements recovery from hyperaccumulators in terms of fundamental sciences, key reaction processes, industrial applications and commercialization. I have been making innovative contributions to integrated waste valorization in terms of cleaner energy production, nutrients and critical metals recovery, and environmental pollution remediation. Dr. He was awarded 2015 Applied Energy Award and listed in 2020-2024 World's Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University/Elsevier.

Responsibilities

Conducting and leading research, teaching and supervision of thesis

Field of expertise

Sustainable waste management & integrated valorization system
Resource recovery (energy carriers, bio-chemicals, critical raw materials) from waste and industrial side streams (e.g., wastewater, biomass wastes, plastic waste, E-waste, industrial residues, CO2-rich emissions, etc.)
Sustainable development (environmental, social and economic)

“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” Gro Harlem Brundtland, Our Common Future (The Brundtland Report), 1987

Research topics

Thermochemical conversion of organic solid wastes into value-added materials, chemicals and renewable biofuels
Catalysts and materials design and development for efficient environment applications and green chemistry
Economic, environmental and social assessment of global renewable energy transition

Research unit

Bio and Circular Economy

Research fields

sewage sludge management, resource recycling, biomass waste to energy and materials, circular economy, thermochemical conversion, catalytic processing, wastewater purification, hazardous waste treatment, critical metals, economic, environmental and social assessment

Top achievements

2020-2024 World's Top 2% Scientists (list source: Stanford/Elsevier, Main Field: Enabling & Strategic Technologies)
Academy Research Fellow, Research Council of Finland, 2021 to 2026
ESI highly cited paper in eight consecutive years (Years 2015 to 2024)
2015 Applied Energy Award (Applied Energy, Elsevier)
Co-founder of a Singapore spin-off start-up company in environmental and energy technologies
2014 Top 5 Poster Award in NTU Research Open House
2013 Best Poster Award, Bioenergy and Biorefinery Conference-Southeast Asia 2013 Biobased Fuels and Chemicals, Singapore

Mission statement

Selected publications

Vo, T.-P.; Zhang, R.; Rintala, J.; Xiao, K.; He, C.* Effect of Thermochemical Treatment of Sewage Sludge on Its Phosphorus Leaching Efficiency: Insights into Leaching Behavior and Mechanism. Waste Management 2024, 190, 24–34.
Lim, X.-X.; Low, S.-C.; Tan, K. Q.; Lin, K.-Y. A.; He, C.; Zhou, T.; Oh, W.-D. Impact of Nickel and Alkaline Earth Metals Interaction on Sustainable Carbon Nanotubes Generation from Plastic Face Masks via Catalytic Pyrolysis. Chemical Engineering Journal 2024, 497, 154693.
Zhao, X.; Zhu, J.; Yin, K.; Ding, G.; He, C.* Quantitative Impact Analysis of Cross-Border Tourism on Global Food Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Resources, Conservation & Recycling Advances 2024, 22, 200215.
Rasoulnia, P.; Kokko, M.*; Kinnunen, V.; He, C.* Integrated Valorization of Digestate and Concentrate from a Centralized Biogas Plant via Hydrothermal Co-Carbonization. Chemical Engineering Journal 2024, 496, 154061.
Hu, Z.; Wang, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Wu, H.; Oh, W.-D.; Li, H.; He, C.* Boosting Photocatalytic Multi-VOCs Decontamination over COF-Based Heterojunction via Targeted Construction of Ov–M–N Charge Channel (M= Ti, Zn, W, Ce) and–NH2 Functionalization. Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy 2024, 124532.
Zhou, K.; Li, Y.; Tang, Y.; Yang, Y.; Tian, G.; Liu, B.; Bian, B.; He, C.* A New Scheme for Low-Carbon Recycling of Urban and Rural Organic Waste Based on Carbon Footprint Assessment: A Case Study in China. npj Sustainable Agriculture 2024, 2 (1), 9.
Yan, Z.; Zhao, H.; Zhu, P.; Wang, Y.; Hou, J.; Lu, G.; He, C.* Polystyrene Microplastics Alter the Trophic Transfer and Biotoxicity of Fluoxetine in an Aquatic Food Chain. Journal of Hazardous Materials 2024, 470, 134179.
Zhang, R.; Liu, H.; Sariola-Leikas, E.; Tran, K.-Q.; He, C.* Practical Strategies of Phosphorus Reclamation from Sewage Sludge after Different Thermal Processing: Insights into Phosphorus Transformation. Water Research 2024, 255, 121524.
Kaim-Sevalneva, V.; Sariola-Leikas, E.; He, C.* Highly Selective Extraction of Scandium (III) from Rare Earth Elements Using Quaternary Ammonium Based Ionic Liquids: Experimental and DFT Studies. Separation and Purification Technology 2024, 334, 126038.
Zhang, Y.; Wang, L.; Zhang, R.; He, C.; Jia, L.; Wang, X.; Feng, X.; Jiang, T.; Xie, B.; Ma, X.; Cao, J.; Ma, Y.; Tan, X.; Yu, T. (2023), Steering Electron Density of Zr Sites Using Ligand Effect in Bio-Beads for Efficient Defluoridation. Advanced Functional Materials, 33 (20), 2213999.
Vo, T.-P.; Rintala, J.; Dai, L.; Oh, W.-D.; He, C.* (2023), The role of ubiquitous metal ions in degradation of microplastics in hot-compressed water. Water Research, 245, 120672.
Huang, W., Zhang, R., Giannis, A., Li, C., He, C.* (2023), "Sequential hydrothermal carbonization and CO2 gasification of sewage sludge for improved syngas production with mitigated emissions of NOx precursors", Chemical Engineering Journal, 454, 140239.
Kaim, V., Rintala, J., He, C.* (2023), "Selective recovery of rare earth elements from e-waste via ionic liquid extraction: A review", Separation and Purification Technology, 306, 122699.
Xie, C., Xiao, Y., He, C., Liu, W.-S., Tang, Y.-T., Wang, S., van der Ent, A., Morel, J.L., Simonnot, M.-O., Qiu, R.-L. (2023), "Selective recovery of rare earth elements and value-added chemicals from the Dicranopteris linearis bio-ore produced by agromining using green fractionation", Journal of Hazardous Materials, 443, 130253.
Goel A., Moghaddam E. M., Liu W., He C.*, Konttinen J. (2022), “Biomass chemical looping gasification for high-quality syngas: A critical review and technological outlooks”, Energy Conversion and Management, 268, 116020.
He C.*, Tang C., Oh W-D. (2022), “Reinforced degradation of ibuprofen with MnCo2O4/FCNTs nanocatalyst as peroxymonosulfate activator: Performance and mechanism”, Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 10, 107874.
He C.*, Zhang Z., Xie C., Giannis A., Chen Z., Tang Y., Qiu R. (2021), “Transformation behaviors and environmental risk assessment of heavy metals during resource recovery from Sedum plumbizincicola via hydrothermal liquefaction”, Journal of Hazardous Materials, 410, 124588.
Dai L., Wang Y., Liu Y., Ruan R., He C., Yu Z., Jiang L., Zeng Z., Tian X. (2019), “Integrated process of lignocellulosic biomass torrefaction and pyrolysis for upgrading bio-oil production”, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 107, 20-36. (ESI highly cited paper)
Zhuang, X., Zhan, H., Song, Y., He, C., Huang, Y., Yin, X., Wu, C. (2019), “Insights into the evolution of chemical structures in lignocellulose and non-lignocellulose biowastes during hydrothermal carbonization (HTC)”, Fuel, 236, 960-974. (ESI highly cited paper)
He, C.*, Tang, C., Li C., Yuan J., Tran K., Bach Q., Qiu R., Yang Y. (2018), “Wet torrefaction of biomass for high quality solid fuel production: A review”, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 91, 259-271.
Xiao, K., Chen, Y., Jiang, X., He, C., Yin, Y., Zhou, Y. (2017), “Comparison of different treatment methods for protein solubilisation from waste activated sludge”, Water Research, 122, 492-502.
He, C.*, Wang, K., Yang, Y.H., Amaniampong, P., Wang, J.-Y. (2015), “Effective nitrogen removal and recovery from sewage sludge using a novel integrated system of accelerated hydrothermal deamination and air stripping”, Environmental Science & Technology, 49 (11), 6872-6880.
He, C.*, Giannis, A., Wang, J.-Y. (2013), “Conversion of sewage sludge to clean solid fuel using hydrothermal carbonization: Hydrochar fuel characteristics and combustion behavior”, Applied Energy. 111, 257-266. (ESI highly cited paper)

Own links

Latest publications

Adsorption of tetracycline by hydrochar derived from co-hydrothermal carbonization of polyvinyl chloride and garden waste: Adsorption characteristics and enhancement mechanism

Wang, C., Sun, W., Zhou, H., Sun, X., Su, Y. & He, C., 15 elok. 2024, julkaisussa: Journal of Cleaner Production. 467, 143007.