This research group aims to produce energy carriers and property-controlled (functional) materials, by developing processes that are highly energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, either from purpose-grown biomass or from residual biomass that is - to a greater or lesser extent - contaminated by metal-based and/or organic pollutants

Our research activities concern unitary operations employing coupled transfer of matter and heat, most commonly in the presence of chemical reactions, and with significant changes in the solid or pasty matrix structure over time. Particular attention is paid to flow characterization (inward and outward) and to the characterization, modelling and optimization of the processes. Most of the processes that we apply are autothermic; one of our research ambitions is to move towards the application of allothermic processes, specifically by using concentrated solar power as a source of energy.