The
Chemical
Engineering
Department
is
hosting
a
special
undergraduate
lecture
about
Upcycling
of
low
value
biomass
to
high
value
bioproducts.
Biographical Sketch
Dr. Shakirudeen Salaudeen is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering, University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI). His research focuses on the thermochemical conversion of biomass and waste into high value products including bioenergy, biofuels, chemicals, and materials. He received his bachelor’s degree at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Nigeria. His MSc was obtained at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia. He received his PhD in Engineering in 2020 at the University of Guelph, Canada. He previously worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the Bio-Renewable Innovation Lab of the University of Guelph before joining UPEI. So far, he has published 19 peer-reviewed journal articles (7 of those in ACS journals), additional 3 under review, 1 book chapter, and 8 conference presentations.
Title: Upcycling of low value biomass to high value bioproducts
The quest for renewable energy, climate change and demand for sustainable fuels has increased the importance of sustainable and cleaner bio-based economy. Research on renewable resource-based chemicals and materials to facilitate a smooth transition to a bio-based economy is vital from social, economic and environmental perspectives. Biomass, an abundant and renewable source of feedstock, has a significant role in the sustainable production of energy, fuels, chemicals, and materials. This, however, requires continuous innovation to develop low cost and high-quality homogenous feedstock, innovative pretreatment, conversion and upgrading technologies, and new approaches for utilizing intermediate products. The inherent properties of biomass such as high moisture, ash and oxygen contents, low energy value and bulk density, and complex structure also provide significant challenges for the development of high value bioproducts. These issues need to be addressed with the development of innovative processes and conversion techniques before the carbon-neutral benefits of biomass could be fully realized and enable the transformation to a low carbon society. This research presentation focuses on the development of novel and environmentally friendly processes and technologies to convert low value biomass and waste into bio-based materials and high-value products including biofuels, biocarbon and hydrogen-rich syngas, which are suitable for a variety of industrial applications.