They achieve this by developing novel processes for the exploitation of underestimated waste streams for energy generation, upgrading them by novel pre-treatments and thermochemical processing (mainly pyrolysis, gasification and clean combustion) for sustainable energy production in residential and industrial sectors.
The B3 Challenge Group draws together Chemical Engineering expertise from the University of Hull and an inter- and multi-disciplinary pool of partners from industry and national and international academia such as KTH, QMU, ICL, AUTH, UCU, UCY, FEI, HMU, EUC, Petronas, Aston, and research institutes (DEMOCRITUS, CPERI/CERTH, MAICH, CERIDES). The group develops industrial problem-solving solutions to the challenges facing the bioenergy and biowaste upgrading sectors for industrial and residential sector.
Dr Martin Taylor - Postdoctoral Research Associate
The B3 Challenge group focusses on the pre-treatment of biomass waste, low carbon thermal/ thermochemical treatments including pyrolysis and gasification of lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks for syngas, H2 production and chars, pyrolysis products. Research activity aims to improve efficiencies at all stages of industrial bio waste-to-energy production from investigation of biomass feedstock pre-treatments, through development of thermochemical reactors for bioenergy production to manufacture of high-value chemical bi-products such as biochar.
One of the group’s projects has been to convert biomass waste into value added feedstock for solid biofuels and green energy production. The exploitation of alternative, green fuels such as the lignocellulosic (woody and herbaceous) biomass waste in energy production, offers the advantages of: i) improved waste management, ii) resource efficiency, iii) reduced dependence on imported energy and iv) increased renewables usage in power production. Low carbon thermochemical processes such as pyrolysis and gasification, in combination with exploitation of biomass waste can reduce the carbon footprint of the energy production sector and offer an additional source of income to farmers and agro industries.