Catalysis

As pointed out in the Pimentel report (Opportunities in Chemistry – 1987), catalysis provides significant value to the GDP of a country. Therefore it can not only provide significant value to Finnish biomass but it will be the enabling technology for many future biorefinery processes.

Work is under way in our group into the catalytic hydrogenation of lignin and lignin models. In a future where hydrogen is renewable, e.g., from electrolysis or photolysis of water, hydrogenolysis and deep hydrogenation of lignin will become important for chemicals and possibly biofuels production. One publication on the topic is under preparation and should be published in early 2016.

A recent publication into the activation of Wilkinson’s catalyst was recently published here: