VSB-TUO researcher to explore efficient biomass conversion to biofuels with EU funding
The aim of the project, launched at the VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava with support from the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships program, is to develop technologies for sustainable biofuel production from biomass. The foundation of the new approach will rely on advanced catalysts, enabling faster and more selective biomass conversion. Chemist Sibi Malayil Gopalan will work on developing these catalysts at the Materials-Envi Lab of the VŠB-TUO’s Center for Nanotechnology, which he chose as his host institution. His research in Ostrava, spanning two years, will be supported by the European Union with more than 4 million Czech crowns.
The Bio2SAF project focuses on developing new methods for converting waste biomass into sustainable fuels. Biomass is a significant energy source that can help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. A key component of plant biomass is lignocellulose, which makes up most of the plant structure and is rich in renewable carbon. This makes lignocellulose and its derivatives very attractive feedstock for catalytic conversion into biofuels and high-value chemicals.
“The chemical conversion of lignocellulose is quite complex due to the strong C-O and C-H bonds. Existing thermochemical methods require high temperatures, making them energy-intensive, not fully eco-friendly, and hard to control. Catalytic conversion is a highly promising approach to obtaining biofuels. However, the challenge lies in developing suitable catalysts that can control the chemical process, as numerous competing or subsequent reactions occur simultaneously. Therefore, the strategic goal of the Bio2SAF project is to design new multifunctional catalysts based on tailored, predesigned graphenes, as the hosts of metal active centers. These catalysts aim to higher conversion efficiency, while lowering energy demand for the reaction steps and of the overal process,” explained Radek Zbořil, head of the Materials-Envi Lab and project leader.
This prestigious project will connect the international researcher’s expertise in biomass valorization and catalysis with the host institution’s know-how in material research and single atom engineering.
“The Marie Curie Sklodowska Action (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship is the most prestigious research grant, making it an important milestone in my career. More importantly, it allows me to work with world-leading scientists at VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava, such as Professor Radek Zbořil. I believe the fellowship and the research outcomes we achieve through this support will have a significant impact on my long-term goal on contributing on major societal challenges related to renewable energy sources,” said Sibi Malayil Gopalan, who has worked with top research teams in Canada and South Korea.
To design and synthesize multifunctional single-atom catalysts, the researchers plan to use chemically modified graphenes functionalized with preselectedorganic moieties. “The catalyst will simultaneously control and accelerate both chemical steps, aldol condensation and hydrodeoxygenation, which are key for the efficient conversion of biomass-derived molecules into biofuels. Additionally, we plan to use inexpensive and widely available metals like iron or manganese. The catalysts will also be fully recyclable to ensure the technology is sustainable and upscalable for real-world industrial application,” added Aristeidis Bakandritsos, a senior researcher at the Materials-Envi Lab and a contributor to the project.
The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships are part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) under the Horizon Europe program, which supports research and innovation in the European Union. The fellowships are aimed at postdoctoral researchers looking to advance their careers in science and research, promoting international mobility, collaboration, and excellence in research.