Lestander T.A., Geladi P., Larsson S.H., Thyrel M. 2012. Near infrared image analysis for online identification and separation of wood chips with elevated levels of extractives. J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 20,591–599
Large-scale biorefinery at Bio4Energy industrial partner Domsjö Fabriker, at Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. Photo by courtesy of Domsjö Fabriker.
Bio4Energy has seven research platforms, each of which corresponds to a link in the biorefinery value chain.
Bio4Energy is a research environment that develops methods and tools for operating the biorefinery value chain from A to Z. There are five "process" platforms. Their members work to provide science to ensure that all steps of that chain may be run in an economically, environmentally and a socially sustainable way. In addition, there is one Process Integration Platform that serves to link up the work carried out across the others, and one Environmental Platform to check that Bio4Energy's credentials are as "green" as they are claimed to be. Bio4Energy notably aims to align its operations on sustainability criteria set out under the European Union's 2009 renewable energy directive. As far as possible, these efforts should pave the way for Bio4Energy's industrial partners to design products and processes that are energy efficient and emit no or a minimum of noxious emissions, including no or low climate-change inducing or toxic output.
The feedstock in processes developed by Bio4Energy is sourced from forests or organic waste and so not from biomass which might be used for food production. Biofuels and other products developed by Bio4Energy are second generation or more advanced. In Bio4Energy platform leaders and their closest helpers are called principal investigators (PIs). For the Environmental, Process Integration, Catalysis and Separation and the Biochemical Platforms, these PIs have been listed under the respective platform banners below, along with further Bio4Energy members of staff. There are also details for one of the three branches of the Pretreatment and Fractionation Platform.
Contact details for Bio4Energy researchers are available for the Environmental, Process Integration, Catalysis and Separation, Biochemical, Pretreatment and Fractionation and Feedstock Platforms by clicking on the respective headers/banners in the box with the designer arrow below.
Bio4Energy Feedstock Platform
Forest growth has been seen as northern resource as it is plentiful in several Scandinavian countries. On the Feedstock platform researchers attempt to understand what trees are made of and, where appropriate, to modify their characteristics so that trees can be designed for use for a specific purpose. Photo used with permission.
The research in the Bio4Energy Feedstock Platform aims at:
Increasing the quantity and quality of plant biomass sourced from forests and;
Developing efficient processes for conversion of biomass to valuable products and energy.
Platform leader is Björn Sundberg at the Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC) and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), both Sweden. His office is located at the UPSC premises of the Chemical-Biological Centre at Umeå University (UmU). Since October 2012, professor Sundberg spends 80 per cent of his time working for Stora Enso, a plup and paper giant headquarted in Stockholm, Sweden.
Said Sundberg: "Our research is focused on the developmental and biosynthetic regulation of secondary xylem-wood formation. Wood biomass, fibre morphology, and ultrastructure and chemistry of cell walls are all industrially important properties determined during the wood-forming process. Specific targets of our research are the physiological function and downstream signalling of endogenous ethylene in wood formation, cellulose biosynthesis in wood fibres, and novel tools for wood phenotyping".
The following researchers are part of the B4E Feedstock Platform:
Bio4Energy Pretreatment and Fractionation Platform
Reserachers on the Pretreatment and Fractionation Platform design technology to provide well-defined, fractionated biomass for further upgrading. Photo used with permission. The Bio4Energy Pretreatment and Fractionation Platform is a leader in the area of research on:
Maximally prepared biomass sourced from forests or organic waste;
The use of tree cell wall polymers as raw material for producing electrictiy, heat, biofuels and value-added 'co-products' by biorefinery methods;
Creation and development of nanobiocomposites and;
Torrefaction or roasting as a method to pre-treat woody materials to be used for production of heat, electricity or fuel.
Platform leader is Kristiina Oksman of Luleå University of Technology (LTU), in northern Sweden.
Video courtesy of LTU/viavasterbotten.
The following researchers are part of the B4E Pretreatment and Fractionation Platform:
Researchers on the Thermochemical Platform develop thermal technologies based on gasification and combustion of forest-sourced biomass or organic waste. Photo used with permission.Researchers on the Bio4Energy Thermochemical Platform have set out to develop a complete set of experimentally validated sub-models that can be combined in different ways to predict all technologically important processes for thermal conversion of biomass, including reactions with containment materials.
Platform leader is Rikard Gebart, of Luleå University of Technology (LTU) and of the Swedish Gasification Centre.
The following researchers are part of the Bio4Energy Thermochemical Platform:
Energy Technology and Thermal Process Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
Biochemical Platform researchers develop biocatalysts and bioprocesses, notably by using microbial conversion of forest-sourced biomass. Photo used with permission. On Bio4Energy's Biochemical Platform researchers develop new biocatalysts and bioprocesses designed for efficient conversion of lignocellulose into commodities such as second-generation biofuels, "green" chemicals and bio-based materials.
Platform leader is Leif Jönsson of Umeå University.
The following researchers are part of the Bio4Energy Biochemical Platform:
Scientists on the Bio4Energy Catalysis and Separation Platform conduct world-leading research on integrated catalysis and separation processes for use in lignocellulose-based biorefinery. The research is highly multidisciplinary and focuses on the areas catalysis, materials development and integrated separation processes.
Platform leader is Jonas Hedlund of Luleå University of Technology (LTU).
Radio spot in Swedish courtesy of Swedish public radio, Sveriges Radio P4 Norrbotten.
The following reserachers are part of the Bio4Energy Catalysis and Separation Platform.
The Bio4Energy Process Integration Platform provides systematic and general methods for designing integrated production systems, ranging from individual processes to total sites, to aid in the development of efficient biorefinery production. There is a special special emphasis on energy and resource efficiency.
Platform leader is professor Andrea Toffolo of the Luleå University of Technology (LTU).
The following researchers are part of the Bio4Energy Process Integration Platform:
Scientists on the Bio4Energy Environmental Platform do research to render waste products or surplus energy of biorefinery useful for other processes, or to check the efficiency and sustainability of products or processes over their life cycle. Photo published with permission. The Bio4Energy Environmental Platform has set out to provide the checks and balances in the work of the overall research programme to create an environmentally sound and a sustainable biorefinery processes. This should be run efficiently and turn out energy-efficient product, as well as cause or produce and a minimum of environmental pollutants and undesirable by-products or waste.
Bio4Energy contact is Jyri-Pekka Mikkola of the B4E Catalysis and Separation Platform.
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Spring Bio4Energy Researchers' Meeting, Umeå, Sweden, 15-16 May 2013
This meeting is open to all Bio4Energy researchers and will partly coincide with the first course of the Bio4Energy Graduate School. Registration is open until 29 April. Bio4Energy_Researchers_Meeting_15-16_May_2013_Programme --
Bio4Energy Graduate School First Course: Biorefinery Pilot Research, Umeå. Sweden, 14-16 May 2013
Registration is open to PhD students in Bio4Energy until 15 April 2013. Post-doctoral student may also submit an expression of interest in attending the course. To register, please send an e-mail to the Bio4Energy graduate school coordinator Ulrika Rova, Luleå University of Technology. The Biorefinery Pilot Research course will be run by Sylvia Larsson of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
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Seminar by industry-academy Forest Chemistry project, Stockholm, Sweden, 11 April 2013
Fee: Free of charge Where:Innventia main office, Drottning Kristina väg 61 B, Stockholm Registration to: Ing-Mari de Wall, Processum Biorefinery Initiative Contacts: Lars Josefsson, +46 70 558 7673; Leif Jönsson, +46 90 786 6811; Carl Johan Franzen, +46 31 772 3808
13:00-13:05 Welcome, Lars Josefsson, INEOS Sweden Ltd. 13:05-13:30 The Forest Chemistry VINNOVA project, Clas Engström, Processum Biorefinery Initiative 13:30-14:30 Advanced biofuel solutions: INEOS Bios technology, Graham Rice, INEOS Bio Ltd. 14:30-15:00 An overview of pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis: status and challenges, Leif Jönsson, Umeå University 15:00-15:30 Coffee break 15:30-15:50 POLYNOL - Integrated production of polymers and ethanol from forest and sugar cane industries, Niklas Berglin, Innventia 15:50-16:20 Other fermentation products besides ethanol - status and challenges, Carl Johan Franzén, Chalmers
16:20-17:00 Discussion on possibilities and challenges
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Bio4Energy Graduate School Opening Conference – Skellefteå, Sweden, 19-20 March 2013
The Bio4Energy Graduate School will officially begin its works on 19-20 March 2013 with a grand opening conference to be held in Skellefteå. On Day 1, from 10.00 to lunch, keynote lectures will be given by well-known guest speakers, while presentations given by PhD students and post-doctorate student will take up the rest of Day 1 and all of Day 2. PhD students and PostDocs are encouraged to submit their abstracts. The best one will be awarded a Solander prize.
The conference is dedicated in particular to PhD students and PostDocs, who will not pay a fee to attend the conference. This is an opportunity for them to present their research, exchange ideas and knowledge and enhance their own networks. Industrial partners and PhD student supervisors are welcome to attend, but will be charged a fee. The conference will be given annually, and participation in at least two of these conferences will be required for graduation. More information about the conference and abstract submission will be sent out after the Christmas vacation, but in the meanwhile book your calendars! Meeting_Programme_First_Programme_Conference_B4E_Graduate_School
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Umeå Renewable Energy Meeting, Umeå, Sweden, 25-27 February 2013
The Chemical Biological Centre (KBC) at Umeå University play host to this meeting which has sessions dedicated to the kind of research that Bio4Energy conducts.
The KBC homepage says: "The meeting aims to strengthen and display our efforts towards research in the renewable energy field that is carried out within several strong research environments and research programmes at Umeå University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences: Solar Fuels, Artificial Leaf Project, Bio4Energy, BioImprove and Trees and Crops for the Future".
PhD students who participate with a poster receive 1 ECTS certificate from the KBC Research School, the announcement says.
The Organising Committeeis made up of Bio4Energy members Johannes Messinger, Leif Jönsson, Johannes Hanson, Hannele Tuominen and Per Gardeström. Göran Samuelsson is also part of the committee. UREM 2013 Programme
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HighBio2 Seminar: Biomass To Energy And Chemicals, Luleå, Sweden, 16 January 2013
Venue: Luleå University of Technology, Porsön, room E246. Register with Henna Lämpiäinän.
13:00 Registration 13:15 Opening of the seminar, Ulla Lassi, Professor, University of Oulu / Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius
13:30 Modeling of black liquor gasification - current status and comparison with pilot scale experiments, Rikard Gebart, Professor, Division of Energy Science, Luleå University of Technology 14:00 Membrane technology for efficient production of biofuels, Jonas Hedlund, Professor, Division of Sustainable Process Engineering, Luleå University of Technology
14:30 Coffee Break
14:45 Forest Refine - A cross border project for efficient raw material supply to biorefineries, Magnus Matisons, Project Manager - Forest Refine, BioFuel Region 15:05 Pilot Gasifier Producer Gas Analysis and Measurement Arrangements in Sievi Laboratory, Kari Pieniniemi, Researcher, Centria University of Applied Sciences 15:35 Activation of gasification carbon residue for adsorption applications, Sari Kilpimaa, Researcher, University of Oulu 16:05 Catalytic conversion of syngas over CO catalysts, Henrik Romar, Researcher, Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius / Ulla Lassi, Professor, Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius.
-- Integrated Biofuel Production - Policy and Technology, Lund, Sweden, 29 November 2012
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Creating a Bio4Energy Graduate School, Skellefteå, Sweden, 21 November 2012
Ulrika Rova of Bio4Energy has been putting together a working group which is to "make concrete plans to implement the entire research school with workshops and courses". To get started she would like for the working group to meet at Skellefteå where discussions will centre around "the coming steps". To join the meeting as a member of the working group, please fill in the doodle that she sent: http://doodle.com/yf7crk5nym2zpcrc. Bio4Energy_Graduate_School_Ulrika_Rova_8_October_2012
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Workshop on Gasification Modelling, Luleå, Sweden, 21 November 2012
The Swedish Centre for Biomass Gasification (SFC) consists of three research nodes that focuses on three different gasification principles. Regardless of gasification principle there are certain aspects of the conversion of fuel particles and gas phase reactions that are the same. However, each gasification principle presents a unique set of challenges for the modelling researcher. This workshop is intended to bring together specialists and engineers with an interest in modelling and to create an environment for the sharing knowledge that hopefully will speed up the development of gasification models. The workshop has two parts, the first focusing on the microscopic details of fuel conversion and the gas phase reactions (sub models). The second targets the macroscopic behavior of the different reactor types (reactor models). The workshop will be made up of presentations and a discussion about the models and sub models.
Workshop dinner. All participants are invited to join a dinner on the evening before the workshop.
Agenda:
08:00–08:30 Introduction and presentation of participants 08:30–09:30 Modelling of fuel particles and gas phase 09:30–10:00 Coffee 10:00–12:00 Modelling of fuel particles and gas phase 12:00–13.00 Lunch 13:00–14:30 Reactor modelling 14:30–15:00 Coffee 15:00–16:30 Reactor modelling 16:30–17:00 Workshop summary and discussion of future work
Bio4Energy Disputation on High Flux Zeolite Membranes, Luleå, Sweden, 16 November 2012
Linda Sandström, High Flux Zeolite Membranes for Efficient Production of Biofuels, Luleå University of Technology, 10 a.m. in room C305.
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Bioenergy 2012 - Research for a New Generation of Green Products and Chemicals, Piteå, Sweden, 14-15 November 2012
Bio4Energy and the Solander Science Park will be co-hosting a Bioenergy conference at the annual Nolia Energy and Environmental Week. The conference will discuss international front line research on biorefinery and bioenergy made from forest-sourced raw materials or organic waste.
Innovation and the commercialisation of research results will be a special focus of the Energy and Environmental Week which seeks to attract business leaders, industry representatives, policy makers, researchers and those interested in research and innovation aimed at developing tools and methods for conducting efficient and sustainable biorefinery. Registration will be available by mid September on the Nolia (conference organiser) website. Bioenergy_2012_Programme_14-15_November
The workshop will feature oral and poster presentation according to certain thematic topics. The authors of the accepted contributions will be invited to submit a full manuscript for publication to "Catalysis Today" (Elsevier), following the standard peer-review process of this journal. A CD rom featuering the workshop abstracts will be made available. Contact persons are Kostas Triantafyllidis and Anastasia Zabaniotou, co-chairs of UBIOCHEM-III Workshop. (No e-mail addresses were submitted for these contacts.)
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Bio4Energy Researchers' Meeting, Skellefteå, Sweden, 8 October 2012
Bio4Energy Environmental Platform Meeting, Umeå, Sweden, 20 September 2012
The meeting will start at 9 a.m. Presentations will be given a.m. to describe the work by the participating research groups from Umeå University, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Luleå University of Technology and the SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden. The afternoon will be spent developing new joint projects. Contact point for this meeting is
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
, head of the Bio4Energy Environmental Platform.
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Bioethanol in a Biorefinery Context, Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, 23-25 May 2012 -- Students who attended this course may be eligible for academic credit. Please check your status with the course coordinator/your contact among the organisers.
This was a graduate-level course arranged by the European Integrated Project NEMO in collaboration with BIOREGS, Bio4Energy and Umeå University. The contact person at the hosting institution Processum Biorefinery Initiative was Jennie Söderström, phone number +46 660-75049.
Bio4Energy_Researchers_Meeting_15-16_May_2013_Programme
Fuels, Artificial Leaf Project, Bio4Energy, 
The Swedish Centre for Biomass Gasification (SFC) consists of three research nodes that focuses on three different gasification principles. Regardless of gasification principle there are certain aspects of the conversion of fuel particles and gas phase reactions that are the same. However, each gasification principle presents a unique set of challenges for the modelling researcher. This workshop is intended to bring together specialists and engineers with an interest in modelling and to create an environment for the sharing knowledge that hopefully will speed up the development of gasification models. The workshop has two parts, the first focusing on the microscopic details of fuel conversion and the gas phase reactions (sub models). The second targets the macroscopic behavior of the different reactor types (reactor models). The workshop will be made up of presentations and a discussion about the models and sub models.
2012
November 2012
Sweden. 
, 1-3 November 2012 
Students who attended this course may be eligible for academic credit. Please 