A Multi-Scale Environmental and Kinetic Study on the Pyrolysis of Sustainable Biomass Feedstock

1. Research Experience for Undergraduates Applicants are sought for Summer 2014 A Multi-Scale Environmental and Kinetic Study on the Pyrolysis of Sustainable Biomass Feedstock The Department of Chemical Engineering at Tennessee Tech University (TTU) is proud to announce the formation of a team to study the science behind production of bio-mass-based fuels and chemicals from deliberately grown energy crops. We seek applicants for a 10 week summer Research Experience for Undergraduate. Application information can be found at: http://www.cae.tntech.edu/~jbiernacki/#REU. Next generation advanced biofuels and chemicals will be produced from deliberately grown energy crops that are not part of our food chain. There are a number of competing technologies for harnessing useful products from plants; all of which will likely play some role in the bioenergy and chemical economy of the near future. Among these technologies is pyrolysis. Pyrolysis is a simple strategy; the raw material is heated in the absence of air to a temperature that causes it to decompose. Obtaining the most and best distribution of decomposition products, however, is one key to making biomass pyrolysis economically viable. The TTU team aims to apply a multi-scale approach that spans from the most fundamental molecular scale to the impact that emerging bio-based processes could have on rural farming communities. For more information contact Dr. Joseph J. Biernacki at: jbiernacki@tntech.edu, 931-372-3667. Chemical Engineering College of Engineering Switch grass grown on TTU’s Shipley farm.