Alexander Riddell

Alex studies photolysis of lignocellulosic biomass as a PhD student in the Bernin group. The concept of converting forest rest streams such as sawdust and bark from the lumber industry and liquor from the pulp and paper industry into chemical products is being investigated. The research involves the extraction of lignin and other compounds from wood, pretreatment methods, and photolysis of biomolecules within small-scale photoreactors. The potential to increase the value of trees is of interest to the forestry industry. Broadly, the goal is to assist in the transition to a “biobased economy”.