Research

Main research interests include the developments of (1) valuable/eco-friendly materials and (2) process/technology from renewable materials or wastes such as various biomass for the production of renewable fuels and environmentally-friendly chemicals using biological and chemical methods.

The role of the Laboratory in multidisciplinary research has been focused on the development of green technologies for the production of biofuels, bioproducts, and other value added chemicals/foods/food additives from the various renewable feedstock, such as lignocellulosic biomass, algal biomass, and other organic wastes.

Various biochemical products and biofuels can be produced from inexpensive and abundant renewable sources (ex; biomass) as an alternative to the fossil sources suc as oil and coal. Biomass can be utilized for the productions of fuels, power, and chemicals, which can be various substitutes for petroleum-based products and fuels; i.e. according to the NREL (2010), it is the biorefinery concept, which is analogous to today's petroleum refineries, which produce multiple fuels and products from petroleum. Industrial biorefineries have been identified as the most promising route to the creation of a new domestic biobased industry.

We are interested in not only development of various chemical and biological conversion of biomass including pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation processes, but also production of value-added chemicals, platform chemicals (C1~C6), and various biobased products for industrial chemical, textile, food, environmental, interior, phamaceutical, cosmetic industries.

Biomass can be utilized for the productions of fuels, power, and chemicals, which can be various substitutes for petroleum-based products and fuels; i.e. according to the NREL (2010), it is the biorefinery concept, which is analogous to today's petroleum refineries, which produce multiple fuels and products from petroleum. Industrial biorefineries have been identified as the most promising route to the creation of a new domestic biobased industry.

We are interested in not only development of various chemical and biological conversion of biomass including pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation processes, but also production of value-added chemicals, platform chemicals (C1~C6), and various biobased products for industrial chemical, textile, food, environmental, interior, phamaceutical, cosmetic industries.