Name: Stijn Oudenhoven, PhD researcher at the Thermo Chemical Conversion of Biomass group of the University of Twente Working on CatchBio project: Catalytic steps in the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass via pyrolysis to fuel precursors
Project leader: prof. Sascha R.A. Kersten
Cluster: Energy
Short CV
Stijn Oudenhoven was born at the 17th of July 1987 in Zevenaar. He obtained his Bachelor degree in 2009 at the Saxion Hogeschool in Enschede. After his bachelor he started with the master study chemical engineering (track Process technology) at the University of Twente. During his study he worked as student assistant at the Thermo chemical conversion of biomass group (TCCB) on the topic fast pyrolysis of biomass. In November 2011 he graduated under the supervision of Roel Westerhof and Prof. Dr. S.R.A. Kersten on the topic “optimization of a pyrolysis based bio-refinery for the production of fermentable sugars, stabilized oil and chemicals” at TCCB group. In February 2012 he started as a PhD student at the University of Twente on this CatchBio project.
Describe the project shortly in your own words?
In this project Stijn is looking at fast pyrolysis based bio-refining scheme’s for the production of fuels and or chemicals. The research on fast pyrolysis will focus on process concepts and process parameters to steer the composition of the produced pyrolysis oil to improve further application. Upgrading of the pyrolysis oil or its fractions will be done by a variety of techniques including hydro-treatment, biological conversion or esterification.
In this project Stijn is looking at fast pyrolysis based bio-refining scheme’s for the production of fuels and or chemicals. The research on fast pyrolysis will focus on process concepts and process parameters to steer the composition of the produced pyrolysis oil to improve further application. Upgrading of the pyrolysis oil or its fractions will be done by a variety of techniques including hydro-treatment, biological conversion or esterification.
What is the biggest challenge for you, or what fascinates you the most in this research project?
The biggest challenge within this project will be to systematically evaluate what the most promising process routes will be and which parameter should be studied, and not to lose focus by the large variety of possible techniques to produce fuels or chemicals from pyrolysis oil. However, the freedom to design new processing schemes and the many possible techniques is also the part that fascinates me the most.
What is your future career ambition?
I don’t exactly know what I want to do after my PhD, at the moment I really like the research field but who knows if this is still the case after 4 years of PhD.
How do you like to spend your time when not working on your research?
Travelling, sports, spending time with friends.