Resource Recovery

There are four tightly collaborating research groups within the area of resource recovery: biotechnology, combustion and thermal processes, polymer technology and simulation and modeling. The goal is to develop new materials and functional polymers from surplus material and waste.

 The research is interdisciplinary to its nature. Energy recovery research is carried out in three of the four co-operating groups – biotechnology, combustion and thermal processes and simulation and modeling. Material recovery is carried out by three of the co-operating groups: biotechnology, polymer technology and simulation groups.

University of Borås is the only educational institution that has a clear and explicit profile towards resource recovery.

Research projects

Bioconversion of fruit wastes into biogas A project in collaboration with Indonesia.
Biogas from cellulosic biomass The overall aim of the project is to assess the potential of biogas production from straw, wood chips and paper.
Carbonaceous Polymeric Nanocomposites
Carbon nanotubes Use of carbon nanotubes in electronic circuitry requires that one knows the electrical properties of the nanotubes. Since mixtures of carbon nanotubes that have a range of diameters and properties are grown in all known production methods, it is necessary to separate out the nanotubes with the desired property from all other nanotubes. Ultimate control of these separation techniques will allow us to separate out nanotubes based on their chiral (n,m) numbers.
Computational modeling of cellulose decomposition Together with other actors in the Sjuhärad region the School of Engineering at the University of Borås is working towards finding new and improved techniques to convert waste to ethanol and biogas.
Computational modeling of platinum recovery In these studies we model the AC carbon by attaching oxy-functional groups on graphitic structures (oxygen containing functional groups are known to exist on the AC). The interaction between the amine groups and the functionalise AC is then studied, to ascertain which functional groups are most likely to be important for the adsorption of the amine groups.
Developing rapid digestion bioreators for biogas production In this project we are going to develop a digester for more rapid digest of biological wastes. Our goal is to decrease the total time of digestion.
Novel textile scaffolds and bioresorbable composite of cellulosic fibres and PLA for bone tissue engineering
Renewable Thermoset and Thermoplastic Structural Green Composites with Natural Fibers The project is a research cooperation programme between Sweden and Korea. The overall aim of this project will focus on developments of biobased thermoset and thermoplastic structural green composites possibly covering many different automotive applications.
Tillämpning av vetenskapliga beräkningsverktyg inom design och utveckling
Waste Recovery Asia This project has as its purpose to transfer Borås-region's knowledge and technology in the field of resource recovery to Southeast Asia. Our working model is called Waste Recovery - International Partnership in Borås.

Finished research projects

Analysis of alkali compounds in fuels and ashes from co-combustion in FBC
Brazil-Sweden Waste Recovery
Combustion of Biomal as additional fuel in the BFB boilers
Computational studies of Polymer-water interactions
Computer animations for active learning of chemical concepts
Computer based modeling for improved protein-based superabsorbents from waste
Etanolframställning av cellulosamaterial med zygomyeeter
Hydraulics
Ice catalysed stratospheric chemistry
In-situ polymerisation of green materials
Intelligent sootblowing
Phase equilibria
Reduced bed temperature
Sänkt bäddtemperatur i FB-pannor för avfallsförbränning
Stratospheric chemistry
VOKAB, The pathway of inorganic elements from waste fuels in power boilers