Biography

Xabier Erodocia finished his undergraduate studies of Chemical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of Bilbao in the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) in 2010. The same year he joined to the Environmental and Chemical Engineering Department at the Polytechnic School of Donostia-San Sebastián (UPV/EHU). In 2012, he obtained his Masters Degree in Renewable Materials Engineering at the same school. Since 2011, he has recently obtained a Cum Laude international doctorate supported by the Basque Government (AE modality) in the group of "Biorefinery processes" (BioRP). He studies the obtaining of high added value products from lignin under the supervision of the doctors Jalel Labidi and Mª Ángeles Corcuera. Nowdays, he is a professor in the Faculty of Engineering in the Department of Applied Mathematics in Bilbao.

Research

His research focuses on the extraction, characterization and depolymerization of lignin for the production of high added value chemical products. Employing various extraction methods (organosolv, soda, …) different lignins were obtained. Afterwards, this lignins were characterized and depolymerized (alkali hydrolysisi, supercritical solvents,…) in order to obtain several phenolic compounds. He has also studied the application of chemical process simulation in biorefinery processes concerning lignin stream.

He has published 11 articles in international scientific journals and 2 book chapters. In addition, he has participated in more than 15 international congresses and conferences. Moreover, as a member of "Biorefinery processes" group he has participated in the development of several research projects funded in competitive calls of public and private administrations or entities.