On September 30 (Wednesday) we will have a new invited talk by Franck Dumeignil, Full Professor at the University of Lille (France). This talk will be given from 11:00 to 13:00 at the Sala de Grados P1A1 (School of Engineering in Bilbao – Building 1).
Title of the talk
An Overview of Biorefineries
Abstract of the talk
This lecture introduces the concept of biorefineries as a sustainable and practical response to the depletion of fossil resources and the environmental challenges facing modern society. Beyond theoretical principles, the lecture emphasizes industrial realities, showcasing real-world examples and current practices that often reveal complexities and opportunities overlooked by purely academic approaches. A particular focus is placed on heterogeneous catalysis, a key enabling technology for the conversion of biomass into valuable chemicals, materials, and fuels. Attendees will acquire both fundamental knowledge and insight into advanced catalytic applications within the biorefinery framework.
Franck Dumeignil’s BIO
Franck Dumeignil, FRSC, is Full Professor at the University of Lille and a member of the Unit of Catalysis and Solid State Chemistry (UCCS, CNRS UMR 8181). Since 2022, he has been Vice-President of the University of Lille for Valorization and Science-Society Relations. He also coordinates PUI-Lille, the University Innovation Hub funded with €4 million for 2024–2028.
His scientific activities focus on heterogeneous and hybrid catalysis, sustainable chemistry, biomass valorization and biorefineries. He is also interested in high-throughput experimentation, advanced catalyst characterization and the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning for catalyst design and discovery.
After his PhD at Lille in 1998, he spent more than six years in Japan, first at the National Institute of Materials and Chemical Research in Tsukuba and then at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, where he also taught and held a faculty position. He returned to Lille in 2006 as Full Professor. He was Deputy Director of UCCS from 2010 to 2016 and Director from 2016 to 2021.