Pradeep Agrawal

Dr. Pradeep Agrawal’s research is focused on the development of thermochemical pathways for converting lignocellulosic biomass into fuels and chemicals. One approach involves hydrolysis of hemi-cellulose, cellulose, and lignin into monomers which offer an alternate platform for transportation fuels and chemicals. The results offer promise for developing a green chemistry approach so that organic acids derived from the biomass can be utilized for biomass hydrolysis. Another project involves high pressure biomass gasification under conditions that mimic the next generation of gasification processes (short contact times and high heating rates). The aim is to develop mathematical models for high pressure biomass gasification. Gasification offers the advantage that all types of biomass (including agricultural waste and forest residue) can be gasified to produce syngas (CO + H2). Biomass gasification involves pyrolysis and char gasification in series. The results have identified the role of heating rates, pressure, alkali metals, and transport effects on biomass gasification.