The Forest Products and Chemical Engineering unit develops sustainable processes and advanced materials from forest-based resources.
In Sweden, our economy and ecosystem rely heavily on this renewable resource. In 2025, the exports of forestry products account for a full 54 per cent of Sweden’s gross domestic product (GDP). In the future, it will gain even greater importance as we transition toward a fossil-free society.
Our research spans mechanistic understanding of established pulping processes , forest biomass based biorefinery , cellulose functionalization, lignin characterization, and the fabrication of high-performance materials.
By connecting fundamental knowledge with industrially relevant technologies, we aim to improve resource and energy efficiency, increase the value of cellulose, lignin, and xyaln, and enhance the international competitiveness of forest-based products.
Our expertise also supports the transition toward more sustainable chemical and food industries in Sweden and across Europe.
Funding
Research activities
Liyang Liu's research group
A central focus of Liu’s research group is understanding the reactions and structure of native lignin in terrestrial plants and technical lignin from the industrial-scale Kraft pulping process. The group works, more specifically, on three research topics.
Marima Hasani's research group
Staff
Research leaders
Hans Theliander
- Professor Emeritus, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Hans Theliander
- Professor Emeritus, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Liyang Liu
- Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Liyang Liu
- Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Merima Hasani
- Professor, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Merima Hasani
- Professor, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Research engineers
Michael Andersson-Sarning
- Senior Research Engineer, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Michael Andersson-Sarning
- Senior Research Engineer, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Patrik Skansen
- Senior Research Engineer, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Patrik Skansen
- Senior Research Engineer, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Post docs
Ahilan Manisekaran
- Postdoc, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Ahilan Manisekaran
- Postdoc, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Jihane Zeghlouli
- Postdoc, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Jihane Zeghlouli
- Postdoc, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Docotoral students
Funda Lidya Görür
- Doctoral Student, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Funda Lidya Görür
- Doctoral Student, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Lucas Kurth de Azambuja
- Doctoral Student, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Lucas Kurth de Azambuja
- Doctoral Student, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Najmeh Asadimoghaddam
- Doctoral Student, Fluid Dynamics, Mechanical Engineering
Najmeh Asadimoghaddam
- Doctoral Student, Fluid Dynamics, Mechanical Engineering
Xunhong Gu
- Doctoral Student, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Xunhong Gu
- Doctoral Student, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Yuge Yao
- Doctoral Student, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Yuge Yao
- Doctoral Student, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Research facilities and instruments
Head of Unit
Merima Hasani
- Professor, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Merima Hasani
- Professor, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering