1980 PhD in Wood Science and Technology from University of HamburgThesis on organosolv pulping, lignin pyrolysis, lignin hydrocracking and lignin characterization 1980-1982 Guest professor at University of Guadalajara, Mexico, topics: wood chemistry. extractives, wood protection, ozone bleaching, steam explosion, enzymatic hydrolysis 1982-1992 Research scientist at Federal Research Centre for Forestry and Forest Products (BFH) in the Institute for Wood Chemistry and Chemical Technology of Wood (IWC), topics: biomass liquefaction 1992-2016 Head of lignin department in IWC and group leader thermochemical conversion of biomass and chemicals from wood at Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institute (TI) in the Institute of Wood Research Since April 2016 Retirement from Thünen Institute. Private consultant at “thermophil international” Working areas • Lignin characterisation and utilisation• Technical pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass for bio-oil in fluidized bed and ablative reactors• Hydrocracking of biomass and lignin• Analytical pyrolysis• Instrumental analysis (gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography)• Thermal and chemical utilisation of bio-oil• Separation techniques for bio-oils• Development of advanced methods for bio-oil analysis• Biorefineries, bioenergy (pyrolysis and gasification)• Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC)• Co-inventor of the patented Biomass to Oil (BTO) process• Co-inventor of the patented bioliq-process (BTL) • Appointments & Memberships • Member of Pyrolysis Network Europe (PyNE)• Appointed German task leader of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Task 34 (biomass pyrolysis)• Member of the German Scientific Society for Coal, Natural Gas and Petroleum (DGMK), Section coal and biomass upgrading Publications 217 publications, 105 thereof in refereed journalsPatents 2 patents (co-inventor of the Biomass-To-Oil (BtO) process2 patents (co-inventor of the “bioliq”-process (BTL)

Topics: organosolv pulping, steam treatment, wood analysis, pulp bleaching