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Sustainable Chemistry &
Engineering Research Group

Our research projects

Ongoing:

01.01.2024–31.12.2028

TEM-TA49: Chemical and biological valorization technologies for woody biomass and secondary lignocellulose sources

Principal investigator: Yevgen Karpichev

Wood or lignocellulosic biomass more generally, is a readily available renewable resource, offering sustainable solutions for our growing human population. The core wood polymers - cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin - serve as fundamental components, extending beyond paper production to produce valuable wood sugars, textile fibers, thermoplastics, and fine chemicals.

In our project, we are (i) developing enzyme technologies utilizing extremophilic microbe-derived enzymes to break down and modify lignin, remove toxic phenolic compounds, convert cellulose into wood sugars, and advance enzyme-catalyzed cellulose technologies and (ii) advancing technologies for converting kraft, hydrolysis (and organosolv) and synthetic lignins into porous materials, thermoplastics, and cutting-edge catalysts.

01.09.2026–31.08.2029

TEM-TA203: Development of lignin-based UV-protective nanomaterials for industrial applications

Principal investigator: Ivar Järving

The project aims to develop a bio-based UV protection material from lignin for use in polyurethane construction foams and as a UV filter in cosmetic products such as sunscreens. UV radiation degrades foam surfaces, reducing insulation and sealing performance, while the cosmetics industry seeks safer, more sustainable UV filters.
The research focuses on chemical modification of lignin, a by-product of the wood and peat industries, to create an effective UV-absorbing additive or coating. Its performance in construction materials and cosmetic formulations, including durability and safety, will be evaluated.
The expected result is a sustainable UV additive that extends product lifetime, reduces reliance on synthetic stabilizers, and increases the value of local bioresources, supporting circular economy and greener production.

01.05.2025–30.04.2027

Carbon Dots from sustainable sources – Robust and Optimal Materials for bioimaging (CD-ROM)

Principal investigator: Albina Mikhraliieva

This MSCA4Ukraine project focuses on the development of high-performance carbon dots (CDs) from sustainable biomass sources, specifically lignin and peat. Unlike general synthesis projects, this research prioritizes achieving high quantum yields through optimized doping and advanced purification and separation approaches to obtain well-defined, fractionated products. Through systematic characterization, the project ensures the production of materials with non-toxic properties, specifically tailored for high-contrast bioimaging and cellular labeling. The goal is to establish a robust protocol for creating sustainable, medical-grade fluorescent probes that outperform traditional toxic semiconductor quantum dots.

30.11.2025–31.05.2027

Preparation of explosives and propellants from lignin

Principal investigator: Yevgen Karpichev

Project for applied researcher (RUP)

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Completed:

01.12.2022–31.01.2026

European Defense Fund: Surveillance and Reconnaissance Techniques for Chemical and Biological Threats (TechBioT)

Principal investigator: Yevgen Karpichev

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing effects on society and the economy, there has been a significant increase in concerns about the possibility that malicious actors could return to using hazardous agents in future plots. These concerns are legitimate in Europe, where there are still technological gaps in several aspects of the CBRN Security Cycle and specifically in the devices for rapid detection, identification and monitoring of low-volatile chemical warfare agents (CWAs) and non-volatile biological warfare agents (BWAs), mainly in complex natural environments. Benchmark technologies, including IMS, GC-IMS, and Py-GC-IMS, can sample and identify the most volatile CWAs within seconds (IMS) or BWAs within minutes (Py-GC-IMS), even at low ppbV concentration levels, but cannot detect extremely low doses of low-volatile toxic fourth generation CWAs (e.g. Novichoks), nor can they differentiate biological fragments from harmless substances. To overcome these gaps, it is necessary to develop new highly selective and sensitive detectors with detection limits in the pptV range, operated at elevated temperatures (> 200 °C) to prevent condensation of low volatile constituents, high 2D resolving power and robust analytical methods. TeChBioT aims for the development of a universal detection technology based on high-temperature (HT) ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) with optional gas chromotographic pre-separation (GC) and pyrolysis (Py) for enabling fast detection and identification of nonvolatile biological and low-volatile chemical agents. The innovative technology is combined with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Deep Learning (DL) models to reduce the dimensionality of the 2D spectral data and enable distinguishing of bacteria, fungi, viruses, low volatile chemical warfare agents, and toxic industrial compounds at pptV concentration levels based on their unique fingerprint within a complex environment.

01.09.2019–31.08.2030

BIOCEB: Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Biological and Chemical Engineering for Sustainable Bioeconomy

Principal investigator: Jaan Kers

The objective of the project is to answer the needs of the bioeconomy sector in well-trained graduates,
able to develop innovative and sustainable bio-based products and bioprocesses, and ensure their integration into alternative value chains and different bioeconomy sectors. Bioceb consists of a dedicated 2years (4-semester) MSc joint programme, with a core in-depth training in biotechnology encompassing biological resource diversity and optimal use, bioprocess design and upscaling, and biobased products engineering for targeted markets, with complementary focus on soft skills including project management. In order to promote the development of sustainable and circular bioeconomy systems, the programme goes beyond the biomass processing technical issues, by providing knowledge of green chemistry principles, tools for socio-economic and environmental assessment, experience of facing real-life bioeconomy challenges through projects and examples of flexible biorefinery systems adapted to local
contexts. Five academic institutions, the Partners, collaborate intensively to offer joint study modules in addition to their existing curricula. Moreover, a group of strategic associated partners is settled with members from
Eu- and Non-EU Universities, research Institutions and socio-economic partners, to contribute to the curricula in internship and masterthesis writing and achievement of learning outcomes.

01.10.2024–30.06.2025

GFALGLA24: Estonian peat valorization

Principal investigator: Leeli Amon

Estonia's significant mineral resource, peat, is currently mainly extracted and exported as growth substrates for European agriculture. We offer technological solutions to produce high-value materials from by-products/residue of peat production. We are exploring two different experimental chemical valorization directions for peat. Firstly, the production of carbon nanomaterials (carbon nanoparticles, carbon quantum dots CQD), which have a wide range of applications from biomedicine to optics and electronic components. Examples: bioimaging applications, portable sensors, solar panel components etc. The application of CQDs is rapidly developing and new start-up ideas appear often. Secondly, the production of chemically modified biopolymers as high-performance alternatives to petroleum-derived products such as construction panels, packaging containers or conventional adsorbent materials. The resulting products contribute to long-term carbon sequestration, helping to balance the carbon footprint of the peat industry.

01.07.2021–01.09.2023

KIK21045: Novel energy materials for circular economy technologies

Principal investigator: Yevgen Karpichev, Pavel Starkov

The aim of the project is to develop new types of energy materials: (1) MNC type electrode catalysts for carbon dioxide reduction; (2) new calcium-based electrolytes for calcium and related batteries; (3) testing of these materials in equipment devices; (4) Optimized devices (specifically, multi-layer filters) for large-scale reversible applications in metal recuperation, incl. selective adsorbents, electrochemical methods and absorbers for the separation of rare-earth metals and for the treatment of the residual water.

01.09.2020–31.05.2023

RESTA11: Development of chemical and biochemical valorization technologies for bleached chemithermomechanical pulps (BCTMP) and secondary woody biomass sources.

Principal investigator: Tiit Lukk

Wood is the most abundant form of biomass used by industry and is the source of the three major biolpolymers in nature – cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. While cellulose is responsible for about 40-50% of the dry weight of wood, lignin content varies from 10% to about 35% across species. For decades, lignin has been seen as a bothersome side-product that needs removal at all cost. However, in the last decade, due to its polyphenolic nature, lignin has emerged to the focus of attention as a renewable alternative to crude oil based chemistry. The project aims to develop technologies for the extaction and fractionation of lignin and cellulose derived from low valorization level bleached chemi-thermomechanical pulp or industrial wood-waste. The goal of the project is to develop practical and environmentally friendly functional materials (e.g. thermo isolators and surfactants). Also, the project will identify and characterize novel industrial enzymes from extreme thermophilic organisms.

01.01.2016–31.08.2022

AR16054: Doctoral Studies and Internationalisation programme Dora Pluss

Principal investigator: Marika Lunden

The goals of this action are to support foreign Master’s and doctoral students studying in Estonia, thereby contributing to the exchange of knowledge, to make the local study process more internationalised and to increase the amount of highly educated workers in Estonia in the long run.

Designing First Responders Versatile Detection and Decontamination Methods (DEFIR)

Coordinator (NPD): Yevgen Karpichev

This collaborative NATO SPS MYP project G5655 is an integrated study in collaboration with teams from France and Algeria to (i) elaborate and tune approaches for fast detection of the CWA and their transformation products and (ii) propose decontamination formulation(s) for fast and irreversibly decontamination with as lowest impact to the personnel and the environment as possible. The versatile portable and user-friendly all-weather and all-terrain kits for certified First Responders and spontaneous volunteers are to design.

The methods and formulations developed are based on the recent research developments and designed in accordance with the requirements of green and sustainable chemistry.

01.10.2020–31.12.2021

COVSG5: Biodegradable formulations for antiviral coatings and sanitizers (BIOFORM)

Principal investigator: Yevgen Karpichev

There is a high risk that coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) will continue to spread through direct contact with contaminated surfaces. Hence, it is important to sterilise potentially contaminated surfaces effectively. The main disadvantage of the most commonly used antiviral coatings and disinfectants is that they rely on ca. 80 vol% ethanol, which evaporates too quickly. Ideally, the new disinfectant formulations will compose of biodegradable constituents, which remain at the surface for longer to inactivate bacteria, fungi and viruses, incl. coronavirus. The goal of BIOFORM project is to introduce new targeted chemical modifications to biobased and/or synthetic biodegradable components for nano/micro/macroemulsions and hydrogels. This will help develop and commercialize low-toxic biodegradable formulations. The line-up of new products will be based on building new formulations by using sustainable surfactants and biobased materials.

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24.04.2018–31.03.2021

LMIN18040: Innovative (pre)POmace Valorization procEss

Principal investigator: Yevgen Karpichev

Innovatiivne (eel)pressijäägi väärindamine.

01.05.2014–30.04.2019

VFP655: Excellent Tallinn University of Technology Research Chair in Green Chemistry and Technology

Principal investigator: Nicholas Gathergood

"The great challenge in the 21 century chemistry is related to sustainability, and one possible solution is introduction into chemical thinking the principles of green chemistry. The challenge of green chemistry is to devise sustainable strategies that meet the demand for chemical products from ever-increasing population. Their greatest challenge is eventual elimination of environmentally harmful chemical products and replacing with compounds having low toxicity and rapid biodegradability while retaining their desired effect. To bring these developments from the laboratory into practical use chemists and chemical engineers must work together.
Green chemistry is good term to bring together specialists in academia and industry. The aim of the Chair is concentrate all these thematic in the Institute of Chemistry under one strategic lead which in result will improve research quality on sustainability, basics of green technology and green chemistry. The new Chair should create an environment where overlapping of these outstanding but so far separate research topics is maximized and synergetic effect is expected. It is important to have dense feedback with chemical and associated industries to remain on technology leadership and innovation.
There are collected related elements of organic and bio-organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, material science, biotechnology and chemical technology where our institute is able to participate: catalysis (including asymmetric and organocatalysis) in organic synthesis; synthesis of nanomaterials for catalysis and new analytical methods, good collaboration with nano-toxicological research; biotechnology and biocatalysis for biomass treatment; benign methods in analytical chemistry . Better use of chemistry and biotechnology besides advancing in development of new materials will enable increased eco-efficiency of the industry and help increase the reputation of chemical industry. Environmentally friendly and efficient chemistry is very innovative and it should inspire more students to take up careers in science and technology."

01.01.2017–30.04.2019

PUT1656: Sustainable Surfactants

Principal investigator: Nicholas Gathergood

This Project was aimed at designing low toxicity surfactants with advanced aggregation properties, which degrade fully in the environment. The idea explored consisted in using aminoacid subunit to link the charged headgroup and the tail group composed by linear alkyl ester or amide. This approach resulted in synthesis of a library of about 40 novel surfactants. The comprehensive study included (i) synthesis of surfactans based on the green chemistry assessment; (ii) antimicrobal screening against a number of bacteria and fungi strains; (iii) ecotoxicity profiling using marine microorganisms; (iv) biodegradability study using closed bottle test CBT OECD 301D; (v) comprehensive study of the aggregation properties of novel surfactants; (vi) using enzymes for cleavage of ester and amino bonds; (vii) identification of transformation products and clarification of the biological pathways responsible for (bio)degradation.
The results of this Project can enable intelligent design of mineralisable surfactants and can be developed towards further structural modification (functionalization) of the surfactants and their applications for biomass valorisation, enhancing polyaromatic hydrocarbons removal, chemical decontamination.

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