Lignin Chemistry

Professor Rafael Luque Rafael Luque is Deputy Head of Department from Departamento de Quimica Organica at Universidad de Cordoba, where he graduated in 2005. With a postdoctoral stay of three years at the Green Chemistry Center of Excellence, The University of York (With Prof. James Clark), Prof. Luque has a significant experience on biomass and waste valorisation practises to materials, fuels and chemicals as well as nanoscale chemistry and green engineering. Prof. Luque has published over 300 research articles, filed 3 patent applications and edited 10 books as well as numerous contributions to book chapters and invited, guest, keynote and plenary lectures in scientific events worldwide. He is also heavily involved in Chemical Education and promoting Science in Developing Countries. Among recent awards, Rafael received the Marie Curie Prize from Instituto Andaluz de Quimica Fina in Spain (2011), the Green Talents award from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research in Germany (2011), the TR35 Spain from Technology Review and MIT as one of the top 10 young entrepreneurs in Spain (2012), the RSC Environment, Sustainability and Energy Early Career Award (2013) from the Royal Society of Chemistry UK and the 2015 Lu Jiaxi lectureship from the College of Chemistry and Engineering in Xiamen University (China).

Supramolecular interactions in lignin and implications for the development of innovative materials and products.- Recent advances on lignin bleaching.- Thermal properties and heating values of technical lignin.- Lignin depolymerisation to BTXs.- Lignin fractionation.- Lignin based building blocks for polymer synthesis.- Lignin Photochemistry.- Deeper understanding of lignin oxidation.