Challenging current pulping chemistry through surface-sensitive approaches
- Nina Pulkkis
- Oct 1, 2024
- 1 min read
Ville Rissanen, Senior Scientist at VTT Finland, supervised by Professor Tekla Tammelin, is working on the development of fiber production concepts that ensure high yields and preserve intact lignin fractions. His applied research experience, spanning over his PhD and career at VTT, focuses on preparing functional structures from cellulosic materials.
Ville is passionate about working at the intersection of academia and industry, finding common ground to push new ideas forward. He has a passion for working at interfaces—whether between different sectors or materials.
In this project, Ville applies surface-sensitive analytics to investigate how cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin are bound together within the wood cell wall – and more importantly in this context, how they can be separated more efficiently. The materials can be investigated in isolation or in multilayer configurations, even mimicking the latest cell wall models using the same atomistic scale but with real materials.
By manipulating the environmental conditions such as temperature, pH, and chemical additives, the team can study how the material interactions change, leading to valuable insights into how to improve pulping processes for a more sustainable future.
At the Emission-Free Pulping Program, Ville’s work continues to bridge the gap between research and real-world applications, driving functional solutions for sustainable fiber production.
