Sustainable Chemistry

The unit conducts diverse research for the utilization of inorganic by-products and waste streams. Research topics are related to water treatment, fertilizers and recovery of precious metals. New water treatment materials and chemicals are produced from suitable industrial by-products. Applications are adsorption, catalysis and precipitation. New recycled fertilizers are being developed from the nutrient-containing precipitates formed in water purification by combining them with nutrient-containing by-products. Industrial by-products can contain high concentrations of valuable metals, the recovery of which is studied in the unit.

The unit conducts research related to the utilization of lignocellulosic side streams as raw materials for high value-added products. The research topics include chemical modification of side streams to adsorbents and catalysts, conversion of side streams to platform chemicals as well as the preparation of biomass-based polymeric materials. Adsorbents and catalysts can be utilized in water purification; biomass-based polymeric materials, which have competitive and technically high-level properties, can be used to replace conventional fossil-based plastic materials.

High-quality research related to Li-ion batteries is conducted in the research unit. The main research topics related to battery chemicals are focused on cathode materials with high voltage and high energy density. These materials are suitable especially for electric vehicles. Sustainable anode materials including biomass-based graphite and Si/C composites as well as solid-state electrolytes are investigated. Recycling of used batteries are also researched.

Longjie Liu, Toni Kauppinen, Pekka Tynjälä, Tao Hu, Ulla Lassi (2023) Water leaching of roasted vanadium slag: Desiliconication and precipitation of ammonium vanadate from vanadium solution. Hydrometallurgy.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2022.105989

Tuomo Kainulainen, Tomi Parviainen, Juho Sirviö, Liam McGeachie, Juha Heiskanen (2023) High Oxygen Barrier Polyester from 3,3’-Bifuran-5,5’-Dicarboxylic Acid. ACS Macro Letters.

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmacrolett.2c00743

Rajesh Rajendiran, Prem Kumar Seelam, Arunkumar Patchaiyappan, Putrakumar Balla, Harisingh Shankar, Balaga Ravi, Vijayanand Perupogu, Ulla Lassi (2023) Morphologically Tailored Facet Dependent Silver Nanoparticles Supported α-Al2O3 Catalysts for Chemoselective Reduction of Aromatic Nitro compounds. Chemical Engineering Journal.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.138507

Emails: firstname.lastname@oulu.fi

Professors

• Lassi Ulla, Head of the unit, Applied chemistry
• Pursiainen Jouni (Emeritus), Physical Chemistry
• Srivastava Varsha (Associate professor, tenure), Applied organic chemistry

University researchers

• Heiskanen Juha, Associate professor, Organic chemistry
• Hu Tao, Docent, Applied chemistry
• Tuomikoski Sari, Associate professor, Applied chemistry
• Tynjälä Pekka, Associate professor, Applied chemistry

University lecturers

• Havia Johanna, Analytical chemistry
• Heponiemi Anne, Applied chemistry
• Kangas Teija, Applied and physical chemistry
• Lappalainen Katja, Associate professor, Organic chemistry
• Niemelä Matti, Analytical chemistry

Postdoctoral researchers

• Ahmed Asmaa, Organic chemistry
• Bergna Davide, Applied chemistry
• Christophliemk Mika, Applied chemistry
• El assal Zouhair, Applied chemistry
• Huerta Ali, Applied chemistry
• Kainulainen Tuomo, Organic chemistry
• Kupila Riikka, Applied chemistry
• Molaiyan Palanivel, Applied chemistry
• Pesonen Janne, Associate professor, Applied chemistry
• Peta Gayathri, Applied chemistry
• Prokkola Hanna, Applied chemistry
• Rostami Hossein, Applied chemistry
• Runtti Hanna, Applied chemistry
• Seelam Prem, Associate professor, Applied chemistry

Doctoral researchers

• Ahmed Humna, Applied chemistry
• Asgharizadeh Kimia, Applied chemistry
• Hautamäki Katariina, Applied chemistry
• Help Riikka, Applied chemistry
• Hegazy Sherif, Applied chemistry
• Hietaniemi Marianna, Applied chemistry
• Jyrkäs Juha
• Karataeva Natalia, Organic chemistry
• Kauppinen Toni, Applied chemistry
• Kervinen Immo, Applied chemistry
• Keski-Korsu-Piekkari Paula, Applied chemistry
• Kokko Maria, Applied chemistry
• Korhonen Minja, Applied chemistry
• Kumpula Akseli, Applied chemistry
• Kälkäjä Salla, Organic chemistry
• Laine Petteri, Applied chemistry
• Leinonen Jere, Applied chemistry
• Lempiäinen Henna, Applied chemistry
• Lin Yan, Applied chemistry
• Luimula Tuuli, Applied chemistry
• Manninen Mikael, Applied chemistry
• Marjelund Emma, Applied chemistry
• Mehdipour Parisa, Applied chemistry
• Melepurakkal Amrutha, Applied chemistry
• Mörttinen Janne, Applied chemistry
• Niemi Tero, Applied chemistry
• Obeyere Abayie Samuel, Applied chemistry
• Pakkanen Elina, Organic chemistry
• Parviainen Tomi, Organic chemistry
• Pikkarainen Arto, Applied chemistry
• Rantala Venla, Applied chemistry
• Rautio Lasse, Applied chemistry
• Saleem Muhammad, Applied chemistry
• Salonen Mikko, Organic chemistry
• Samarina Tatiana, Applied chemistry
• Sobhy Hossam, Applied chemistry
• Sundhararasu Elavarasi, Applied chemistry
• Terho Reima, Organic chemistry
• Tuovinen Teemu, Applied chemistry
• Välikangas Juho, Applied chemistry
• Välimäki Emmi, Applied chemistry
• Yli-Varo Lasse, Applied chemistry

Other staff

• Ekdahl Eveliina, Project researcher
• Huusko Milla, Project manager
• Häkkinen Mikko, Laboratory assistant
• Koski Riikka, Laboratory assistant
• Lapinkangas Suvi, University teacher
• Nuorala Jessica, Laboratory assistant
• Peltola Sirpa, Laboratory assistant
• Piispanen Mirja, Project researcher
• Pulkkinen Jaakko, Senior laboratory technician
• Sulasalmi Jarkko, Project designer
• Väyrynen Markus, Laboratory assistant