Teaching Biorefinery Concepts: From Waste Red Pine Sawdust to Regenerated Cellulose

Abstract

Abstract The integration of strategies for industrial waste valorization into education is a highly topical topic. This helps to prepare professionals who are capable of addressing current environmental and economic challenges. However, its integration into experimentally driven undergraduate experiences remains limited, particularly in multidisciplinary programs with a minimal chemistry focus. In this work, we present a laboratory experiment for undergraduate students focused on producing a cellulose thread fromPinus sylvestris biomass. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are used as fractionation solvents and a technology similar to Lyocell for cellulose solubilization and regeneration. By using regional agroforestry waste biomass, students gain both deep discipline-specific knowledge and interdisciplinary skills to address complex human-environment interactions. This approach emphasizes biorefinery concepts, enabling students to explore new waste valorization processes while fostering awareness of energy challenges, climate change causes, and sustainable development goals (SDGs). The activity equips students to drive societal changes that protect the environment and improve the quality of life.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Journal of Chemical Education, 2026 · DOI ↗