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About me

Biorefining via thermochemical conversion of solid fuels (gasification, pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction, combustion and related environmental technologies), hybrid energy production in distributed scale (solid biofuels, biogas, liquid biofuels, solar). Chemical process engineering, research & development & design, modelling and simulation of chemical processes, experimental research of processes in different scales (from laboratory to commercial scale ), preparation of research & development projects, their accomplishment and coordination.  

Top achievements

Supervisor or instructor in Ph.D. Theses (10 completed, 3 in progress): Bajamundi Cyril: Academic Dissertation in May, 2015. Kramb Jason: January, 2017. Keipi Tiina: December, 2017. Doppaneni Tharak: April 2018. Lampio Kaj: August 2018. Pääkkönen Anna: December 2019. Bhatnagar Anubhuti: September 2022, Niemelä Niko: April 2022, Abhishek Singhal: May 2023. Kanellis Georgios: 2012 – 2024, Losoi, Pauli: 2018-2023. Avishek Goel 2021 – 2025, Babak Arjmand 2022 – 2026. Also supervisor in 70 Master's Theses and 25 Bachelor's Theses.

Supervisor of Best Academic Dissertation (Tiina Keipi), awarded in 2019 both by Tampere University and Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland TEK.

Since 2010: Pre-examiner or opponent in 15 academic dissertations, also external reviewer of 7 academic professorship/expert positions.  

Years 1999 – 2006 and 2009-2012: Carbona Inc. as part-time Consultant. Key merit: Successful process design related with a 20 MW Skive gasification CHP plant in Skive, Denmark. Years 1992- 1995: Enviropower Inc., Research engineer: Succesful pilot-scale demonstration of a renegenative sulfur removal process.

Research unit

Bio and Circular Economy

Funding

Since 2024 PI in Bio4all (Business Finland, TAU 250 k€, total 3,5 M€), in 2019 – 2024 WP leader in BL2F (EU Horizon TAU 861 k€, total 5 M€). Confidential research contracts and small grants in 2014 – 2024 about 425 k€. Other previous grants 1,5 M€.

Research career

• Since 2014 Tampere University of Technology (Tampere University from 2019), Professor, Chemistry of Biorefining and in 2017-2018 Head of Laboratory of Chemistry and Bioengineering. 

• 2009 – 2014 University of Jyväskylä, Professor, Renewable Energy. 

• 2007-2008 Andritz Oy/Carbona Oy, Research Director

• 1999-2006 Åbo Akademi University, Senior Researcher 

• 1998 D. Sc. (Chem Eng.) Åbo Akademi University 

Selected publications

• Singhal A., Roslander C., Goel A., Ismailov A., Erdei B., Wallberg O., Konttinen J., Joronen T. (2024): Combined leaching and steam explosion pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass for high quality feedstock for thermochemical applications. Chemical Engineering Journal, Volume 489, 1 June 2024, 151298. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.151298

• Losoi P., Konttinen J., Santala V. (2022): Substantial gradient mitigation in simulated large-scale bioreactors by optimally placed multiple feed points. Accepted for publication in Biotechnology and Bioengineering. https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.28232

• Bhatnagar, A., Khatri, P., Krzywonos, M., Tolvanen, H. & Konttinen, J. (2022): Techno-economic and environmental assessment of decentralized pyrolysis for crop residue management: Rice and wheat cultivation system in India. Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132998

• Goel A., Moghaddam E. M., Liu W., He C., Konttinen J. (2022), Biomass chemical looping gasification for high-quality syngas: A critical review and technological outlooks. Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 268, 15 September 2022, 116020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2022.116020

• Lappalainen J., Baudouin D., Hornung U., Schuler J., Melin K., Bjelić S., Vogel F., Konttinen J. and Joronen T. (2020): Sub- and Supercritical Water Liquefaction of Kraft Lignin and Black Liquor Derived Lignin. Energies, 13(13), 3309. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13133309

• Doddapaneni T., Ramasamy P., Tolvanen H., Rintala J., Konttinen J. (2018): Techno-economic evaluation of integrating torrefaction with anaerobic digestion. Applied Energy Volume 213 (March), pp.272–284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.01.045 

• Keipi T., Li T., Løvås L.T, Tolvanen H., Konttinen J. (2017): methane thermal decomposition in regenerative heat exchanger reactor: Experimental and modelingstudy. Energy. Energy 135 (September), pp. 823-832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2017.06.176 

• Kramb, J., Konttinen, J.T., Gomez-Barea, A., Moilanen, A., Umeki, K. (2014) Modeling biomass char gasification kinetics for improving prediction of carbon conversion in a fluidized bed gasifier. Fuel 132 (September), pp. 107–115. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2014.04.014 

• Konttinen J., Backman R., Hupa M., Moilanen A., Kurkela E., (2013) Trace element behaviour in the fluidized bed gasification of solid recovered fuels – A thermodynamic study. Fuel 106 (April), pp. 621–631. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2012.10.009 

• Konttinen, J.; Zevenhoven, C.A.P.; Hupa M.M. (1997): Hot Gas Desulfurization with Zinc Titanate Sorbents in a Fluidized Bed. 2. Reactor Model. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 36 (6), pp. 2340-2345. 

• Konttinen, J. T.; Salo, K.; Ghazanfari, R.; Feher, G.; Lehtovaara, A.; Mojtahedi, W.: Pilot Scale Experience on IGCC Hot Gas Cleanup. In: Proceedings of the Advanced Coal-Fired Power Systems '95 Review Meeting, Volume 1. June 1995. U. S. Department of Energy, Morgantown Energy Technology Center. Morgantown, WV, USA, 1995.