Trajano, Heather

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Research Interests

• Biomass Conversion to Biofuels and Bioproducts
• Biorefinery
• Pulp and Paper
• Hemicellulose
• Extractives
• Enzymatic Hydrolysis
• Catalysis
• Kinetic Modeling
• Transport Phenomena

Research Summary

Dr. Heather Trajano’s research aims to transform B.C.’s pulp, paper, and saw mills into innovative biorefineries producing chemicals and energy alongside current outputs. This transformation will generate new revenue and employment opportunities and contribute to establishment of a low-carbon economy. There are many pathways to transform wood because of its complex composition. Wood is made up of three long chain-like molecules called cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Wood also contains small molecules called extractives. Her focus to transform hemicellulose and extractives into valuable chemicals and materials.

You might have a hemicellulose product in your pocket right now. Hemicellulose can be transformed to xylitol, a sweetener commonly used in gum because it prevents tooth decay. To maximize hemicellulose’s value, it must recovered from wood in good quantity and quality. Her lab works to advance technologies to recover hemicellulose suitable for an array of applications from increasing paper strength to food additives.

Did you know that Taxol, the best-selling cancer drug ever-manufactured, is an extractive that was first produced from Pacific Yew bark? Highly bioactive extractives are part of tree’s defenses against infestation by microbes. Her lab works to leverage strategic opportunities to recover these extraordinary molecules from pulp mill process stream. They develop processes to recover and purify extractives in order to generate valuable fine chemicals.

Both hemicellulose and extractives can be transformed through catalysis. For example, a catalyst is needed to convert hemicellulose to xylitol or convert extractives to pharmaceuticals. Her lab investigates how the complexity of biomass influences catalytic reactions.

Independent of project, Her goal is to integrate knowledge of biomass structure with fundamental chemical engineering principles such as kinetics and mass transfer to develop processes. She works with academic and industry experts from diverse disciplines to advance the frontiers of biorefining.