The Institute of Energy and Chemical Engineering mainly conducts applied basic research and technological development on the high-efficiency conversion of organic solid waste, biomass and other feedstocks via multiple pathways to produce energy fuels, chemicals and materials. Its specific research areas are listed as follows:

(1) Bio-Energy

Production of fuels (including gaseous fuels, liquid fuels, hydrogen energy, etc.), thermal energy and polygeneration products from organic solid waste such as biomass through thermochemical, chemical, biological and other conversion approaches.

(2) Bio-based Chemicals and Materials

Development of principles, methods, and process routes for converting biomass and other organic wastes through multiple pathways into biobased chemicals and materials, such as levulinic acid and its esters, furan compounds, 5-aminolevulinic acid and its esters, hydroxy ketones and hydroxy aldehydes, polymer monomers, and downstream functional materials.