Dr. Elmar Villota
Short Bio:
An associate professor and is currently the head of the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department. He recently finished his Ph.D. in Biological and Agricultural Engineering from Washington State University (Pullman, WA) with his specialization in Bioenergy and Bioproducts Engineering. His Ph.D. work mainly focused on developing and optimizing green processes in converting more sustainable feedstocks like second-generation biomass to potentially replace fossil-based products, primarily liquid phase fuels such as gasoline-range and jet fuels. Specifically, he worked on process optimization of producing chemically activated porous carbons from biomass for various applications, including catalytic fast pyrolysis under microwave energy and adsorbent for purification systems. His notable works in this exciting and emerging technologies for bioconversion and biorefinery have been transcribed into at least 23 co-authored research articles published in several internationally renowned high impact factor journals, including the Royal Society of Chemistry (RCS) Green Chemistry, Energy Conversion and Management, Applied Energy, American Chemical Society (ACS) Applied Materials and Interfaces, ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, and Bioresource Technology. Further, Dr. Villota, with several distinguished Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Bioproducts, Sciences, and Engineering Laboratory (BSEL) experts, authored a comprehensive chapter about lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysis and saccharification published under the Wiley title "Green Energy to Sustainability: Strategies for Global Industries." His research interest includes areas under of biomass conversion, green chemistry, and circular bioeconomy.
Research Interests:
Food Processing, Food Engineering, Bioenergy,Biofuels, Bioproducts, Bio-conversion Sustainability, Circular Bioeconomy, Activated Carbon, Pyrolysis
Current Designations:
Department Head - DABE