Dr. Thomas Pielhop

Personal profile

Position at the ZHAW

Group Leader and Lecturer

www.zhaw.ch/de/lsfm/institute-zentren/icbt/biokatalyse-und-prozesstechnologie/biobasierte-rohstoffe

Expertise and research interests

Biomass, Biochemicals, Fine Chemicals, Process Development, Process Scale-Up

Educational background

05/2010 – 11/2015
PhD studies
Institute of Process Engineering
ETH Zurich
“Hydrothermal/Steam Explosion Pretreatment with Carbocation Scavengers for
Biofuels- and Chemicals Production"

10/2004 – 09/2009
Undergradutae and graduate studies in Chemical Engineering
TU Munich
Master's thesis: "Production of Chemicals from Renewable Resources by Reactive Rectification" (Süd-Chemie AG)

Professional milestones

03/2017 – 12/2021
Givaudan SA, Geneva
Process Development Chemist, Laboratory Head
Development of production processes for novel bio-derived cosmetic and fragrance ingredients

12/2015 – 01/2017
Institute of Process Engineering
ETH Zurich
Postdoctoral Researcher and Assistant Lecturer

02/2010 – 11/2015
Institute of Process Engineering
ETH Zurich
Research Associate and Assistant Lecturer

04/2009 – 09/2009
Süd-Chemie AG, Munich
Master's thesis

Projects

• Nutzung von Lignin aus Biogasanlagen / Project leader / Project ongoing
• Aufbau einer Ligninplattform / Project leader / Project ongoing
• Einfluss und Nachweis von biologisch abbaubaren Werkstoffen in der Umwelt (BAWIU) / Deputy project leader / Project ongoing

Publications before appointment at the ZHAW

The influence of the explosive decompression in steam-explosion pretreatment on the enzymatic digestibility of different biomasses
C.-M. Seidel, T. Pielhop, M.H. Studer and Ph. Rudolf von Rohr
Faraday Discussions (2017)

Sustainability assessment of glucose production technologies from highly recalcitrant softwood
M. Morales, T. Pielhop, P. Saliba, K. Hungerbühler, Ph. Rudolf von Rohr and S. Papadokonstantakis
Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining (2017)

Application potential of a carbocation scavenger in autohydrolysis and dilute acid pretreatment to overcome high softwood recalcitrance
T. Pielhop, C. Reinhard, C. Hecht, L. Del Bene, M.H. Studer and Ph. Rudolf von Rohr
Biomass and Bioenergy (2017)

Pilot-scale steam explosion pretreatment with 2-naphthol to overcome high softwood recalcitrance
T. Pielhop, J. Amgarten, M.H. Studer and Ph. Rudolf von Rohr
Biotechnology for Biofuels (2017)

Autohydrolysis pretreatment of softwood - enhancement by phenolic additives and the effects of other compounds
T. Pielhop, G.O. Larrazábal and Ph. Rudolf von Rohr
Green Chemistry (2016)

Steam explosion pretreatment of softwood: the effect of the explosive decompression on enzymatic digestibility
T. Pielhop, J. Amgarten, M.H. Studer and Ph. Rudolf von Rohr
Biotechnology for Biofuels (2016)

Repolymerisation in spruce autohydrolysis pretreatment increases cellulase deactivation
T. Pielhop, G.O. Larrazábal, M.H. Studer, S. Brethauer, C.-M. Seidel and Ph. Rudolf von Rohr
Green Chemistry (2015)

Treatment of lignocellulosic biomass with aromatic chemicals as scavengers
T. Pielhop, G. O. Larrazábal and P. Rudolf von Rohr,
Patent US10370501B2 (2015)

Use of carbonium ion scavengers in the treatment of lignocellulosic biomass
T. Pielhop, M.H. Studer and P. Rudolf von Rohr
Patent US9611494B2 (2013)

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