G. Peter van Walsum

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Thursday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

Interim Department Chair and Professor

B. A. (Geology) Williams College, 1985
B. Eng. (Chemical Engineering) McGill University, Canada, 1988
M. Eng. (Chemical Engineering) McGill University, Canada, 1992
Ph. D. (Biochemical Engineering) Dartmouth College, 1998

Phone: 207.581.2226
Fax: 207.581.2323
Email: gerard.van@maine.edu

Research Interests

Biomass processing • Biorefining • Renewable energy, fuels and chemicals • Process engineering

Current Research

Developing Value Added Products and Biofuels from Marine Macro Algae

There is increasing interest in cultivating marine macro algae in Maine and New England. Increased production and consumption of marine algae will be beneficial for the economy of the working water front, as well as developing sustainable biomass and healthy food resources. Enabling the growth of this enterprise can be facilitated by improving methods for processing algal biomass for production and transport of food and non-food products from sea vegetables. This project looks particularly at extraction of high value bioactives and macromolecules from algal biomass and low energy drying of sea vegetables.

Recyclable α-Hydroxysulfonic Acids for Hydrolysis and Dehydration of Biomass

Hydrolysis and dehydration of biomass with a strong mineral acid is a common approach for production of chemicals such as furfural, formic acid and levulinic acid (FFL). Typically, recycling a strong mineral acid is difficult and costly, while the alternative of neutralization and disposal of the mineral salt is waste-generating and also expensive. We are investigating the production of these bioproducts from woody and algal biomass using α-hydroxysulfonic acids (HSAs), some of which are strong enough to hydrolyze biomass while being recyclable as non-acidic volatile gasses; for example α-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid can be recycled as SO₂ and acetaldehyde.

Mixed culture fermentation of biomass to fuels and chemicals

Non sterile mixed culture fermentations are robust, reliable and inexpensive means of converting low value biomass resources to fuels and chemicals. Anaerobic digestion, to produce either mixed organic acids or biogas are applied as means of adding value to municipal and industrial wastes, as well as harvested biomass. Mixed organic acids in particular provide a versatile chemical platform from which to derive a wide variety of valuable organic molecules and biofuels.

Selected Publications

Publications of Prof. G. Peter van Walsum (PDF)