Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
For his PhD, Dr Chris Chuck investigated novel catalysts for the production of biodiesel from waste oils. After which Chris switched departments to Mechanical Engineering where he worked closely with the Ford Motor Company and BP on developing renewable biofuel technology, he also oversaw the design and construction of a microalgal bioreactor.
Chris spent the next 18 months running his own consultancy, in which he worked on projects related to renewable bioproducts with a range of companies, the Universities of Exeter, Bath and Bangor and DEFRA.
In September 2010, Chris rejoined the University of Bath as a Knowledge Transfer Fellow, developing catalysts for the production of bioplastics with Purac Biochem. He was awarded a Whorrod Research Fellowship in Sustainable Chemical Technologies in September 2011.
Research
Chris’s group is multidisciplinary and investigates renewable alternative fuels and bioproducts. Within the group both photo-, mixo- and heterotrophic microbes are being investigated for their potential to produce lipids and higher value bioproducts. The aim is to develop this research into a sustainable biorefinery where fuels, chemicals and animal feed can be produced economically without impacting heavily on food and fresh water resources.
Further work is being undertaken into the upgrading of the biomass products by applying alternative chemical methods to fuel synthesis. The resulting liquid fuels address not only the sustainability issues but also the poor performance of current first generation biofuels. The aim of this work is to develop suitable road transportation fuels and biofuels suitable for the aviation industry. To further support this work collaborations are in place with academics in Mechanical Engineering working on fuel combustion and Life Cycle Analysis as well as EADS and the Ford Motor Company.
Further work within the group includes upgrading lignin through catalytic depolymerisation and testing this as a renewable additive.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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CFG Scale up low emission yeast technology
Henk, D. (PI) & Chuck, C. (CoI)
Innovate UK, Innovate UK Business Connect
2/10/23 → 30/06/25
Project: Central government, health and local authorities
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Cellular Agriculture Manufacturing Hub
Ellis, M. (PI), Chuck, C. (CoI), Leese, H. (CoI), Leese, H. (CoI), Mattia, D. (CoI), Mattia, D. (CoI), McManus, M. (CoI), Newnes, L. (CoI), Squire, B. (CoI), Xie, M. (CoI), Brook, L. (Researcher), Carter, F. (Researcher) & Davies, G. (Researcher)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
1/10/23 → 30/09/30
Project: Research council
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Plate to Pasture
Chuck, C. (PI), Castro Dominguez, B. (CoI) & Leese, H. (CoI)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
1/11/22 → 31/10/25
Project: Research council
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IAA-AirChip
Moschou, D. (PI), Chuck, C. (CoI), Estrela, P. (CoI) & Leonhardt, M. (Researcher)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
1/06/20 → 31/03/21
Project: Research council
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IAA - Assessment of technoeconomic studies for HTL production and estimation of costs for a potential bio-bitument plant
Chuck, C. (PI)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
20/07/19 → 19/10/19
Project: Research council
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Accessing the Efficacy of Sargassum-Based Aqueous Phase Products Derived from Hydrothermal Carbonisation and Hydrothermal Liquefaction on Plant Growth
Smith, J., Pilsbury, A., Kumar, V., Karamerou, E. E., Chuck, C. J., Herrera-Rodriguez, L., Suarez, J. V. & Allen, M. J., 31 Mar 2024, In: Phycology. 4, 1, p. 53-64 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access2 Citations (SciVal) -
Assessing Metschnikowia pulcherrima as a potential probiotic yeast for animal feed
Al-Nijir, M., Henk, D., Bedford, M. & Chuck, C., 25 Apr 2024, In: Sustainable Microbiology. 1, 1, 10 p., qvae008.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Converting perennial ryegrass into lipid using the oleaginous yeast Metschnikowia pulcherrima
Guler Gencer, F., Leese, H., Castro Dominguez, B. & Chuck, C., 15 Dec 2024, In: Industrial Crops and Products. 222, 15, 10 p., 119990.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Developing Hydrophobic Alginate-Amine Derivatives as a Coating for Food Packaging
Tosuwan, P., Leese, H. S. & Chuck, C. J., 13 Sept 2024, In: ACS Applied Polymer Materials. 6, 17, p. 10669-10677 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Mechanochemical extraction of edible proteins from moor grass
Olalere, O., Guler Gencer, F., Chuck, C., Leese, H. & Castro Dominguez, B., 16 Jul 2024, In: Royal Society of Chemistry Mechanochemistry.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
Datasets
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Dataset for "A synergistic use of microalgae and macroalgae for heavy metal bioremediation and bioenergy production through hydrothermal liquefaction"
Chuck, C. (Creator), University of Bath, 26 Nov 2018
DOI: 10.15125/BATH-00539
Dataset
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Dataset for "Hydrothermal conversion of lipid-extracted microalgae hydrolysate in the presence of isopropanol and steel furnace residues"
Chuck, C. (Creator), University of Bath, 20 May 2017
DOI: 10.15125/BATH-00353
Dataset
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Cross-metathesis of microbial oils for the production of advanced biofuels and chemicals
Chuck, C. (Creator), University of Bath, 2015
DOI: 10.15125/BATH-00083
Dataset
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Branched ketone biofuels as blending agents for Jet-A1 aviation kerosene
Chuck, C. (Creator), University of Bath, 2017
DOI: 10.15125/BATH-00163
Dataset
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Degradation of a β-O-4 model lignin species by vanadium Schiff-base catalysts: influence of catalyst structure and reaction conditions on activity and selectivity
Jones, M. (Creator), Parker, H. (Data Collector), Woodman, T. (Data Collector) & Chuck, C. (Data Collector), University of Bath, 2015
DOI: 10.15125/BATH-00135
Dataset
Thesis
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Lewis acid catalyst design for the transesterification of lower quality feedstock for biodiesel production
Chuck, C. (Author)Davidson, M. (Supervisor), 1 Nov 2007Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › PhD
File
Activities
- 1 Media article or participation
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Mechanochemistry can extract edible proteins from moor grass
Castro Dominguez, B. (Contributor), Leese, H. (Contributor), Chuck, C. (Contributor), Guler Gencer, F. (Contributor) & Olalere, O. (Contributor)
14 Oct 2024Activity: Media article or participation, blog › Media article or participation