Harriet Fletcher

Project Title: Development of an Algal Biorefinery

Background

I graduated with an MEng in chemical engineering from the University of Nottingham in 2012. During my time there I underwent a design project in biofuels from wheat, which is what got me first interested in a PhD in low carbon technologies and also set me on the path to my current PhD project. I also completed a volunteer project in Peru building a wind turbine and installing it in a remote location, which was an amazing experience and got me further involved in low carbon technologies and their importance in a future society.

Research Interests

My research involves the use of microwaves to sequentially extract high value chemicals from macroalgae (seaweed), before utilising the remaining biomass as a feedstock for bioethanol production, in a biorefinery-type approach. The advantage of this method is that the entirety of the biomass is utilised, both improving the economics of the system, as the production of high value chemicals helps with the high cost of producing biofuel from seaweed, as well as reducing waste products. My current focus is on extracting fucoidan, a chemical currently of high interest to the pharmaceutical industry, due to its wide range of biomedical properties.