Carl Johan Franzén

Carl Johan Franzén is Professor in Bioreaction Engineering. He is member of the Faculty Senate at Chalmers, Chair of the BIO Department Faculty Assembly, member of the undergraduate education committee at the BIO department, and Student ombud at Chalmers.

His research deals with development of robust bioprocesses for production of biobased fuels, chemicals, and microbial cultures. The focus is on the interplay between process conditions and microbial physiology. The main application is advanced fed-batch methodology for bioethanol production from lignocellulosic raw materials, using dynamic mathematical models and physiologically based control as tools. The methods are also applied to biobased production of chemicals, such as lactic acid using thermophilic bacteria. He also collaborates with industry to investigate how microbial production processes can be designed and modulated to produce robust starter cultures (lactic acid bacteria) and probiotics (bifidobacteria). His research leads to reduced emissions of carbon dioxide through better utilization of raw materials and agricultural and forestry residues for production of important renewable biofuels, chemicals and microorganisms.