Queensland University of Technology

About us

One area of research addresses the valorisation of agricultural residues. QUT has developed hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) technologies for producing resins and polyurethanes, as well as methods for bio-oil separation and analysis. The university operates pilot-scale facilities in Mackay and Brisbane, with access to sugarcane bagasse and trash. These capacities enable research on the processing and functionalisation of biomass-based feedstocks as part of broader efforts in sustainable material and resource use.

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is a public research university located in Brisbane, Australia. Its research activities are characterised by a strong applied orientation and cover a broad range of disciplines, including engineering, materials science, environmental technologies, and sustainability.

One research focus at QUT lies in the utilisation of agricultural residues for material and chemical applications. In this context, QUT has developed hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) technologies to produce resins and polyurethane precursors, alongside methods to characterise and separate resulting bio-oils.

The university operates a pilot facility in Mackay, a major agricultural region in Queensland, which provides access to sugarcane bagasse and trash as feedstocks. Additional infrastructure at the Banyo Pilot Plant and Gardens Point campus supports pilot-scale processing, separation, and characterisation of biomass-derived materials.

QUT's work in this area contributes to research on the development and assessment of biobased materials, including questions of process scalability, material performance, and integration into existing value chains. The research is often embedded in interdisciplinary collaborations and oriented toward practical implementation in cooperation with partners from science, industry, and government.