ADNAN ASAD
KARIM

Dr. Adnan Asad Karim is a researcher specializing in sustainable biorefinery and biomanufacturing, with a strong focus on biomass waste valorisation through the integration of thermochemical and biotechnological processes. His research addresses global challenges related to the circular bioeconomy, resource efficiency, and sustainable agriculture. In particular, his work explores fundamental scientific and engineering questions related to the sustainability of biorefinery processes, including process robustness, eco-friendly operation, underlying mechanistic principles of biomass conversion, and the scalable integration of diverse conversion pathways. His research agenda is strongly aligned with the strategic objectives of Horizon Europe (ERC PE8: Products and Processes Engineering), particularly those related to climate neutrality, sustainable bio-based industries, circular economy, and rural development. He received his doctorate in Biological Sciences in 2018 from the CSIR–Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT), Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), India. During his PhD, Dr. Karim pioneered the valorisation of potassium-rich banana peduncle using pyrolysis and thermal plasma technologies. This work resulted in a licensed patent and multiple publications in high-impact international journals. Through this research, he investigated mechanistic aspects of thermochemical biomass transformation and nutrient recovery. He subsequently developed co-pyrolysis strategies for industrial waste streams, enabling the production of organo-mineral fertilisers with enhanced agronomic and environmental performance, directly contributing to circular economy and sustainable agriculture goals. After completing his PhD, Dr. Karim worked as a Guest Lecturer in Environmental Science at Rajdhani College, Utkal University, India, followed by a position as Senior Project Associate (Postdoctoral Researcher) at CSIR-IMMT, where he continued to explore sustainable and eco-efficient waste-to-value technologies relevant to bio-based innovation and environmental protection. In 2022, Dr. Karim joined the University of Jaén (UJA) as a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow and has continued as a researcher at the university. There, he established an independent research line focused on microwave-assisted hydrothermal pretreatment and inhibitor-resistant fermentation of agro-residues. This research addresses critical sustainability challenges in biorefineries, such as improving process robustness, reducing environmental impact, elucidating reaction and inhibition mechanisms, and enhancing the scalability and integration of bioprocesses. The work contributes directly to Horizon Europe Cluster 6 priorities and is closely aligned with Spain’s Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy and bioeconomy and circular economy policies, particularly in the context of agro-industrial residue valorisation and rural development in Mediterranean regions. Dr. Karim maintains active collaborations with industrial partners in Spain and India, facilitating effective technology transfer to farmers’ associations and fertiliser industries. He is actively involved in scientific dissemination, outreach activities, and rural development initiatives, supporting knowledge transfer and societal impact in line with European and national research policies. He mentors PhD and Master’s students, serves as a reviewer for several high-impact journals, and is an Editorial Board Member of the Energy Engineering Journal. He is also strongly committed to Open Science, promoting FAIR-compliant data sharing through the Zenodo repository, fully consistent with Horizon Europe Open Science requirements and Spanish research policy frameworks.