LAHORE:Two faculty members Dr Maliha Uroos and Dr Sadia Naz from the School of Chemistry, Punjab University, have been awarded with two patents by Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO) Pakistan for their pioneering Ionic Liquids-based biomass processing technologies.
According to a press release, their revolutionary approach efficiently deconstructs lignocellulosic biomass, enabling the production of high-value biofuels and chemicals. A key outcome of their patented process is 5-ethoxymethylfurfural (5-EMF), a next-generation biofuel additive with energy density comparable to gasoline and diesel, offering a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.