Dr. Alex Berg, Executive Director

a.berg(at)udt.cl / +56 41 266 1811

Lines of research:

  • Delignification processes in acetic acid medium.
  • Extraction and use of polyphenols (tannins) from pine bark.
  • Design and development of technologies associated with forest biorefineries.

Education

  • PhD in Natural Sciences, UNIVERSITÄT HAMBURG. Germany, 1989
  • Chemical Civil Engineer, UNIVERSITY OF CONCEPCIÓN. Chile, 1983

Professional Experience

  • Researcher
    Bundesforschungsanstalt für Forst- und Holzwirtschaft, Germany
    January 1984 – January 1987
  • Acetocell Process Project Manager
    Veba Oel AG, Germany
    July 1987 – December 1993
  • Executive Director of UDT
    University of Concepción, Chile
    January 1996 – Present date
  • Member of the Board of Directors
    Neumann Secadores S.A., Chile
    January 2013 – Present date
  • Member of the Board of Directors
    Lota-Arauco Technical Training Center, Chile
    January 1999 – Present date
  • Member of the Executive Committee Mecesup Program
    Ministry of Education, Chile
    January 1999 – January 2002
  • Member of the Executive Committee of Graduate Scholarships
    CONICYT, Chile
    January 2003 – January 2005
  • Member of the Executive Committee Competition for Thesis Making in Industry
    CONICYT/PBCT, Chile
    January 2007 – January 2008
  • Alternate Director
    Advanced Polymer Research Center (CIPA), Chile
    January 2003 – January 2010
  • Interim Director
    Advanced Polymer Research Center (CIPA), Chile
    January 2010 – January 2011
  • Member of the Executive Committee Innovation Fund Bio Bio Bio Region
    CORFO, Chile
    January 1996 – January 2001
  • Chairman of the Board of Directors
    Economic Development Corporation Coronel-Lota, Chile
    January 2001 – January 2004
  • Director
    Technical Association of Pulp and Paper, ATCP, Chile
    January 2008 – January 2009
  • Member of the Board of Directors
    Regional Unity Council (CUR) of the “Agricultural Nutritional Genomics Centre” (CGNA), Chile
    January 2006 – January 2009
KARSCHIN, I.; BERG, A.; GELDERMANN, J.: Development of a Network-location-model for the Economic Optimization of Local Heating Systems in Urban Chile. Zeitschrift für Energiewirtschaft 42, 21-33 (2018).

PEREDO, K.; ESCOBAR, D.; VEGA-LARA, J.; BERG, A.; PEREIRA, M.: Thermochemical properties of cellulose acetate blends with acetosolv and sawdust lignin: A comparative study. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 83, 403-409 (2016).

PEREDO, K.; REYES, H.; ESCOBAR, D.; VEGA, J.; BERG, A.; PEREIRA, M.: Acetylation of bleached kraft pulp: Effect of xylan content on properties of acetylated compounds. Carbohydrate Polymers, 117, 1014 – 1020 (2014).

WILKOMIRSKY, I.; MORENO, E.; BERG, A.: Bio-oil production from biomass by flash pyrolysis in a three stage fluidized bed reactors system. Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, 2, 6 – 10 (2014).

BERG, A.; KARNA, N.; FUENTEALBA, C.: Energetic viability of wheat straw fractionation by Acetosolv process. Cellulose Chemistry and Technology, 48 (9 – 10) 787 – 792 (2014).

CASE, P.; BIZAMA, C.; SEGURA, C.; WHEELER, M.C.; BERG, A.; DESISTO, W.: Pyrolysis of pre-treated tannins obtained from radiata pine bark. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 107, 250 – 255 (2014).

BERG, A.; FUENTEALBA, C.; SALAZAR, J.: Separation of lignocellulosic componentes in acetic acid media and evaluation of applications. Journal of Science & Technology for Forest Products and Processes, 3, 27 – 32 (2014).

TESSINI, C.; MULLER, N.; MARDONES, C.; MEIER, D.;  BERG, A.; VON BAER, D.: Chromatographic approaches for determination of low-molecular mass aldehydes in bio-oil. Journal of Chromatography A. 1.219, 154-160 (2012).

TESSINI, C.; VEGA, M.; MULLER, N.; BUSTAMANTE, L.;  VON BAER, D.; BERG, A.; MARDONES, C.: High performance thin layer chromatography determination of cellobiosan and levoglucosan in bio-oil obtained by fast pyrolysis of sawdust. Journal of Chromatography A. 1.218(24), 3811-3815 (2011).

BIDART, C.; JIMÉNEZ, R.; CARLESI, C.; FLORES, M.; BERG, A.: Synthesis and usage of common and functionalized ionic liquids for biogas upgrading. Chemical Engineering Journal (DOI:10.1016/j.cej.201107024) (2011).

BEIS, S.; MUKKAMALA, S.; HILL, N.; JOSEPH, J.; BAKER, C.; JENSEN, B.; STEMMLER, E.; WHEELER, M.; FREDERICK, B. G., VAN HEININGEN, A., BERG, A. G., DESISTO, W.: Fast Pyrolysis of Lignins, BioRes, Vol. 5, pp. 1408-1424, agosto 2010.

MARDONES, C.; VON BAER, D.; SILVA, J.; RUFF, A.; GUTIÉRREZ L.; BERG, A.: Tribromophenol and Pentachlorophenol uptake from Sawdust to Horticultural Products. Food Additives & Contaminants. Part A Chemistry, Vol. 26, pp. 1362-1371, 2009.

MARDONES, C; PALMA, J.; SEPÚLVEDA, C.; BERG, A. & D. VON BAER: Determination of tribromophebnol and pentachlorophenol and its metabolite pentachloroanisol in Asparagus officinalis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Journal of Separation Sciences 26 (9-10), 923 – 926 (2003).

NIMZ, H.H.; BERG, A.; GRANZOW, C.; CASTEN, R. & S. MULADI: Zellstoffgewinnung und -Bleiche nach dem Acetosolv-Verfahren. Das Papier 43, 10A, V102-V108 (1989).

NIMZ, H.H.; GRANZOW, C. & A. BERG: Acetosolv Pulping. Holz als Roh- und Werkstoff 44, 362 (1986).

BERG. A.: “El pariente pobre” Opinión / Ciencia y Tecnología. Celulosa y Papel, 33(1), 10 (2017).

ESCOBAR, D.; BUSTAMANTE, L.; RIQUELME, S.; RUIZ, M.A.; JARA, P.; VON BAER, D.; LAMPERTI, L.; FUENTEALBA, C.; VERGARA, C.; BERG, A.; MARDONES, C.:  Phenolic compounds and antioxidant apacity of grape cane extract produced at bench scale. 14th International Congress of Ethnopharmacology and Simposio Internacional de Química de Productos Naturales y sus Aplicaciones, Puerto Varas, Chile; 09/2014.

BERG, A.; KUMAR, N.; FUENTEALBA, C.: Acetosolv-process: from pilot plant to industrial scale. Proceedings 5th Nordic Wood Biorefinery Conference Stockholm, Sweden, March 25 – 27, 2014.

CARRIER, M.; MÜLLER, N.; GRANDON, H.; SEGURA, C.; WILKOMIRSKY, I.; BERG, A.: Depolymerization of acetosolv lignin through in-situ catalytic fast pyrolysis. Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Químicas de la Universidad de Cuenca, Ecuador, 10, 61-66, diciembre, 2014.

BERG, A.: Biorrefinerías Forestales. Engineers Journal. 33 – 35 (2013).

BERG, A.; FUENTEALBA, C; SALAZAR, J.P.: Separation of lignocellulosic components in acetic acid media and evaluation of applications. Proceeding 17th International Symposium on Wood, Fibre and Pulping Chemistry ISWFPC 2013 Vancouver, Canada, June 12 – 14, 2013.

MÜLLER, N.; TESSINI, C.; SEGURA, C.; GRANDÓN, H.; BERG, A.: Pirólise rápida da madeira para producão de bio-óleo.Bioenergía & Biorrefinaria. Cana-de-Açúcar & Espécies Florestais. Part 2, Chapter 8.

BIDART, C.; BERG, A.; CORTÉS, G.: Cogeneration Using Residual Forest Biomass – A Case of Study Under Chilean Economic Framework Conditions. Proceedings of the Chilean-German Biociclo Workshop2010.

ZAROR, C.; BERG, A.; BIDART, C.: Forestry Biomass as a Feedstock for Energy Production in Chile: Challenges and Opportunities, in Challenges for Sustainable Biomass Utilisation. Eds M. Hiete, J. Ludwig, C. Bidart, F. Schultmann. KIT Scientific Publishing. Karlsruhe, Alemania. ISBN: 978-3-86644-437-9. pp 1-9, 2010.

HIETE, M.; LUDWIG, J.; DOHN, N.; NÜMANN, K.; BERG, A.: Potential for Production and Marketing of Bio-Oil Based Chemicals in Chile. Proceedings of the Chilean-German Biociclo Workshop 2010.

MONSALVE, E.; PEREIRA, M.; BORQUEZ, R.; BERG, A.: Recuperación de Reactivos y Sustancias Orgánicas de Alto Peso Molecular en el Pulpaje Semiquímico al Sulfito Neutro Mediante Ultrafiltración. ATCP Chile, 26 (2) (2010) 25.

FLORES, M.; BIDART, C.; KIHM, A.; JIMÉNEZ, R.; BERG, A.: Determination of Logistic Chain Supply for Biogas Production in Bio Bio Valley, Chile. Proceeding of Bioenergy 2009.

BERG, A.; NEUGEBAUER, J.; CARRASCO, J.C.: Energy Recovery from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in Chile. World Bioenergy 2008, Procedings Poster Session, Jönköping, Suecia, pp.182-183, 27 – 29 de mayo de 2008.

SZARKA, N.; BERG, A.; PRAUS; S.: Forests biomass in Chile – Enormous potential for energetic use. DepoTech, pp. 629-632. VGE Verlag GMBH Essen. 2008. ISBN 978-3-86797-028-0.

BERG, A.; NAVARRETE, P.; OLAVE, O.: Bio-Chemicals and standarized Solid Fuels from Radiata Pine Bark. 15th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, Berlin, 7 – 11 de mayo de 2007.

BIDART, C.; BERG, A.: Cogeneración en Base a Residuos Madereros y Forestales. Un Análisis Comparativo de Costos de Producción (I). A Comparative Analysis of Production Costs (I) Pulp and Paper. Vol 23, No. 5, December 2007.

BERG, A.: Extractos polifenólicos de corteza como base para la fabricación de adhesivos. Cassel, E. et al.; Industrial Applications of Vegetable Tannins, CYTED, October 2007.

BIDART, C.; BERG, A.: The Forest Biomass as an Energy Source in Chile. Proceedings 15th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, Berlín, 7 – 11 de mayo de 2007.

BERG, A.; MALDONADO, A. y C. VENEGAS: Introduction of WPC products into the Chilean Market.  Bledzki, A. y V. Sperber: “6th Global Wood and Natural Fibre Composites Symposium”. PPH Zapol Dmochowski, Polonia (2006).

BERG., A.: Desarrollo de un material madera-plástico para su utilización en infraestructura portuaria de alto impacto social. Obras Públicas 33, 32 – 34 (2006).

BERG, A.: The forestry industry in Chile: Big opportunities and mayor challenges for research, industry and the public sector. Gerldermann, J. et al. (Eds.): Challenges for Industrial Production, Workshop of the PepOn ISBN 3-937300-85-6, Universitätsverlag Karlsruhe, Alemania, 2005.

BERG, A.; MÁRQUEZ, F.; BARRA, R.; CARRASCO, J.C.; SAAVEDRA, F.; VIDAL; P.; NEUGEBAUER; J. y O. SOTO: Inventario nacional de fuentes de emisión de dioxinas y furanos. Proyecto GEF / UNEP “Desarrollo de un plan de implementación para la gestión de contaminantes orgánicos persistentes en Chile”, Santiago, agosto 2004.

AGUAYO, P; BEZAMA, A.; NAVIA, R.; MÁRQUEZ, F. y A. BERG: Tratamiento mecánico-biológico de residuos sólidos urbanos. Actas XV Congreso de Ingeniería Sanitaria y Ambiental AIDIS – Chile, Concepción, octubre de 2003.

BERG, A.: La aplicación de la ciencia: Un imperativo para el Chile de hoy. Bioplanet 09/10 (2002).

BERG, A.: La Unidad de Desarrollo Tecnológico de la Universidad de Concepción como mecanismo de cooperación con la empresa. CINDA: Cooperación Universidad-Empresa: Visiones de Europa y América Latina, Volumen 2 (1999).

NIMZ, H.H.; BERG, A. & S. MULADI: Chlorfreie Bleiche von Acetosolv-Zellstoffen. II.Expertengespräch “Lignocellulosen”. Mitteilungen der Bundesforschungsanstalt für Forst- und Holzwirtschaft Nr. 166, Komm. Verlag Max Wiedebusch, Hamburg 36, 71-80 (1991).

NIMZ, H.H.; BERG, A.; GRANZOW, C. & R. CASTEN: Schadstofffreie Gewinnung von gebleichtem Zellstoff, Lignin und Hemicellulosen nach dem Acetosolv-Verfahren. Holz-Zentralblatt 114, 95/96, 1360-1362 (1988); Mitteilungen der Bundesforschungsanstalt für Forst- und Holzwirtschaft Nr. 160, Komm. Verlag Max Wiedebusch, Hamburg 36, 343-355 (1988).

Industrial patents granted

1

NIMZ, H.H.; BERG, A. & R. CASTEN: Process for obtaining bleached cellulose pulp. European Patent 0325891 (2 August 1989). Equivalent to: Brazilian patent BR8900300, Japanese patent JP1221586.

2

NIMZ, H.H.; BERG, A.: Process for delignification of cellulose pulp. European Patent EP 325890 A1 19890802 (1989).

3

NIMZ, H.H. & A. BERG: Lignin removal method using ozone and acetic acid. US Patent 5074960 (December 24, 1991) Equivalent to: European patent EU0325890, Brazilian patent BR8900299, Canadian patent CA1319472, German patent DE3881676D, Spanish patent ES2041828T, Japanese patent JP1221587.

4

BERG, A.; NIMZ, H.H.; BALLE, S.; JANSSEN, W.; KUNZ, R. & W. KLEIN: Process for the delignification of cellulose-containing material. European Patent EP0503304 (16 September 1992) Equivalent to Canadian patent CA2062475, German patent DE4107357, Finnish patent FI920831, Norwegian patent NO920830.

5

BERG, A.; BALLE, S.; JANSSEN, W.; KUNZ, R. & W. KLEIN: Process for bleaching pulp in aliphatic monocarboxylic acids. European Patent EU0503303 (19 September 1992) Equivalent to: Canadian patent CA2062325, German patent DE4107356, Finnish patent FI920832, Norwegian patent NO920829.

6

BERG, A.; BALLE, S.; JANSSEN, W.; KUNZ, R. & W. KLEIN: Delignification of cellulosic raw materials using acetic acid, nitric acid and ozone. US Patent 5385641 (January 31, 1995) Equivalent to: European patent EP0508064, Canadian patent CA2062474, German patent DE4107354, Finnish patent FI920830, Norwegian patent NO920828.

7

BERG, A.; SEEGER, B.; NAVARRETE, P.: Process for the production of wood-based fire resistant reconstituted boards with good mechanical properties, comprising the impregnation of crushed wood with a solution of sodium silicate and other flame retardants, drying, gluing with phenol-formaldehyde resin and pressing. C.L., 45565. (B27K3/02; B27K3/16; B27K5/04; B27N3/00; C08K3/34; C08K3/38) September 28, 2009. Appl. 200501670, July 04, 2005..

8

BERG, A.; NAVARRETE, P.; OLAVE, L.: Process for obtaining low and medium molecular weight polyphenols from bark comprising solid-liquid extraction with alcohol where the operating temperature is 40 to 160 degrees Celsius, fractionation of the hydroalcoholic extract and separation of fines fraction from bark. C.L., 46359. (C08H5/02; C09J161/00), April 12, 2010. Appl. 200701266, May 04, 2007. 23 p.

9

BERG, A.: Process to obtain bark or wood extracts comprising the comminution, sieving, solvent extraction, and extract concentration and/or drying stages, wherein the extraction is carried out with an aliphatic alcohol of low molecular weight with a concentration of at least 80%, particle size range of bark or wood from 2 to 10 mm. C.L., 48761. (B01D11/02; B03B5/30; C07G17/00; C08H5/04), December 05, 2012. Appl. 200401371, June 04, 2004. 23 p.

10

NAVARRETE, P.; MALDONADO, A.; BERG, A.; VENEGAS, V.; MELO, R.: Densified wood pellet to feed an extrusion equipment to produce wood and plastic composite materials that can’t be disintegrated, comprising A) Sawdust or wood dust and B) binder composed of linear N-alkanes, esters from fatty acids with high molecular weight alcohols, vegetable or animal wax and triacylglycerols. C.L., 50030. (B29K9/14; B27N5/00; C08J3/12) June 23, 2014. Appl. 200702029, July 12, 2007.

11

BERG, A.; GRANDÓN, H.; MORENO, E.; MUÑOZ, C.; WILKOMIRSKY, I.: Reactor system and its process for producing ultra-fast pyrolysis of organic plant material and generating bio-oil, charcoal and non-condensable gas comprising an inner fluidized bed reactor in which pyrolysis is produced and an outer fluidized bed reactor of charcoal combustion. C.L., 52520. (F16D31/02), May 12, 2016. Appl. 201201833, July 06, 2012.

12

BERG, A; DOUSSOULIN, M; FLORES, E; FUENTEALBA, C; WILLIAMS, P.: Concentrated food for ruminants, comprising: (A) 40% or less of slowly fermenting plant material or industrial by-products, (B) 50% or less of starch, and (C) 10% or less of carbohydrates soluble in wheat straw ruminal liquid containing 1-25% carboxylic acids. C.L., 52410. (A23K1/14), April 14, 2016. Appl. 201203759, December 28, 2012. 10 p.

13

MÜLLER, N.; BERG, A.: Fractionation process of the fast pyrolysis liquid of biomass and oxidation process of the resulting aqueous fraction to obtain chemical products. C.L., 55917, April 16, 2018. Sol. 201200790, March 30, 2012.

14

PEREIRA, M.; LUENGO, G.; BERG, A.: A process for obtaining cellulose micro and nanofibers, MNFC, from a lignocellulosic fiber source comprising a stage of chemical processing of the lignocellulosic material with organic acid and mineral acid, and a stage of mechanical processing, where the fibers are disintegrated in water homogenizing the mixture. C.L., 56377, August 1, 2018. Sol. 201501809, June 23, 2015.

Industrial Patent Applications (pending)

1

BERG, A.: Process for obtaining fractions of commercial interest from bark or wood. Chilean Patent Registration 48761, May 04, 2007.

2

BERG, A.; MELO, R.; NAVARRETE, P.; MALDONADO, A. y C. VENEGAS: Densified wood product, to produce wood-plastic composite materials. Chilean patent application 2029-2007, July 12, 2007.

3

BERG, A.; NAVARRETE, P. y L. OLAVE: A process for obtaining low and medium molecular weight polyphenols and a solid standardized fuel from tree wood or bark. US patent application 12/151,283, May 5, 2008 (priority Chilean patent application 1266, May 4, 2007).

4

CABERA, G.; SOTO, O.; BERG, A.: Biodegradable composition, preparation method and their application in the manufacture of functional containers for agricultural and/or foresrty use. European Patent Application, October 5, 2008.

5

CABRERA, G.; SOTO, O.; BERG, A.: Biodegradable composition, preparation method and their application in the manufacture of functional containers for agricultural and/or forestry use. U.S. Patent Application 12/600,987, November 19, 2009.

6

CABRERA, G.; SOTO, O.; BERG, A.: Biodegradable composition, preparation method and their application in the manufacture of functional containers for agricultural and/or forestry use. Brazilian patent application 20090110114, November 25, 2009.

7

CABRERA, G.; SOTO, O.; BERG, A.: Biodegradable composition, preparation method and their application in the manufacture of functional containers for agricultural and/or forestry use. Canadian Patent Application 2688,516, November 26, 2009.

8

WILKOMIRSKY, I.; BERG, A.; MURILLO, F.: Pellet fuel for home or commercial heating. Chilean patent application 1631-2010, December 30, 2010.

9

WILKOMIRSKY, I.; MORENO, E.; BERG, A.; MUÑOZ, C.; GRANDÓN, H.: Reactor system and process to produce bio-oil from biomass by ultra-fast pyrolysis. National Invention Patent Application No. 1833-12, July 2012.

10

WILLIAMS, P; FUENTEALBA, C; DOUSSOULIN, M; FLORES, E; BERG, A.: Concentrated feed for ruminants. National Invention Patent Application No. 3719-2012, December 2012.

11

PEREIRA, M.; LUENGO, J.; BERG, A.: A process for obtaining cellulose micro and nanofibres, MNFC, from a lignocellulosic fibre source. Chilean Patent Application No. 2015 – 01809, June 23, 2015.

12

FUENTEALBA C; SALAZAR J.; VEGA J.; BERG A.; MICHANICKL A.: A process of obtaining a fibrous material from bark useful for making insulation materials. Chilean Patent Application No. 03408-2016, December 30, 2016.

13

BERG, A; DELGADO N; FUENTES J.: Process of selective dissolution of bark components of tree species. Chilean Patent Application No. 01517-2017, 13 June 2017; International Application PCT/CL 2018/050040 6 June 2018.