Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering

Sustainable future with high performance products and processes in bio and circular economy

Our department focuses on sustainable utilization of raw materials, designing and developing more efficient processes for new materials and products. We as chemical engineers contribute to the future society with sustainable processes enabling circular economy and bioeconomy.

The department is in a key position in research related to chemical engineering, materials technology, metals processing, efficient energy technologies and digitalization of these. Our core competences include unit operations and processes, hydro- and pyro-metallurgy, catalytic processes and materials, polymer engineering, process control and process systems engineering.

Researchers in the lab

Rodrigo Serna

Head of Department / Associate Professor

Daniel Lindberg

Vice Head of Department / Associate Professor
Dora Javor

Dora Javor

Assistant
T100 School services, CHEM

Research

The department is in a key position in research of chemical engineering, materials technology, metals processing, efficient energy technologies and digitalization of these.

Our core competences include unit operations and processes in chemical engineering, hydro- and pyro-metallurgy, catalyst and polymeric materials, novel catalytic process, process control and process systems engineering.

Catalysis Research Group

Group led by Professor Riikka Puurunen

Catalysis Group picture

Chemical engineering

Group led by Professor Ville Alopaeus

Alopaeus_group_laboratory

Chemical Engineering in Aqueous Systems

Group led by Professor Marjatta Louhi-Kultanen.

Sea water

Hydrometallurgy and Corrosion (Hydromet)

Group led by Professor Mari Lundström

Precious metals in crushed batteries being dissolved in a test tube. Photo: Glen Forde/Aalto Energy Platform

Industrial Chemistry

Group led by Professor Yongdan Li

Research topics Industrial Chemistry made by Yingnan Zhao

Materials Processing and Powder Metallurgy

Group led by Professor Michael Gasik

Biomedical scaffold

Metallurgical Thermodynamics and Modelling

Group led by Professor Daniel Lindberg

Aalto University/Metallurgical Thermodynamics and Modelling

Mineral Processing and Recycling

Group led by Professor Rodrigo Serna

Serna_Mineral Processing and recycling

Plant design

Group led by Professor Pekka Oinas

Ioncell-materiaalia sinisessä kudotunomaisessa materiaalissa tai kankaassa

Polymer Synthesis Technology

Group led by Professor Jukka Niskanen

Process control and automation

Professors Francesco Corona and Iiro Harjunkoski

CMET_PCA group

Sustainable Systems

Group led by professor Rofice Dickson

Research Expertise Summary

Emeritus research groups

Metallurgy

Group led by Professor Ari Jokilaakso

Pyrometallurgy_research Ronja Ruismäki, photo Valeria Azovskaya

Polymer Technology

Group led by Professor Jukka Seppälä

CMET_Polymer group lab

Infrastructures

Research infrastructure

We develop local and global networks

Image from the Aalto Bioproduct centre

AALTOLAB (external link)

AALTOLAB is a virtual laboratory safety training platform developed at Aalto University. AALTOLAB helps both students and staff to maintain high-level safety standards in our laboratories.

An image of virtual laboratory space

Contact information

Contact information for the research groups

Here you can find listed all the research groups at the department.

Metalls, CMET

Collaboration:

See all the Aalto CHEM collaboration projects here

BATCircle consortium (external link)

BATCircle aims at improving the manufacturing processes of battery chemicals and the mining and metals industries and to increase the recycling of lithium-ion batteries.

Image from remote site: batcircle.aalto.fi
studying chemical engineering

Are you interested in studying at the School of Chemical Engineering? Here are our Chemistry and Metallurgical Engineering programmes:

See all our school's programmes

Moving to Finland

Here new students and employees can find useful tips for a smooth moving.

We also gathered information about families and recreational activities.

Moving to Finland

Via this page you’ll find information on practical issues regarding moving to Finland, such as social security, taxation and opening a bank account.

For families and spouses

Moving to Finland? Here you can learn more about practicalities.

Image

Finding a private rental

For longer term accommodation in Helsinki region the best options are either renting or purchasing an apartment or a house. In case you are planning to purchase an apartment we recommend you to contact your bank and/or estate agencies to gain professional assistance and advice. Here you'll find information on renting an apartment, rental rates, and how to find an apartment.

AaltoInn room

Social life and recreation

Having social networks helps you feel at home! Aalto University organises many events and other possibilities for international staff and their families to meet and mingle and thus hopefully settle in smoothly. Additionally, we have collected tips and links for you to find the most suitable information.

Two women walking in the campus area and carrying an Aalto umbrella

Get to know us

Creating a unique professional profile by combining different fields of science

Professor Daniel Lindberg, a geologist and a chemist, encourages his students to study combinations of different subjects and fields of science.

Professori Daniel Lindberg, kuva Mortti Saarnia

Environmental technology is a way of thinking

Green ideas should penetrate both education and industry says Ville Alopaeus, awarded with Tapani Järvinen Environmental Technology Fund grant.

Chem Professor_Ville Alopaeus

Get to know us: Assistant Professor Mari Lundström

Reimain in good spirits after bad results and don't give up!

Mari Lundström

Get to know us: Assistant professor Rodrigo Serna

Assistant professor Rodrigo Serna’s goal is to find new ways to produce sufficient raw materials for our modern society. Let’s hear more!

assistant professor rodrigo serna photo by lasse lecklin

How to get companies in the metal industry more employees and more students for the master’s degree programme?

‘The great thing about this cooperation is that everyone wins,’ said Ari Jokilaakso, Professor of metallurgy.

Department of Chemistry and Materials Science

Metallurgists are needed to fix the sustainability gap

Professor of Metallurgy Ari Jokilaakso’s researches the behaviour of chemical elements at high temperatures. He wants to give students a real understanding of chemical phenomena.

Photo: Mikko Raskinen

Metals are absolute necessary for the whole society

There is no electricity without metals

CHEM professor Ari Jokilaakso

My career: From start to Finnish

Ben Wilson, Staff scientist at CHEM

Wilson

Nanofiber scaffolds demonstrate new features in the behaviour of stem and cancer cells

A discovery in the field of biomaterials may open new frontiers in stem and cancer cell manipulation and associated advanced therapy development.

Biomedical scaffold

PhD Mari Lundström appointed as Assistant Professor in the field of Materials Science and Engineering

Dean Janne Laine has appointed Mari Lundström, PhD, as a four-year fixed-term Assistant Professor (2nd term) position from 1 December 2017.

Professor Mari Lundström Aalto University

Professor Metal

Mari Lundström wants to recover and reuse metals. She approaches her task with a steely resolve.

Professor Mari Lundström Aalto University

Professorship strengthens the cooperation of ABB and Aalto in Industrial Internet solutions

Dr. Iiro Harjunkoski has been appointed Adjunt Professor at the School of Chemical Engineering.

Iiro Harjunkoski

Small Finland is a big player in the circular economy of metals

Finland was chosen to lead the strategic planning for battery recycling in Europe. Two key reasons for this achievement are the high-level research carried out in Finland and the close cooperation within the sector.

Professor Mari Lundström Aalto University

News

Aalto Open Science Award 2024. A light blue podium hovering over a blue-pink gradient background with the help of squishy-looking balloons with colored lights inside.
Awards and Recognition, Research & Art Published:

Last chance to nominate for 2024 Aalto University Open Science Award

The deadline for submissions is 3 Dec, 2024.
Copper
Research & Art Published:

Battery demand is growing exponentially – BATCircle3.0 provides a leap in battery material and recycling research in Finland

The three-year BATCircle3.0 project, led by Aalto University, offers a strategic focus on new openings for battery materials refining and battery recycling.
Mari Lundström
Awards and Recognition Published:

Alfred Kordelin Prize for research on the green transition

The Alfred Kordelin Foundation has awarded the Alfred Kordelin Prize to Aalto University Professor of Hydrometallurgy Mari Lundström, dance artist and choreographer Tero Saarinen and the Sekasin Collective, a youth mental health organisation.
Aalto Open Science Award 2024. A light blue podium hovering over a blue-pink gradient background with the help of squishy-looking balloons with colored lights inside.
Awards and Recognition, Research & Art Published:

Call for nominees for Aalto University’s Open Science Award 2024

Nominate yourself, your colleague, a research group, a department, or a project for the award.

Events

Conferences

25th Nordic Process Control Workshop (NPCW 2025) (external link)

25th Nordic Process Control Workshop - NPCW 2025

More about our topics

BatCircle_DSC_6517_photo Valeria Azovskaya

Electrifying society

Solving the challenges of electrification is not just a scientific question: it requires extensive societal debate.

Iita Kejonen kuvattuna Aalto-yliopiston tiloissa.

Iita Kejonen is involved in recycling battery metals from electric cars: ‘By working in industry, I can influence the development of the entire field’

Studies in materials science and engineering at the School of Chemical Engineering led to work with battery metals and minerals. As a Technology Manager, Iita can influence the development of responsibility in the entire automotive sector.

News

Where to find us

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