Joe Sagues
Bio
Dr. Sagues is the Principal Investigator of the Biocarbon Utilization & Sequestration (BUS) Lab in the Biological & Agricultural Engineering Department at NC State University. He has experience in research, development, and demonstration of innovative bioprocessing technologies at corporations, universities, and national labs. During graduate school, he conducted independent research as a Technology-to-Market Scholar at the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E) and as an Office of Science Graduate Student Research Fellow (SCGSR) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
The BUS Lab takes an integrated approach to innovating technologies that utilize and sequester biogenic carbon. The aim of our work is to leverage the bioeconomy for carbon drawdown. We are bridging fundamental advances in synthetic biology and chemical catalysis with bioprocess engineering to innovate carbon-negative bioproducts that range from feed, chemicals, fuels, and materials.
When developing a new technology, the BUS Lab takes into account the entire technology-to-market pathway, starting with fundamental research and ending with commercialization. Such a comprehensive approach increases the odds of commercial success by eliminating developmental hurdles and pitfalls at an early stage.
Education
Ph.D. Forest Biomaterials NC State University 2020
M.S. Chemical Engineering University of Florida 2017
M.S. Agricultural & Biological Engineering University of Florida 2017
B.S. Agricultural & Biological Engineering University of Florida 2012
Publications
- A techno-economic assessment of carbon dioxide removal pathways via biochemical conversion of lignocellulose to biofuels and bioplastics , RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS (2025)
- Biocarbon Flow Capacitors (BFCs) for Energy Storage and Carbon Removal , (2025)
- Biogenic carbon capture at pulp mills via sodium spiking and oxy-fuel calcination , INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GREENHOUSE GAS CONTROL (2025)
- Environmental Life Cycle Assessment and Techno-Economic Analysis of Textile Waste Valorization via Modular Bioenergy with Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage , (2025)
- Gaseous carbon dioxide removal from composting of biomass and cotton textile waste , WASTE MANAGEMENT (2025)
- Impacts of Municipal and Industrial Organic Waste Components on the Kinetics and Potentials of Biomethane Production via Anaerobic Digestion , WASTE AND BIOMASS VALORIZATION (2025)
- Kinetic Modeling of Thermophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Lemnaceae for Biogas Production , BIOENERGY RESEARCH (2025)
- Low-Temperature Processing of Pyrolysis Bio-Oil for Sustainable Biographite Production , ENERGY & FUELS (2025)
- Process design and techno-economic analysis for bio-based graphite and liquid hydrocarbons production from lignocellulosic biomass , Bioresource Technology (2025)
- Sustainable Graphite and Jet Fuel from Biorefinery Residue , CHEMSUSCHEM (2025)