Maria Sandberg

Maria Sandberg is an Associate Professor at Karlstad University, specializing in environmental engineering with a focus on sustainable management of forest industry residuals. Her research emphasizes energy-efficient wastewater treatment, biogas production enhancement via hydrochar additives, and circular economy applications for industrial byproducts. She actively collaborates with industry, startups, and academic institutions to address systemic sustainability challenges.

Teaching responsibilities include environmental engineering courses covering water purification, flue gas treatment, bioeconomy principles, and industrial symbiosis. She also supports incoming exchange students through specialized coursework.

Her research portfolio includes projects like HYBIO (hydrochar-enhanced biogas production) and Resource-SIP (forest resource circular systems), funded through collaborative networks. Key innovations involve converting paper mill sludge into forest fertilizers and analyzing industrial symbiosis systems integrating algal cultivation with energy production.

Publications span 20+ years, highlighting expertise in wastewater aeration optimization, biochar applications, and lifecycle assessments. Her work bridges laboratory studies with large-scale industrial implementation, emphasizing real-world applicability of sustainable solutions.