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DR. HANWU LEI Biofuels, Bioproducts & Thermochemical Catalysis Lab


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Grants

    H2 saving process for production of aromatics for jet fuels
    Sponsor Agency: SunGrant/USDA NIFA
    Principal Investigator: H. Lei (PI/PD)

    Nano cellulose-based nanoparticle catalysts for bio-jet fuel ranged cycloalkanes production
    Sponsor Agency: USDA NIFA
    Principal Investigator: H. Lei (PI/PD)

    Aromatic hydrocarbons from agricultural and forest wastes using biomass derived carbon catalysts
    Sponsor Agency: USDA NIFA
    Principal Investigator: H. Lei (PI/PD)

    Applying abundant plants to develop battery materials and study the benefits on agricultural economy
    Sponsor Agency: USDA NIFA
    Principal Investigator: H. Lei (PI/PD), K. Zhong (WSU), L. Scudiero (WSU), T. Marsh (WSU), P. Tozer (WSU)

    Conversion of biomass feedstock to bio-oils by microwave pyrolysis
    Sponsor Agency: Creative Energy Systems
    Principal Investigator: H. Lei (PI/PD)

    Bio-phenols production from lignocellulosic biomass
    Sponsor Agency: USDA NIFA SBIR
    Principal Investigator: Z. Yang, H. Lei (Co-PI/PD), J. Canin (Washington Bio-oils Inc.), H. Sun (Washington Bio-oils Inc.)

    High energy dense bio-fuels from a microwave conversion system: feedstocks and processes for securing bio-aromatic hydrocarbons
    Sponsor Agency: Commercialization Gap Fund, WSU Office of Commercialization, WSU Office of Commercialization, the Offices of the President and Provost in conjunction with the Vice President of Research, and the Washington Research foundation
    Principal Investigator: H. Lei (PI/PD) and J Canin

    Hydrogen saving process for cycloalkanes (naphthenes) in jet fuels from diverseWashington state forest biomasses
    Sponsor Agency: Joint Center for Aerospace Technology and Innovation, Joint Industry-University Research Program
    Principal Investigator: H. Lei (PI/PD)

    Acquisition of a high performance microtherm-split-tube furnace reactor integrated with micro parr reactor
    Sponsor Agency: Chancellor’s Equipment Grant Program
    Principal Investigator: H. Lei (PI)

    Aromatic hydrocarbons for aviation biofuels from Lignocellulosic Biomass
    Sponsor Agency: Joint Center for Aerospace Technology and Innovation, Joint Industry-University Research Program
    Principal Investigator: H. Lei (PI/PD)

    Advanced lithium-ion batteries incorporating bio-and nano-materials and the effects on the agricultural economy
    Sponsor Agency: WSU Research Advancement Challenge (RAC) Competition program
    Principal Investigator: W.H. K. Zhong, M. G. Norton, L. Scudiero, and T. Marsh, andH. Lei (Co-PI)

    Torrefaction as biomass pretreatment for PNNL fluid-bed pyrolysis
    Sponsor Agency: DOE Office of Biomass Program through PNNL
    Principal Investigator: H. Lei (PI/PD)

    Torrefaction as a pretreatment method to improve biofuel quality
    Sponsor Agency: WSU Office of Research
    Principal Investigator: H. Lei (PI)

    National Advanced Biofuels Consortium (NABC)
    Sponsor Agency: DOE (www.eere.energy.gov)
    Principal Investigator: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Albemarle Corporation, Amyris Biotechnologies, Argonne National Laboratory, BP Products North America Inc., Catchlight Energy, LLC, Colorado School of Mines, Iowa State University, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Pall Corporation, RTI International, Tesoro Companies Inc., University of California, Davis, UOP, LLC, Virent Energy Systems, Washington State University (B. Ahring, H Lei),

    Infrastructure: Create a more flexible, more reliable, and higher capacity U.S. energy infrastructure
    Sponsor Agency: DOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program
    Principal Investigator: D. C. Elliott (PI, PNNL) and H. Lei (Co-PI)

    Development of microwave pyrolysis of biomass and biochar utilization
    Sponsor Agency: DOE through SunGrant
    Principal Investigator: H. Lei (PI/PD) and J. Julson (SDSU)

    Center for Biofuels Research and Development
    Sponsor Agency: NSF I/UCRC Program
    Principal Investigator: Collaborating institutions: South Dakota State U (B. Gibbons,H. Lei, Team Member), SDSMT, Kansas State U, North Carolina State U, U New York at Stony Brook, U Hawaii

    Develop sustainable renewable energy systems for practical utilization of bulky biomass
    Sponsor Agency: DOT through SunGrant
    Principal Investigator: R. Ruan (PI, UMN), Schmidt (UMN), Kiittelson (UMN), P. Chen (UMN), H. Lei (Co-PI), Tiffany (UMN), D. Raynie (SDSU), W. Gibbons (SDSU), K. Muthukumarappan (SDSU), Kittelson (SDSU)

    Hydrothermal pretreatment and clean fractionation of lignocelluloses biomass for production of biobased products and fuels
    Sponsor Agency: SD research and Commercialization Council
    Principal Investigator: H. Lei (PI/PD) and J. Julson (SDSU)

    Development of a novel pyrolytic process for the conversion of corn biomass to biofuels and char residue
    Sponsor Agency: SD Corn Utilization Council
    Principal Investigator: H. Lei (PI/PD), J. Julson (SDSU), K. Muthukumarappan (SDSU), D. Raynie (SDSU), R. Gelderman (SDSU)

    Development of an interactive input/output process and cost model with consideration of impacts of the end use of the biochar on the carbon status of the fuels or products made in the thermochemical conversion process
    Sponsor Agency: USDA through SunGrant
    Principal Investigator: V. Kelley (PI, SDSU), H. Lei (Co-PI), J. Julson (SDSU), K. Muthu (SDSU), S. A. Clay (SDSU), G. Warmann (SDSU)

    Biomass torrefaction and catalytic pyrolysis
    Sponsor Agency: SDSU Agricultural Experimental Station
    Principal Investigator: H. Lei (PI/PD) and J. Julson (SDSU)

    Development of corn ethanol process – liquefaction without alpha amylase
    Sponsor Agency: Bentley and Griffith Undergraduate Research Program
    Principal Investigator: H. Lei (PI), C. R. Keierleber (SDSU), J. Julson (SDSU)

    Interactions of biochar source/properties impacts on soil properties, c sequestration potential, and crop management
    Sponsor Agency: DOE through SunGrant
    Principal Investigator: D. D. Malo (PI, SDSU), S.A. Clay (SDSU), T.E. Schumacher (SDSU), H.J. Woodard (SDSU), D.E. Clay (SDSU), and R.H. Gelderman (SDSU), H. Lei(Co-PI), and J. Julson (SDSU)

    Evaluation of ethanol production from extrusion-cooked corn starch
    Sponsor Agency: Buhler Group
    Principal Investigator: R. Ruan (PI, UMN) and H. Lei (Co-PI)

    Extrusion scale-up and systematical analysis of screw configurations
    Sponsor Agency: General Mills
    Principal Investigator: R. Ruan (PI, UMN) and H. Lei (Co-PI)

    Extraction, characterization and utilization of anthocyanins from red corn
    Sponsor Agency: French Ag Research
    Principal Investigator: R. Ruan (PI), P. Chen (UMN), R. Barros (UMN), F. Rigelhof (UMN), M. French (UMN), H. Lei (Co-PI)


Quick Links:
Grants   |   Awards & Honors   |   Patents

Awards & Honors

  • “ Research Featured at USDA NIFA ” website: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDANIFA/bulletins/24ae29a, 2019.
  • “ Outstanding Reviewer ”, recognized by the editors from Green Chemistry, Royal Society of Chemistry, a high impact journal and cutting-edge research for a greener sustainable future.
  • “ 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award ”, as a result of hard work and dedication to the profession by Marquis Biographies, a database of more than 1.5 million of the most distinguished professionals from around the globe, 2019.
  • “ Who’s Who in the World ” 2019 Edition.
  • “ Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award ”, as a result of hard work and dedication to the profession by Marquis Biographies, a database of more than 1.5 million of the most distinguished professionals from around the globe, 2018.
  • “ ACS Publications Award of Certificate of Recognition ”, for help on advance scientific excellence and made ACS the most trusted, most cited, and most read publisher, 2018.
  • “ Best Paper Award ”, S. M. Villota, J. Lavarias, H. Lei*, E. Villota, V. Taylan and W. Mateo. 2018. Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) Pod Husks as Precursor for Activated Carbon Production under Microwave-Assisted Pyrolysis. 2018 International Conference on Sustainable Development and Green Technology, Taichung, Taiwan, October 19-21, 2018.
  • “Invited Research Green Industrial Processes—Feature Article” : P. Chen, E. Anderson, M. Addy, R. Zhang, Y. Cheng, P. Peng, Y. Ma, L. Fan, Y. Zhang, Q. Lu, S. Liu, N. Zhou, X. Deng, W. Zhou, M. Omar, R. Griffith, F. Kabir, H. Lei, Y. Wang, Y. Liu, R. Roger*. 2018. Breakthrough Technologies for Biorefining of Organic Solid and Liquid Wastes. Engineering, 4(4), 574-580. doi: 10.1016/j.eng.2018.07.004.
  • “ Most Cited Article ” from Biosystems Engineering . The published paper “Thermal behaviour and kinetic study for woody biomass torrefaction and torrefied biomass pyrolysis by TGA ” The internationally respected Biosystems Engineering (formerly JAER) is the official scientific journal of The European Society of Agricultural Engineers (EurAgEng), 2018.
  • “ ACS Publications Award of Certificate of Recognition ” for help on advance scientific excellence and made ACS the most trusted, most cited, and most read publisher, 2017.
  • “ Recognized Reviewer Status ” for instrumental in enabling the progress of science, technology and medicine for reviews for Elsevier journals, 2017.
  • “ Who’s Who in the World ” 2017 Edition.
  • “ Highly Cited Research ” from Biosystems Engineering . The published paper “Thermal behaviour and kinetic study for woody biomass torrefaction and torrefied biomass pyrolysis by TGA ” is one of the 5 most highly cited papers during 2016, 2015, and 2014 published in Biosystems Engineering according to data from Scopus. A certificate for “Highly Cited Research” in Biosystems Engineering was awarded to Dr. Lei in recognition of the contribution to the quality of the Elsevier journal.
  • “ Dr. Hanwu Lei’s research featured in a top journal ”: The August 2016 issue of the journal of Green Chemistry features the research article from Dr. Lei’s group, “ Catalytic co-pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass with polymers: a critical review.” (Front cover based on a design by Drs. Xuesong Zhang and Hanwu Lei; Dr. Xuesong Zhang is the recent PhD graduate from Dr. Lei’s group). Green Chemistry is a top journal (Impact Factor: 8.506) and the frontiers of the interdisciplinary science of alternative sustainable technologies and publishes cutting-edge research.
  • Listed as “2016 Top 20 Articles” published on the same topic at BioMedLib: Bu Q, H. Lei*, Wang L, Wei Y, Zhu L, Zhang X, Liu Y, Yadavalli G, Tang J. 2014. Bio‐based phenols and fuel production from catalytic microwave pyrolysis of lignin by activated carbons. Bioresour Technol. 162:142‐7.
  • “Best Paper Award 2015” from Bioresource Technology. The published paper “A review of catalytic hydrodeoxygenation of lignin-derived phenols from biomass pyrolysis” appears among the ten top cited papers contributing to theBioresource Technology 2014 Impact Factor. Dr. Hanwu Lei and his co-authors are contributing such high quality work to the journal, and helping to secure Bioresource Technology’s continued position as a high impact journal in its field of biomass, biological waste treatment, and bioenergy.
  • “Outstanding Services”, Association of Overseas Chinese Agricultural, Biological, and Food Engineers (AOCABFE) extends its sincere appreciation in recognition of outstanding services to Dr. Hanwu Lei at the 2015 Annual Meeting of ASABE, New Orleans, LA, July 2015.
  • “Early Career Award“, Association of Overseas Chinese Agricultural, Biological, and Food Engineers (AOCABFE), July 2014. The purpose of this award is to recognize outstanding career achievement by a young AOC member in the profession of Agricultural, Biological and Food Engineering. The award is to honor achievement through education, research, innovation, development, extension, consulting, administration, international collaboration, and other professional activities.
  • Listed in Who’s Who in Science and Engineering, 12th Edition (2016-2017)
  • Listed in Who’s Who in America, 70th Edition (2016)
  • Listed in Who’s Who in America, 69th Edition (2015)
  • “Elsevier Reviewer Recognition”, “Certificate of Reviewing”, Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2015
  • “Certificate of Appreciation” for valuable contribution and dedicated service in the peer review of manuscripts submitted to ACS journals, Journals Publishing Group, American Chemical Society, 2012
  • “Guest of Honor” in 2012 American Chemical Society Annual Meeting of Author & Reviewer Reception, San Diego, CA, March 2012.
  • Listed as “2015 Top 20 Articles” published on the same topic at BioMedLib: #1. H. Lei*, S. Ren, L. Wang, Q. Bu, J. Julson, J. Holladay, R. Ruan. 2011. Microwave pyrolysis of distillers dried grain with solubles (DDGS) for biofuel production. Bioresour Technol., 102 (10):6208-13.
  • Listed as “2014 Top 20 Articles” published on the same topic at BioMedLib: #7. H. Lei*, S. Ren, L. Wang, Q. Bu, J. Julson, J. Holladay, R. Ruan. 2011. Microwave pyrolysis of distillers dried grain with solubles (DDGS) for biofuel production. Bioresour Technol., 102 (10):6208-13.
  • Listed as “2013 Top 20 Articles” published on the same topic at BioMedLib: #1. H. Lei*, S. Ren, L. Wang, Q. Bu, J. Julson, J. Holladay, R. Ruan. 2011. Microwave pyrolysis of distillers dried grain with solubles (DDGS) for biofuel production. Bioresour Technol., 102 (10):6208-13; #16. Q. Bu Q, H. Lei*, S. Ren, L. Wang, Q. Zhang, J. Tang, R. Ruan. 2012. Production of phenols and biofuels by catalytic microwave pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. Bioresour Technol., 108: 274-9.
  • Listed as “2012 Most Downloaded Articles” in J. Analytic and Applied Pyrolysis: S. Ren, H. Lei*, L. Wang, Q. Bu, S. Chen, J. Wu, J. Julson, and R. Ruan. 2012. Biofuel production and kinetics analysis of microwave pyrolysis for Douglas fir sawdust pellet. J. Analytic and Applied Pyrolysis. 94: 163-169.
  • Listed in Who’s Who in America, 68th Edition (2014)
  • Listed in Who’s Who in America, 67th Edition (2013)
  • Listed in Who’s Who in Science and Engineering, 11th Edition (2011-2012)
  • “Orville and Enolia Bentley Research Award“: C. R. Keierleber, H. Lei*, J. Julson. 2009. Development of corn ethanol process – liquefaction without alpha amylase.
  • “Third Place Paper Award” of “Modeling die pressure, shaft torque, SME, and product temperature in a co-rotating twin-screw extruder”. Paper No. 056113. AOC Paper Competition of ASABE Annual International Meeting, Tampa, Florida, 2005
  • “A Future Leader in Agricultural Engineering“, International Commission of Agricultural Engineering, XV CIGR World Congress, Chicago, 2002
  • “Paper Award” of “A study of improving producing quality of the ready-to-serve rice” at Chinese National Agricultural Product Drying and Storing Machinery New Technology Development Symposium, 1998
  • “Excellent Graduate Dissertation“, Wuxi University of Light Industry, China, 1992
  • “Undergraduate Scholarships of Institute “, Wuxi University of Light Industry, China, 1988- 1992


    • Quick Links:
    Grants   |   Awards & Honors   |   Patents

    Patents and Invention Disclosures

    2016
    17. H. Lei, X Zhang. “From intact biomass to renewable cycloalkanes for jet fuels”. USPTO 62385841, September 2016

    2015
    16. H. Lei, G. Yadavalli. “Carbon dioxide capture using ammonium sulfate surface modified activated biomass carbon”. Date Filed: July 2015
    15. H. Lei, X Zhang. “From intact biomass to renewable cycloalkanes for jet fuels”. Date filed: July 2015
    14. H. Lei and L. Wang. “Aromatic hydrocarbons from lignocellulose biomass”. USPTO 27158.8047.US01, February 2015

    2014
    13. H. Lei. “Fuels, chemicals, and hydrogen-rich syngas production from microwave assisted carbon catalysis of lignocellulosic biomass”. Date filed: April 2014
    12. H. Lei and L. Wang. “Aromatic hydrocarbons from lignocellulose biomass”. USPTO 61938416, February 2014

    2012
    11. H. Lei and L. Wang. “Aromatic hydrocarbons from lignocellulose biomass”. Date filed: November 2012

    2011
    10. H. Lei, Q. Bu, S. Ren, and L. Wang. “Microwave Assisted Pyrolysis and Phenol Recovery”. USPTO 61483132, May 2011
    9. H. Lei, Q. Bu, S. Ren, and L. Wang. “Methods and Synthesis of Phenol and Phenolics from Lignocellulose Biomass and Related Biomass Derived Phenol-formaldehyde (PF) Resin / Polyurethane (PU) Foam and Hydrocarbon Biofuels”. Date filed: January 2011

    2010
    8. H. Lei and S. Ren. “Catalytic microwave torrefaction/pyrolysis of biomass for biofuels and bioproducts”. Date filed: October 2010
    7. H. Lei. “Feedstock-flexible plasma gasification system for biofuels and bioproducts”. Date filed: July, 2010
    6. H. Lei and S. Ren. “Method and apparatus for biomass torrefaction and pyrolysis”. USPTO 61404560, March 2010

    2009
    5. H. Lei and S. Ren. “Novel catalyst and catalytic microwave pyrolysis for high quality biofuels and chemicals production with zero total acid number and enhanced aromatic compounds”. Date filed: May 2009
    4. H. Lei and S. Ren. “Method and apparatus for biomass torrefaction and pyrolysis for biofuels and chemicals production”. USPTO 61278157, 2009
    3. H. Lei, J. Julson, and I. Cybulska. “Method of fractionating lignocellulosic material into lignin, cellulose and dissolved sugars with enhanced delignification and cellulose digestibility”. Date filed: 2009.

    2008
    2. H. Lei, J. Julson, and C. keierleber. “Process for producing corn ethanol – liquefaction and saccharification without alpha amylase and glucoamylase enzymes”. Date filed: 2008

    2007 
    1. R. Ruan, X. Pan, P. Chen, and H. Lei. “A novel process for producing biopolymers from agricultural crop residuals”. Date filed: 2007