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DR. HANWU LEI Biofuels, Bioproducts & Thermochemical Catalysis Lab

Bio-Processes

Catalysis

  • S. Ren, H. Lei*, L. Wang, Q. Bu, S. Chen, J. Wu. 2014. Hydrocarbons and hydrogen-rich syngas production by biomass catalytic pyrolysis and bio-oil upgrading over biochar catalysts. RSC Advances, 4 (21), 10731 – 10737. doi: 10.1039/c4ra00122b.
  • L. Wang, H. Lei*, J. Lee, S. Chen, J. Tang, B. Ahring. 2013. Aromatic hydrocarbons from packed-bed catalysis coupled with microwave pyrolysis of Douglas fir sawdust pellets. RSC Advances, 34, 3, 14609 – 14615. doi:10.1039/C3RA23104F.
  • Z. Du, X. Ma, Y. Li, P. Chen, Y. Liu, X. Lin, H. Lei, R. Ruan. 2013. Production of aromatic hydrocarbons by catalytic pyrolysis of microalgae with zeolites: Catalyst screening in a pyroprobe. Bioresource Technology, 139, 397-401 doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.04.053
  • L. Wang, H. Lei*, S. Ren, Q. Bu, J. Liang, Y. Wei, Y. Liu, G. J. Lee, S. Chen, J. Tang, Q. Zhang, and R. Ruan. 2012. Aromatics and phenols from catalytic pyrolysis of Douglas fir pellets in microwave with ZSM-5 as a catalyst. Journal of Analytic and Applied Pyrolysis, 98, 194-200. doi: 10.1016/j.jaap.2012.08.002.
  • L. Wang, H. Lei*, Q. Bu, L. Zhu, Y. Wei,  X. Zhang, Y. Liu,  G. Yadavalli, J. Lee, S. Chen, and J. Tang. 2014.  Aromatic hydrocarbons production from ex-situ catalysis of pyrolysis vapor over Zinc modified ZSM-5 in a packed-bed catalysis coupled with microwave pyrolysis reactor. Fuel. Under review.
  • Z. Du, B. Hu, X. Ma, Y. Cheng, Y. Liu, X. Lin, Y. Wan, H. Lei, P. Chen, and R. Ruan*. 2013. Catalytic pyrolysis of microalgae and their three major components: carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids. Bioresource Technology,130: 777–782. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.12.115
  • B. Zhang, C. Yang, J. Moen, Z. Le, K. Hennessy, Y. Wan, Y. Liu, H. Lei, P. Chen and R. Ruan*. 2010. Catalytic conversion of microwave-assisted pyrolysis vapors. Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects. 32(18):1756-1762.

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. Journal of Analytic and Applied Pyrolysis, 94: 163-169. doi: 10.1016/j.jaap.2011.12.004.
  • H. Lei*, S. Ren, L. Wang, Q. Bu, J. Julson, J. Holladay, and R. Ruan. 2011. Microwave pyrolysis of distillers dried grain with solubles (DDGS) for biofuel production. Bioresource Technology, 102 (10) 6208-6213, doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2011.02.050
  • H. Lei*, S. Ren, and J. Julson. 2009. The effects of reaction temperature and time and particle size of corn stover on microwave pyrolysis.  Energy and Fuels,23, 3254-3261.

Torrefaction

  • H. Lei* and S. Ren. 2010. Filed patent (US 61404560), Method and apparatus for biomass torrefaction and pyrolysis.
  • S. Ren, H. Lei*, L. Wang, Q. Bu, S. Chen, J. Wu. 2013. Thermal behavior and kinetic study for woody biomass torrefaction and torrefied biomass pyrolysis by TGA. Biosystems Engineering, 116, 4, 420-426. doi: 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2013.10.003.
  • S. Ren, H. Lei*, L. Wang, Q. Bu, S. Chen, J. Wu, J. Julson, and R. Ruan. 2013. The effects of torrefaction on compositions of bio-oil and syngas from biomass pyrolysis by microwave heating. Bioresource Technology, 135, 659-994. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.06.091.
  • S. Ren, H. Lei*, L. Wang, Q. Bu, Y. Wei, J. Liang, Y. Liu, J. Julson, S. Chen, J. Wu, and R. Ruan. 2012. Microwave torrefaction of Douglas fir sawdust pellet.Energy & Fuels, 26, 5936-5943. doi: 10.1021/ef300633c.

Hydrotreating and Hydrodeoxygenation

  • X. Zhang, H. Lei*, L. Zhu, J. Wu, S. Chen. 2015. From intact biomass to renewable cycloalkanes for jet fuels. Green Chemistry. DOI:10.1039/C5GC01583A. In press.
  • X. Zhang, H. Lei*, L. Wang, L. Zhu, Y. Wei, Y. Liu, G. Yadavalli, D Yan, J. Wu, S. Chen. 2015. Insight in the integrated catalytic processes of intact biomass for production of renewable jet fuel range paraffins and aromatics. Fuel,160:375-385. doi: 10.1016/j.fuel.2015.08.006.

Liquid-Liquid Extraction

  • Y. Wei, H. Lei*, L. Wang, L. Zhu, X. Zhang, Y. Liu, S. Chen, B. Ahring. 2014. Liquid-liquid extraction of biomass pyrolysis bio-oil. Energy and Fuels, 28(2), 1207-1212. doi: 10.1021/ef402490s.
  • C. Yang, B. Zhang, J. Moen, K. Hennessy, Y. Liu, X. Lin, Y. Wan, H. Lei*, P. Chen, and R. Ruan*. 2010. Fractionation and characterization of bio-oil from microwave-assisted pyrolysis of corn stover. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 3(3): 54-61.

Aqueous-Phase Reforming

  • Y. Wei, H. Lei*, Y. Liu, L. Wang, L. Zhu, X. Zhang, G. Yadavalli, B. Ahring, S. Chen. 2014. Renewable hydrogen produced from different renewable feedstocks by aqueous-phase reforming process. Journal of Sustainable Bioenergy Systems. In press.

Organosolv Liquefaction

  • L. Gao, Y. Liu, H. Lei*, H. Peng, R. Ruan*. 2010. Preparation of semirigid polyurethane foam with liquefied bamboo residues. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 116, 1694-1699.
  • Y. Wang, J. Wu, Y. Wan, H. Lei*, F. Yu, P. Chen, X. Lin, and R. Ruan*. 2009. Liquefaction of corn stover using industrial biodiesel glycerol. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 2(2): 32-40.

Hydrothermal Liquefaction

  • K. Hennessy, B. Zhang, C. Yang, H. Lei, Y. Liu, P. Chen and R. Ruan*. 2008. A continuous plug-flow system for hydrothermal processing of aqueous biomass. 30th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, New Orleans, LA

Hydrothermal/Hot Water Pretreatment

  • I. Cybulska, G. Brudecki, H. Lei*.  2013. Hydrothermal pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass. In Green Biomass Pretreatment and Processing Methods for Bioenergy Production. Ed. T. Gu. Springer. ISBN: 978-94-007-6052-3. pp 87-106. doi: 10.1007/978-94-007-6052-3_4.
  • I. Cybulska, G. Brudecki, H. Lei*, J. Julson. 2012. Optimization of combined clean fractionation and hydrothermal post-treatment of prairie cord grass.Energy & Fuels, 26(4): 2303-2309. doi: 10.1021/ef300249m
  • I. Cybulska, H. Lei*, J. Julson. 2010. Hydrothermal pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of prairie cord grass. Energy & Fuels, 24 (1): 718-727.

Organosolv Fractionation/Separation

  • I. Cybulska*, G. P. Brudecki, B. R. Hankerson, J. L. Julson, H. Lei. 2013. Catalyzed modified clean fractionation of switchgrass. Bioresource Technology, 127, 92-99. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.09.131. 03.08.12
  • I. Cybulska*, G. Brudecki, K. Rosentrater, J. Julson, H. Lei. 2012. Comparative study of organosolv lignins extracted from prairie cordgrass, switchgrass and corn stover. Bioresource Technology, 118C: 30-36. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.05.073.
  • I. Cybulska*, G. Brudecki, K. Rosentrater, H. Lei, J. Julson. 2012. Catalyzed modified clean fractionation of prairie cordgrass integrated with hydrothermal post-treatment. Biomass and Bioenergy, 46, 389-401. doi: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2012.08.002.
  • I. Cybulska, H. Lei*, J. Julson, G. Brudecki. 2012. Optimization of Modified Clean Fractionation of Prairie Cord Grass. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 5(2): 42-51. doi: 10.3965/j.ijabe.20120502.00?

Fuel Process Kinetics:

  • S. Ren, H. Lei*, L. Wang, Q. Bu, S. Chen, J. Wu. 2013. Thermal behavior and kinetic study for woody biomass torrefaction and torrefied biomass pyrolysis by TGA. Biosystems Engineering, 116, 4, 420-426. doi: 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2013.10.003.
  • H. Lei*, I. Cybulska, J. Julson. 2013. Hydrothermal pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass and kinetics. Journal of Sustainable Bioenergy Systems, 3(4): 250-259. doi: 10.4236/jsbs.2013.34034.
  • R. Zhou, H. Lei*, J. Julson. 2013. Reaction temperature and time and particle size on switchgrass microwave pyrolysis and reaction kinetics. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 6(1): 53-61. dio: 10.3965/j.ijabe.20130601.005.
  • R. Zhou, H. Lei*, J. Julson. 2013. The Effects of pyrolytic conditions on microwave pyrolysis of prairie cordgrass and kinetics. Journal of Analytic and Applied Pyrolysis, 101, 172-176. doi: 10.1016/j.jaap.2013.01.013.