Hydrothermal Conversion of Biomass Waste into Bio-based Chemicals and Materials
Speaker:
Prof. Shicheng ZHANG
Professor & Vice Chair
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering
Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Date: 12 June, 2019
Time: 11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Venue: G5215, 5/F
Yeung Kin Man Academic Building
City University of Hong Kong,
Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Abstract
Hydrothermal conversion of biomass waste for valuable chemicals and materials is a promising environment-friendly option for biomass resource utilization. Based on the concept of biorefinery applying hydrothermal process, the production of bio-oil, bio-based chemicals and hydrochar is likely to achieve an integrated utilization of biomass waste and for environmental management simultaneously. One research field of Dr. Shicheng Zhang’s group at Fudan University is hydrothermal conversion of biomass. In this talk, Dr. Zhang will give an introduction of the research progress in his group, including 1) Hydrothermal conversion of biomass wastes to xylose, lactic acid, phenolics, and so on, 2) Separation of bio-based chemicals (organic acid, phenolics, and sugar) by using column chromatography, 3) Anaerobic digestion of liquid part from hydrothermal conversion of biomass after separation of chemicals into methane, and 4) Controlled conversion of solid products of hydrothermal conversion of biomass wastes to functionalized carbon materials.
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About the Speaker
Shicheng Zhang is a professor of environmental engineering and a vice Chair at the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. He has visited and collaborated with many Universities in UK, Denmark, Japan, Austrilia, and so on. His current research focuses on biomass wastes utilization and environmental catalysis. Till now, he has been involved in more than 30 research projects as PI or Co-PI. He has published more than 120 journal papers and 30 patents. Prof. Zhang has also regularly served as external judge for national and international funding institutions. He has also served as Guest Editor for Bioresource Technology (2017) and Green Chemistry (2019). He holds the 2017 Award for Most Cited Energy Article from China by Elsevier Publishing.
“Whole Biomass Refinery”: Production of Green Fuels and Chemicals via Selective Fractionation and Upgrading of Hemicellulose, Cellulose and Lignin
Speaker:
Prof. Konstantinos TRIANTAFYLLIDIS
Professor & Collaborating Researcher
Department of Chemistry
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Chemical Process Engineering Research Institute
Center for Research and Technology Hellas, Greece
Date: 10 June, 2019
Time: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Venue: G4707, 4/F
Yeung Kin Man Academic Building
City University of Hong Kong,
Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Abstract
The valorization of waste biomass, lipid or lignocellulosic, has been proposed as an alternative to first generation biofuels as well as for producing high value chemicals and related products. In the case of agricultural or forestry lignocellulosic biomass wastes and residues, the “whole biomass” refining concept should be applied in order to develop sustainable valorization schemes. The pretreatment/fractionation of biomass to its basic structural components, i.e., cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, is a prerequisite for maximizing their selective conversion towards high added value platform chemicals, fuels and polymers. In this presentation, specific case-studies of individual processes that comprise an integrated biorefinery scheme for converting agricultural and forest biomass wastes to valuable chemicals and fuels will be described. Fractionation of biomass is based on “green” hydrothermal processes, leading to selective isolation of hemicellulose stream for downstream conversion to ethanol or furanic chemicals. The cellulose fraction is being hydrolysed to glucose by applying well-known enzymatic hydrolysis reactions. Alternatively, lignin is extracted from the pretreated biomass under mild conditions using friendly/recoverable solvents, providing a high purity cellulose pulp for easier enzymatic hydrolysis or catalytic hydrogenolysis to sorbitol/glycols. To close the cycle, the recovered lignin, is being converted to high value phenolics via fast pyrolysis or hydrogenolysis. Using catalytic fast pyrolysis, BTX mono-aromatics can be selectivity produced. Alternatively, lignin is being utilized as a compatible bio-additive in polymers (resins) with a minimum downstream conversion cost.
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About the Speaker
Konstantinos Triantafyllidis is a Professor at the Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, who did his undergraduate and PhD studies at the Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, Greece, and his postgraduate training at SHELL-Laboratorium, Amsterdam. His research interests focus on the development of new materials as catalysts or sorbents, heterogeneous catalysis, green chemistry and chemical technology, hybrid organic-inorganic materials and polymer nanocomposites, and biomass valorization towards fuels, chemicals and polymers. He is the co-author of 100 peer-reviewed papers, 8 book chapters, 2 patents, co-editor of 5 books and journal special issues in Catalysis Today (Elsevier), ChemCatChem (Wiley), Frontiers in Chemistry, and has given >200 conference presentations. He is leading the “Nanomaterials and Chemical Processes” group at the Department of Chemistry, AUTH. He is also currently the National Delegate of Greece in the Green and Sustainable Chemistry Division (GSCD) of the European Chemical Society (EuChemS).
Rational Design in Downstream Bioprocessing
Speaker:
Prof. Dong-Qiang LIN
Professor
College of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Zhejiang University, China
Date: 10 June, 2019
Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Venue: G4701, 4/F
Yeung Kin Man Academic Building
City University of Hong Kong,
Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Abstract
The improvements in upstream have boosted high productivity in the bio-manufacturing industry, which is shifting the bottlenecks to downstream processing. A multiscale approach of rational design would be introduced to improve the efficiency of downstream bioprocesses. The approach includes four levels: (1) method scale (new separation technology, such as expanded bed absorption, mixed-mode chromatography, continuous chromatography); (2) material scale (novel separation materials, ligands and surface modification); (3) molecule scale (molecular simulation and molecular interactions); (4) process scale (process development and process design). Due to the complexity and particularity of bioprocesses, some model-based software platforms were developed to aid the optimization of operation conditions and guide the process design. In addition, artificial intelligence method was used to improve the data treatment. Multi-scale approach is helpful to understand the microscopic mechanism of bioseparation and optimize the macroscopic performance of downstream processes. Rational design, from molecule to materials, from method to process, would certainly initiate the innovation, improve process efficiency and reduce the manufacturing cost for more sustainable future.
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About the Speaker
Dong-Qiang Lin graduated from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University in 1992, and then obtained the PhD in 1997. Since 1998, he work for Zhejiang University, and became a professor at the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering in 2007. He also worked as post-doctor at the Institute of Enzyme Technology, Duesseldorf University in 1999-2001, and as the visiting scholar at various prestigious university across Europe. Till now he has published more than 150 peer-reviewed papers in international journals and three books, and has authorized 36 patents. He has received several technical awards, such as the First Award of Technology Progress (Education Ministry of China), Second Award of Technology Progress (Zhejiang Province, China) ), Second Award of Natural Science (Zhejiang Province, China) and First Award of Technology Progress in High Education (Education Committee of Zhejiang Province of China).