(6jv) Research in thermochemical conversion of biomass and organic wastes into renewable fuels and high value co-products

Research Interests:

My primary research interest is in the generation of alternative fuels and co-products from biomass and wastes via thermochemical conversion (TCC) routes and catalysis. Pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction are two important TCC processes that convert biomass components into a liquid fuel (called, bio-oil or biocrude) in a single step. Bio-oil can be catalytically modified and co-processed into hydrocarbon fuels in the presence of hydrogen and co-solvents. Integration of a well defined’ TCC process with a suitable low-cost catalytic method is important for production of commodity biofuels (gasoline/diesel). Co-product development and utilization in biomass processing has significance to the process sustainability and cost-economics. My research interests are in developing new processes and optimizing process parameters to maximize the primary fuel production (example, bio-oil) and co-product utilization. For example, in hydrothermal liquefaction and carbonization processes, the aqueous co-product streams have significant amounts of organics and nutrients that can be separated: the nutrients can be reused and recycled for plant growth, and the organics can be catalytically upgraded into high-value chemicals (levoglucosans, sugars, hydroxymethyl furfurals etc.), or converted into energy-dense gases via hydrothermal gasification process.

My secondary research interest in the integration of thermochemical and biochemical/biological conversion pathways. Using most of the biomass will be a key aspect in a sustainable biofuel production process. For example, in algal biodiesel or renewable diesel production, large amount of solid is left-behind (60-80% of the staring algae feedstock). Similarly, in the fermentation of agricultural grains and cellulosic crops, significant unused or residual mass is obtained. The utilization of the above residue by a second conversion process (catalytic or non-catalytic TCC) into fuels/chemicals will be important for the overall biofuel process viability. My overall goal will be to design integrated process and evaluate the process mass and energy balance, and its environmental and economic impacts.

Successful Grant Proposals:

Qatar National Research Foundation (2015; $900,000, International grant– collaborative research). United States Department of Agriculture –NIFA (2014; $90,000)

Department of Energy – EERE (2012; $698,000)

DRI’s Institute Project Assignments  (2013 and 2015; $14,500 and $14, 879) Indian Council of Agricultural Research (2006; INR 1,250,000)