Waste Plastic and Biomass Upcycling
We develop selective pyrolysis and catalytic upgrading processes to convert waste plastics and biomass into valuable chemicals and fuels. Our research examines how feedstock composition, catalyst properties, and heating conditions govern bond cleavage, volatile release, and subsequent reactions, with particular interest in producing light olefins, hydrogen, and synthesis gas. By integrating catalyst design with controlled heating and tailored reactor architectures, we seek to direct complex reaction networks toward desired products while limiting unwanted secondary reactions and catalyst deactivation. A central focus is understanding the coupling between reaction kinetics and heat and mass transfer, particularly in heterogeneous feedstocks and multiphase reaction environments. This understanding guides the design of processes that improve product selectivity, carbon utilization, and energy efficiency, supporting the recovery of useful resources from waste.
Related publications:
1. Jintao Xu, Ziyang Guo, Xiao Chen, Zejun Luo,* Charles Chunbao Xu, Weihong Li*, Sequential Catalysis Enables Efficient Pyrolysis of Food Waste for Syngas Production" Bioresource Technology, 419, 132042.
2. Luo, Z., et al., Li, W., Electrified selective differential heating for crew waste-to-hydrogen conversion in space resource loops, submitted.
Thermal Conversion for Green Fuel
We investigate electrically driven thermochemical processes for producing hydrogen, synthesis gas, and fuel intermediates through methane reforming, direct methane conversion, and catalytic carbon dioxide conversion. Our research combines catalyst development with reactor engineering to address the coupled challenges of reactant activation, product selectivity, heat delivery, and catalyst stability. Using Joule heating, induction heating, and ultrafast temperature programming, we explore how spatial and temporal control of reaction temperature can steer reaction pathways beyond conventional steady-state operation. Particular attention is given to coordinating heating and quenching rates with reactant transport and residence time to preserve desired products and suppress excessive secondary reactions. Through structured reactors and quantitative analysis of reaction–transport coupling, we aim to develop efficient, controllable fuel production processes suited to operation with renewable electricity.