Dr Jun Li
Reader
Chemical and Process Engineering
Personal statement
Dr Jun Li is a Reader in the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Strathclyde. Dr Li serves as the Deputy Theme Lead (Bioenergy) at ETP Scotland since 2020 and is a member of the Project Management Group for the UK Supergen Bioenergy Impact Hub. Dr Li received his PhD from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden in 2014 and worked as a Research Associate at the University of Glasgow until 2015. He is also on the Editorial Boards of the International Journal of Green Energy and Frontiers in Thermal Engineering.
Dr Li leads a bioenergy research group focusing on innovation pathways to decarbonize energy and chemical systems. His work emphasises the cost-effective valorisation of biomass and waste to produce low-carbon energy and fuels, contributing to the transition towards a net-zero circular economy. His research interests span the fundamentals of reacting and conversion processes, advanced CFD modelling for engineering prediction and design, and plant-wise process simulations for techno-economic and environmental assessments, currently with particular interests in green hydrogen production from biomass and clean bioenergy solutions including biofuel synthesis.
Prize And Awards
Publications
- Process simulation of the integration of molecular distillation with fast pyrolysis of biomass for sustainable fuel production
- Iwube Pamela, Li Jun, Brightman Edward
- Sustainable Energy and Fuels Vol 9, pp. 2564-2580 (2025)
- https://doi.org/10.1039/d4se01077a
- Multi-objective optimization of pelletized coffee silver skin in flue gas torrefaction for producing premium solid fuel
- Manatura Kanit, Klinkesorn Supaporn, Chalermsinsuwan Benjapon, Samsalee Namfon, Wongrerkdee Sutthipoj, Jaojaruek Kitipong, Pattiya Adisak, Li Jun
- BioEnergy Research Vol 18 (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-024-10808-6
- Crystal structure of asphaltene under mechanical stress of ball milling
- Al-Ajmi Fahad, Li Jun
- Fuel Processing Technology Vol 263 (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2024.108119
- Green heterogeneous catalysts derived from fermented kola nut pod husk for sustainable biodiesel production
- Asuquo Asuquo Jackson, Zhang Xiaolei, Lin Leteng, Li Jun
- International Journal of Green Energy Vol 21, pp. 2218-2227 (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.1080/15435075.2023.2297781
- A detailed kinetic modelling investigation into the effect of sub-critical heating regime on the supercritical water gasification of model biomass compounds
- Sait-Stewart Robert, Lue Leo, Li Jun
- 32nd European Biomass Conference & Exhibition (2024)
- Assessment of biomass ignition potential and behavior using a cost-effective CFD approach
- Mularski Jakub, Li Jun
- Fuel Vol 361 (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2023.130637
Teaching
Currently taught modules:
- CP533/CP969: Clean Combustion Technologies
- CP102:
Chemical Engineering: Fundamentals, Techniques and Tools
Previously taught modules:
- CP206: Chemical Engineering Practice 1
- CP414: Particle Technology & Advanced Reactors
Research Interests
Dr Li's research interests include the fundamental investigation and understanding of problems associated with the complex interactions of thermo-fluids dynamics, thermochemical processes, and heat & mass thansfer in thermal/chemical processes, predominantly focusing on:
- Clean bioenergy technologies, such as clean combustion, gasification, pyrolysis, and wet waste-to-energy conversion.
- The production and utilisation of renewable hydrogen/hydrogen-rich syngas for decarbonising industry systems.
- The development and application of advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling for multiphase reacting fluids.
- The development and demonstration of innovative, affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy systems.
- Techno-economic and environmental assessment of energy and chemical systems.
Accepting PhD student applications in the following topics:
- Biomass electrolysis for hydrogen production
- Supercritical CO2-enhanced hydrothermal gasification
- Advanced biofuel synthesis and upgrading
Current PDRA:
- Dr Lewis McDonnald (Project: Biomass electrolysis for green hydrogen production )
- Shuya Jia (Project: biosynthesis green hydrogen demonstration)
- Robert Sait-Stewart (Project: BioMECC Hydrogen production from landfill gas)
Current PhD students:
- Chigozie Akanno
- Nicola Voiculescu
- Asuquo Jackson Asuquo
- Robert Sait-Stewart
- Haitian Chen
- Ali Rabeeah
- Fahad Alajmi
Formal PhD students:
- Dr Morgen Mukamwi (PhD thesis: Development of a sulphur-tolerant carbon-based catalyst for steam reforming syngas hydrocarbons to maximise hydrogen production in biomass gasification)
- Dr Jixiang Zhang (PhD thesis: Beyond Green Planet: A Comprehensive and Systematic Second-Generation Biomass Supply Chain Optimisation)
- Dr Teresa Marti Rossello (PhD thesis: Development of robust modelling methods for a quick evaluation of biomass pyrolysis performance and its transient behaviour at a particle level)
- Dr Wenhan Cao (PhD thesis: Experimental and modelling study on the release of potassium during biomass combustion)
Formal Research Associate:
- Dr Robert Price (2022-2024)
- Dr Jakub Mularski (2020-2022)
- Dr Muhammad Uzair (2022-2023)
- Teresa Marti Rossello (2019)
- Robert Sait-Stewart (2022)
Professional Activities
- Strategic Themes: EPSRC Critical Mass Programmes to Drive a Sustainable Future
- Participant
- 30/1/2025
- UK Bioenergy Updates
- Speaker
- 30/11/2024
- Hydrogen BECCS
- Speaker
- 25/11/2024
- Hydrogen Production Via Mediated Electrolysis of Biomass from Distillery Whisky Waste Streams
- Contributor
- 8/10/2023
- 31st European Biomass Conference & Exhibition
- Participant
- 5/6/2023
- External Examiner of PhD Viva at University of Kent
- Examiner
- 9/5/2023
Projects
- ThermalLance3
- Lue, Leo (Principal Investigator) Li, Jun (Co-investigator)
- 22-Jan-2024 - 21-Jan-2026
- Industrial CASE Account - University of Strathclyde 2024 | Jahangir, Reehab
- Markl, Daniel (Principal Investigator) Li, Jun (Co-investigator) Jahangir, Reehab (Research Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2024 - 01-Jan-2028
- Biosynthesis green hydrogen demonstration
- Li, Jun (Principal Investigator)
- 01-Jan-2023 - 30-Jan-2025
- Supergen Bioenergy Impact Focused Hub
- Li, Jun (Principal Investigator)
- 01-Jan-2023 - 31-Jan-2027
- DTP 2224 University of Strathclyde | Johnson, William
- Brightman, Edward (Principal Investigator) Li, Jun (Co-investigator) Lyth, Stephen (Co-investigator) Johnson, William (Research Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2023 - 01-Jan-2027
- Green Hydrogen Integration at Sullom Voe (EETF Hydrogen Innovation Scheme)
- Sillars, Fiona (Principal Investigator) Li, Jun (Co-investigator) Marrocco, Tiziana (Co-investigator) Race, Julia (Co-investigator) Roy, Sudipta (Co-investigator)
- 03-Jan-2023 - 31-Jan-2024