Dr Xiaolei Zhang

Chancellor'S Fellowships

Chemical and Process Engineering

Personal statement

The main stream of my research is solid waste valorization for the production of power, heat, fuel, and chemicals. I work on thermochemical conversion technologies (pyrolysis, gasification, liquefaction, combustion, co-firing), and further upgrading. The final products of interest include fossil compatible fuel (bio-gasoline, bio-diesel), fuel additives (ethanol, methanol, dimethyl ether, oxymethylene ethers), gaseous products (hydrogen, methane) and bio-chemicals (e.g. levoglucosan); to realize low carbon, low cost, and low GHG emission bio-fuel production. The research approaches include Quantum Mechanics modelling based on Density Functional Theory (DFT), Molecular Dynamic modelling, Process Modelling, Thermodynamic and Kinetic experimental investigation and Techno-economic Analysis. I have been awarded research projects from various funding bodies including EPSRC, Leverhulme Trust, and industry.

I received a Ph.D. degree from Royal Institute of Technology-KTH, Stockholm, Sweden, and worked as a Post-doc Research Fellow in University of Alberta, Canada. From January 2015 to June 2019, I worked at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) as a Lecturer and joined University of Strathclyde in July 2019 as a Senior Lecturer (Chancellor's Fellow) under Strathclyde Global Talent Programme. I am currently on the editorial board of two international journals and I am an academic member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), a member of the Energy Institute (EI) and a member of American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).

I am a Fellow of Higher Education Academy in the UK, and have taught core Engineering courses include Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, and Heat Transfer.

Expertise

Has expertise in:

Quantum Mechanics (QM) modelling based on Density Functional Theory (DFT);
Process design and optimization of energy systems;
Thermodynamic, Energy and Exergy analysis;
Techno-economic analysis, System design.

Publications

Hydrogenation of fatty acids to fatty alcohols over Ni3Fe nanoparticles anchored on TiO2 crystal catalyst : metal support interaction and mechanism investigation: Long Feng, Wu Shiyu, Chen Yuwei, Cao Xincheng, Zhao Jiaping, Liu Peng, Jiang Jianchun, Zhang Xiaolei, Xu Junming; Chemical Engineering Journal Vol 464 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2023.142773
High quantum efficiency of hydrogen production from methanol aqueous solution with PtCu–TiO2 photocatalysts: Wang Hui, Qi Haifeng, Sun Xiao, Jia Shuya, Li Xiyi, Miao Tina Jingyan, Xiong Lunqiao, Wang Shihao, Zhang Xiaolei, Liu Xiaoyan, Wang Aiqin, Zhang Tao, Huang Weixin, Tang Junwang; Nature Materials (2023); https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-023-01519-y
Integrated lignocellulosic biorefinery for efficient production of furans and photothermal materials: Liu Chao, Wang Kui, Zhao Xinpeng, Chen Zhijun, Yin Xiaoyan, Cai Tingting, Zhang Xiaolei, Xu Junming, Hu Jun, Meng Xianzhi, Ragauskas Arthur J, Jiang Jianchun; Chemical Engineering Journal Vol 453 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.139688
Mechanistic investigation of char growth from lignin monomers during biomass utilisation: Shaw Alexander, Zhang Xiaolei, Jia Shuya, Fu Juan, Lang Lin, Brown Robert C; Fuel Processing Technology Vol 239 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2022.107556
A smart self-balancing biosystem with reversible competitive adsorption of in-situ anion exchange resin for whole-cell catalysis preparation of lignocellulosic xylonic acid: Lv Yang, Zhou Shaonuo, Zhang Xiaolei, Xu Yong; Bioresource Technology Vol 363 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127998
Nanostructured functionalised niobium oxide as chemoselective catalyst for acetalation of glucose: Kumar Sahil, Saini Kanika, Saravanamurugan Shunmugavel, Zhang Xiaolei, Kansal Sushil Kumar; Topics in Catalysis (2022); https://doi.org/10.1007/s11244-022-01738-8

More publications

Research interests

Waste valorization for production of fuels and advanced materials;
Bioenergy, biofuel, production of high value-added chemicals;
Pyrolysis, gasification, combustion, carbonization;
Process design and manufacturing of renewable energy systems.

Available PhD projects:

Atomic/molecular insights into the formation of valuable products from waste biomass

System design on co-production of transport fuel and value-added chemicals from waste biomass

Professional activities

28th Annual SCI-CSCST Conference: Organiser; 9/9/2021
Bio-SNG production via dual fluidised bed gasification: a modelling approach: External Examiner; 18/5/2021
Valorisation of Solid Waste to Advanced Fuels and Materials: Invited speaker; 14/4/2021
Fundamental studies of ethanol oxidation reaction in Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells using density functional theory (DFT) Calculations: External Examiner; 11/3/2021
Biomass Waste to Advanced Fuels and Materials: Speaker; 15/9/2020
27th Annual CSCST-SCI Conference: Sustainable Energy and Manufacturing the Future (Event): Advisor; 11/9/2020

More professional activities

Projects

Sustainable plastics for bathroom products: Zhang, Xiaolei (Principal Investigator) Johnston, Karen (Principal Investigator); 01-Jan-2022 - 30-Jan-2022
System integration and module exploration on full valorization of main lignocellulosic constitutes based on self-providing acid pretreatment: Zhang, Xiaolei (Principal Investigator); 31-Jan-2022 - 30-Jan-2024
System Integration and Module Exploration on Full Valorisation of Main Lignocellulosic Constitutes based on Self-providing Acid Pretreatment: Zhang, Xiaolei (Principal Investigator); Royal Society International Exchanges 2021 Cost Share (NSFC) (IEC\NSFC\211370); 01-Jan-2022 - 01-Jan-2024
Efficient utilization of biochar for water remediation and soil amendment - towards a circular economy: Zhang, Xiaolei (Principal Investigator) Davidson, Christine (Co-investigator) Fletcher, Ashleigh (Co-investigator); 01-Jan-2021 - 30-Jan-2025
Biochar Water Remediation Research Project: Fletcher, Ashleigh (Co-investigator) Zhang, Xiaolei (Principal Investigator) Davidson, Christine (Co-investigator); 01-Jan-2021 - 30-Jan-2021
PhD Project | Developing green heterogeneous catalysts for converting waste papaya oilseed into biodiesel: Li, Jun (Principal Investigator) Zhang, Xiaolei (Co-investigator) Asuquo, Asuquo Jackson (Research Co-investigator); PTDF PhD Studentship (£120,000); 01-Jan-2020 - 31-Jan-2023

Address

Chemical and Process Engineering
James Weir

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