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Team of Green Separation Engineering and Environmental

Biotechnology

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Team of Green Separation Engineering and Environmental Biotechnology

Brief Introduction

The team focuses on the scientific study of the technical difficulties and obstacles in the green separation process and environmental biotechnology, and the innovation of the technologies in these fields. Their efforts cover mainly the industry of hydrometallurgy and the engineering of environmental protection. They develop new and efficient green separation technology and environmental biotechnology using the modern green process engineering theory and methods. In addition they aim at automation of equipment control, information analysis and digitization, and promote the related research, development, integration, design of techniques to a higher level.

Research Activities

Fundamental research regarding efficient clean utilization of associated complex refractory amphorteric resourcesFoundamental research on new technology and mass transfer machanism of chemical separation process based on the micro-nano interface modulationFundamental studies on chemical reaction engineering of multiphase systems and reactors and applicationsDesign, synthesis and application of novel green photo-electrical catalystNanoengineered Pollution Control Technology & Method

Infrastructure

The team has 77 members, including 11 professors, 10 associate professors, 10 assistant professors, 11 engineers, 2 administrators, and 33 graduate students. The team is equipped by many advanced research instruments, which ensures that they can meet the international first-class research conditions, such as conventional equipment, spectrum analysis and thermal analysis, rheology equipment and so on, as well as the most frontier equipments, represented by 700MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Dynamic & Static Light Scattering and Atom Force Microscope.

Research Progress

1. Numerical Simulation of Multiphase Reactors/Crystallizers and Application for Green Processes

With rapid development of various relevant technologies, numerical simulation of multiphase flow and mass transfer in multiphase reactors /crystallizers is being popularized very fast nowadays than ever before. Recently we mainly focus on the fundamental and applied research of mathematical models, numerical methods and experimental techniques for multiphase flow and mass transfer in reactors and crystallizers, operating in gas-liquid, liquid-solid, liquid-liquid, gas-liquid-solid, liquid-liquid-solid and gas-liquid-liquid systems on macro-scale and meso-scale (namely particle scale about solid particles, bubbles and drops). Some recent industrial applications of our mathematical models and numerical simulations of reactors/crystallizers have brought about impressive economic benefit by reducing the materials and energy consumption, and pollution emissions, as well as saving of equipment investment, which make the industrial processes more sustainable and profitable.

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2. Development of the air-assisted superparamagnetic extraction technology

Because the magnetic separator is difficult to enlarge; high gradient magnetic separator cannot be continuously operated. We proposed a new type of air-assisted superparamagnetic extraction technology, and further developed a new type of air-assisted superparamagnetism continuous extraction integrated device. The technology includes two steps: magnetic particles with special surface properties are rapidly and efficiently enriched to the top of the extraction column by flotation techniques, and then they continuously flow by the magnetic roller on the top of the air flotation column. Through this, magnetic particles are treated as extractant, multi-stage extraction and continuous stripping elution process operation can be achieved, thus large-scale continuous separation of the desired product can be realized. In the study, we selected magnetic particles with different surface properties and different particle size as carriers, and used BSA protein as a model product. In the intermittent operation, 500 mL aqueous solution contains BSA-uploaded magnetic particles had been enriched 20-50 times within 1 minute by non-froth flotation and froth flotation in the optimal conditions. By now, a set of air-assisted superparamagnetic continuous extraction integrated device has been built to achieve the air-assisted superparamagnetic continuous extraction.

Mechanism of air-assisted superparamagnetic extraction

Continuous air-assisted superparamagnetic extraction equipment

Three-liquid-phase continuous extraction device

3. Development of a new three-liquid-phase continuous extraction device with processing automation function

A new three-liquid-phase extraction device with processing automation function for providing the key parameters in future industrial application of our patented three-liquid-phase extraction and separation techniques was developed. The research focus on: 1) Design and scale-up of the three-liquid-phase extraction device to meet the practical requirements

of continuous separation processes. 2) Automatic control system for those unit extraction processes and their mutual cooperation behaviors. 3) Explore the application possibilities of the new equipment to various of micro-emulsion extraction techniques such as aqueous two-phase extraction, reversed micelle extraction, turbidity-point extraction and so on. The main purpose of current fundamental research is to obtain the optimized process parameters, feasible scale-up methods and regulations for structural design of the three-liquid-phase extraction device and its automation processing system. The investigation intends to provide a multi-purposed device for automatic controllable and continuous extraction and separation of multi-objectives from complicated solutions

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by the proposed three-liquid phase extraction new technique. The investigation on the new device aims at future industrial demonstration and practical operation of the three-liquid-phase separation systems; meanwhile it is also the purpose to realize automatic process control, on-line process analysis, diagnosis, evaluation, and process optimization. The final results of present research include two aspects: a completed equipment flow-sheet composed of a series of process units to fit the continuous extraction; a compatible automatic process control system to meet the requirement of ordered extraction and separation. The results can provide a laboratory-scale research instrument to simulate an industrial-scale process of three-liquid-phase extraction technique, and also provide a demonstration on how to conduct the automatic operation control at piloting-scale for future industrial processes of continuous extraction and separation.

4. Adsorption recovery of rare earths by Biosorbents

In the field of hydrometallurgy, traditional solvent extraction is one of the most promising methods for the recovery of metal ions especially for rare earths from leaching liquor. Although traditional solvent extraction can obtain a satisfied separation with the simple equipment and convenient operation, the interfacial emulsion occurs due to the use of an organic diluent for a traditional solvent extraction system.In addition,acid organophosphorus extractants have been extensively used in the enrichment and purification of rare earths. However, they have to be saponificated beforehand in order to improve the extractability and selectivity. During the process of saponification, normally ammonia nitrogen wastewater would be generated, which does not meet the requirements of environmental protection. Adsorption technology attracts much more attention due to highly efficiency and environmentally benign without using any organic solvents. From this viewpoint, we developed a series of biomass adsorbents for the adsorption recovery of rare earths from a low concentration solution. Biosorbents, made from biopolymers, have drawn wide attention due to low cost,non-toxicity, biodegradable, and wide material sources. These biomaterials have been recognized as the potential alternative to conventional adsorption resins for the recovery of valuable metals. Based on this, a series of composite biosorbents, including CMCH/SiO2,ALG/SiO2 and ALG/PGA et al., have been synthesized and used for the investigation of adsorption properties for rare earths. Here, as an example, the composite biomass adsorbents ALG/PGA will be elaborated. Alginate (ALG) is one of natural polysaccharide with abundant hydroxyl and carboxyl groups. γ-Poly glutamic acid (PGA) is another biopolymer with carboxyl groups in each unit. Since ALG can construct an ‘‘egg box’’ hydrogel microcapsule through complexing with Ca2+, immobilization of PGA into the capsules of ALG has been proposed and also is feasible. Compared with the single ALG, doping PGA into ALG not only increase the adsorption capacities of rare earths due to abundant active sites derived from PGA, but also improve the selectivity and reutilization. To our knowledge, ALG/PGA has a maximum adsorption capacity compared w i th the o ther repor ted biosorbents for Neodymium. It exhibits a potential application prospect for ALG-PGA to be used in the field of removal or recovery of rare earths from the diluted solutions. The relative research work was published on J. Chem. Technol. Biotechnol. , 2013, 88(2): 317-325; J. Chem. Technol . Biotechnol . , 2014, 89(7),969-977; Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. , 2013, 52 (9): 3453-3461; Waste and Biomass Valoriation , 2013, 4(3): 665-674. Biosorbent for adsorption of RE

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5. New process of alumina recovery from fly ash

Fly ash is a pollutant generated during the combustion of coal for energy production, and it causes several environmental problems especially related to its fine particle content, which is ~10% by mass (EPA designated PM 2.5). However, it can be used for alumina production. A novel process to recover AlCl3•6H2O from fly ash by salting-out crystallization with FeCl2 is thus proposed by our team in cooperation with professor Asselin of University of British Columbia. This process

New process of alumina recovery from fly ash

would consist of the following: (1) Leaching. The fly ash is leached by hydrochloric acid; (2) Reduction. After leaching, the clarified liquor is reduced (Fe3+ → Fe2+) by the addition of iron filings; (3) Salting-out crystallization. The purified pregnant leaching solution is evaporated and AlCl3•6H2O is crystallized by salting out crystallization in a controlled range of Fe2+ concentration (<2.0 mol/kg at 333.2 K). When Fe2+ has accumulated to a certain amount, a bleed stream of liquor is removed and diluted for FeCl2•4H2O separation through cooling and crystallization; (4) Filtering and washing. The obtained AlCl3•6H2O is separated from the liquor by filtering and washing. The wash solutions are adjusted to give the correct amount of HCl for leaching in the next cycle. The related works have been published on Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. , 2013, 52: 14282-14290.

6. Design, synthesis and application of novel green photo-electrical catalyst

By using polyoxometalates as reductant and bridge molecule, novel tricomponent nanohybrid were successfully synthesized. It is found that the prepared nanohybrid showed significant enhanced photo-electrical catalysis performance. The related works have been published on J. Mater. Chem. , 2011, 21: 2282-2287 Carbon , 2011, 49,1906-1911, J. Mater. Chem. 2011,21, 14917-14924,and Cry. Growth. Design. , 2011, 11(8),3424-3431. Furthermore, we have developed a new route for green synthesis of graphene and its related nanohybrid. It is also found that graphene based nanohybrid also showed excellence photo-electrical catalysis. The related works have been published on Small , 2012, 8: 1398-1406 and J. Mater. Chem. ,2012,22 (8), 3319 – 3322. These works have attracted many international attentions. Some recent published reviews on Chem. Rev., Chem. Soc. Rev., J. Mater. Chem.etc. have cited and introduced our works in detail.

Selected Publications and Achievements

Fundamental studies on chemical reaction engineering of multiphase systems and reactors and applications , SCEJ Asia Research Award 2012Fundamental studies on chemical reaction engineering of multiphase systems and reactors and applications , Hou Debang chemical science and Technology Award 2012Fundamental studies on chemical reaction engineering of multiphase systems and reactors and applications, National Prize for Natural SciencesPreparation and industrial application of novel multi-functional superparamagnetism particle, First award for progress in science and technology by China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, 2011Process study on microbial desulfurization of diesel oil, Second award for progress in science and technology by

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China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, 2010Monodisperse Iron Phosphate Nanospheres: Preparation and Application in Energy Storage. Chemsuschem. 2012, 5(8): 1495-1500Lipase immobilization on ionic liquid-modified magnetic nanoparticles: Ionic liquids controlled esters hydrolysis at oil-water interface. AIChE J. 2012, 58(4): 1203-1211Numerical Simulation of Multiphase Reactors With Continuous Liquid, Academic Press Inc.(London) Ltd , 2014, Book ISBN : 9780080999197Numerical Study on Steady and Transient Mass/Heat Transfer Involving a Liquid Sphere in Simple Shear Creeping Flow AIChE J., 2014, 60(1), 343-352Facile Synthesis of Au-Nanoparticle/Polyoxometalate/Graphene Tricomponent Nanohybrids: An Enzyme-Free Electrochemical Biosensor for Hydrogen Peroxide. Small 2012, 8(9): 1398-1406Rapid and Large-Scale Separation of Magnetic Nanoparticles by Low-Field Permanent Magnet with Gas Assistance." AIChE J. 2014, 60(9): 3101-3106Synthesis of silver nanoparticles by solar irradiation of cell-free Bacillus amyloliquefaciens extracts and AgNO3." Bioresource Technology. 2012, 103(1): 273-278Epsilon-Keggin-based coordination networks: Synthesis, structure and application toward green synthesis of polyoxometalate@graphene hybrids." Dalton Transactions. 2012, 41(33): 9989-9999A practical approach to produce Mg-Al spinel based on the modeling of phase equilibria for NH4Cl-MgCl2-AlCl3-H2O system." AIChE J. 2013, 59(6): 1855-1867A new process for Al2O3 production from low-grade diasporic bauxite based on reactive silica dissolution and stabilization in NaOH-NaAl(OH)4 media." AIChE J. 2012, 58(7): 2180-2191.

Research Professors

Prof. Jiayong Chen, got his Ph.D degree in chemical engineering from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1951. He then worked as research associate in the Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, and came back in 1952 to the University of Illinois to work on filtration of aerosol by fibrous media. In 1954 he joined the Yerkes Laboratory of Film Division of du Pont Co. as a research engineer and devoted to the research and development work of continuous polyester production line. In 1956, he returned to China and started to work as a research professor at Institute of Chemical Metallurgy, CAS and in charge of the R/D work in Hydrometallurgy Division. He was the Deputy Director of the Institute of Chemical Metallurgy between 1978 and 1984, elected to be a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1980. He is the academic adviser of Key Laboratory of Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences.He has published more than 160 papers in international peer-reviewed journals and was awarded with many scientific and technical prizes, such as Natianal Natural Science Awards, National Technical Invention Awards, et al.Research InterestsChemical engineering and hydrometallurgy.

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Prof. Huizhou Liu (Team Leader), born in 1962, got his Ph.D. degree in chemistry from Peking University in 1988. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of Process Engineering (IPE), CAS (1988-1990). He has been a professor of IPE since 1995, where he had been the Director (1995-2008). He was a visiting scientist at Chemical Engineering Department of MIT (1996-1997). He is director of Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences since 2007. He has published more than 300 papers in international peer-reviewed journals and held more than 100 patents. He was awarded the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars in 1999. He was awarded second Beijing Science and Technology prize in 2003 and 2007, first prize and second prize from China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Association in 2011 and 2010.

AffiliationAssociate Chief Editor, ChemistryEditor, Separation and Purification TechnologyCo-Chair, International Solvent Extraction ConferenceChair, 3rd International Conference on Engineering for Waste and Biomass ValorisationCo-chair, the 6th International Conference of Hydrometallurgy

Research InterestsHydrometallurgy; Biochemical and Chemical Engineering: Bio-desulphurization, preparation and application of nano-micro materials, extraction of proteins with reverse micelles

Prof. Chao Yang, born in 1971, got his Ph.D. degree in chemical engineering from Nanjing University of Technology in 1998. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of Process Engineering (IPE), CAS (1998-2000). He has been a professor of IPE since 2006, where he is the assistant director (2014-). He is also the deputy director of Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He was awarded the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars in 2010. He won the Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Prize (Youth Award) from Chinese Academy of Engineering in 2014, the Asia Research Award from the Society of Chemical Engineers, Japan in 2012, the National Award for Youth in Science and Technology in 2011, and the second prize of China State Natural Science Award in 2009.He has published about 140 papers in peer-reviewed journals, 1 co-authored book published by Elsevier and 7 chapters in monographs, and holds 31 patents and 9 computer software copyrights.

AffiliationsAssociate Editor, Journal of Natural Gas Science & EngineeringEditorial Board, Journal of Applied MathematicsEditorial Board, Chinese Journal of Chemical EngineeringEditorial Board, Journal of EngineeringEditorial Board, Open Journal of Fluid Dynamics

Research InterestsMultiphase reactors; Multiphase rlow; Mass rransfer; Mathematical model and mumerical Simulation; Biohydrometallurgy.

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Prof. Zhibao Li, born in 1963, got his a PhD in Chemical Engineering at Tsinghua University in 1998. He was a postdoctoral fellow at University of Ottawa (1999-2001) and McGill University (2001-2002). In 2006, he got his sencond PhD in Mining and Materials Engineering at McGill University, Canada. After his graduation, he joined KLGPE as “One Hundred Talent of IPE”. Currently, his research focuses on Process Hydrometallurgy, Industrial Crystallization and Thermodynamics of Eletrolyte Solutions. He has published more than 60 papers in international peer-reviewed journals, including AIChE Journal (4 papers), Industrial& Engineering Chemistry Research (more than 22 papers), Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data (more than 15 articles), Hydrometallurgy (4 papers) etc, and applied for 21 invention patents.

AffiliationsEditorial Board; Hydrometallurgy

Research InterestsProcess Hydrometallurgy; Industrial Crystallization and Precipitation; Thermodynamics of Salt Lake and Metallurgical Systems.

Prof. Chuanfang Yang, born in 1964, got his a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Dalian University of Technology, and conducted postdoc research from 1992 to 1994 at Institute of Chemical Metallurgy of CAS. He was associate professor from 1994-1998 prior to working at University of Minnesota as a Sr. research fellow from 1998 to 2002. During 2002-2012, he worked at Donaldson Company Inc. as a top R&D scientist. In 2012, he joined the Institute of Process Engineering as a full-professor under the National Specially-recruited Expert Program. He has published 80 papers, numerous confidential internal reports and a dozen US, international and China patents. He is the recipient of the Sr. Scientist Award from the American Filtration & Separation Society in 2011.

AffiliationsCo-chair, American Filtration & Separation Society Annual Meeting

Research Interests:Advanced filtration; Membrane separation; Nanomaterials; Electrospinning; Colloid & interface science; Adsorption; Solvent extraction, Heat and mass transfer.

Prof.Guangjin Zhang, born in 1977, got his Ph.D. degree in chemistry from Institute of Chemistry, CAS in 2004. He was a postdoctoral and Marie-Curie fellow at the University of Paris-sud XI, France (2005-2009). He has been a professor of IPE since 2009, Where he was granted as One Hundred Talent of IPE.He has published 60 papers, 1 translated book, and held 10 patents. His published papers have been cited for more than 1000 times with H-index of 20.

AffiliationsAssociate editor, Journal of Nanomaterials Letters

Research InterestsElectrocatalysis and photocatalysis; From materials to the green process; Fuel cells; Water splitting; Hybrid materials.

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Prof. Qingfen Liu, born in 1965, got her Ph.D. degree in chemical technology from Institute of Process Engineering (IPE), CAS in 2006. She has been a professor of IPE since 2010. She has worked on the research of reaction enhanced and green separation engineering based on interface & surface phenomena about pharmaceutical process since 2007 in IPE. In 1991-2007, she worked in North China Pharmaceutical Co. LTD., as a professor, director of extraction workshop and manager of research & engineering projects, Mainly engaged in research & application of separation technology, new technology scaled up, manufacturing management. She was awarded the Third Prize of Heibei province science and technology progress awards (the first person). She has published 30 papers, and held 14 patents.

Research InterestsBiochemical and chemical engineering; Continuous separation technology by extraction; Membrane; Adsorption for pharmaceutical; Separation mechanism and kinetics; Surface and interface phenomena in separation technology.

Prof. Chen Guo, born in 1969, got her Ph.D. degree in chemical engineering from Institute of Chemical Metallurgy, CAS in 2000. She was a postdoctoral fellow at University of Delaware (2000-2002). She has been a professor of IPE since 2008. She was awarded the First Prize of Technology Awards of China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Association (2012), the Second Prize of Beijing Science and Technology Awards (2003 and 2007), and the Second Prize of Science and Technology Awards of China Association for Instrumental Analysis (2003). She has published 81 and held 31 patents.

Research InterestsGreen bioseparation based on nano/micro magnetic materials

Prof. Kun Huang, born in 1972, got his Ph.D Degree in Chemical & Metallurgical Engineering from Kunming University of Sciences and Technology in 2004. From 2005 to 2006, he was appointed as an Associate Professor at Institute of Precious Metals, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Director of Hydrometallurgy and Separation Division of Precious Metal at Sino-Platinum Group. Co. Ltd. In 2006, he moved to Peking University and worked as a post-doctoral research fellow, where he investigated inorganic solution chemistry under the supervision of Prof. Jinguang Wu and Prof. Guangxian Xu. In 2009, he move to Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences and was employed as a Full Professor of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering since 2012. He has published more than 85 peer-reviewed journal articles, held 65 patents including US and South African patents. He was awarded the First Class Prize of Natural Science Prize of Yunnan Province Government (2003), the Second Class Prize of Science and Technology Prize of Chinese Nonferrous Metal Industrial (2002), the Second Class Prize of Technical Invention Prize of Yunnan Province Government (2001). Several of his authorization research productions have been successfully applied in precious metal and rare-earth metal hydrometallurgical industry.

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AffiliationProfessor, Chemistry, Fuyang Teachers CollegePoster Chairman, the 7th International Conference on Separation Science and TechnologySecretary-general, the 6th International Conference of Hydrometallurgy

Research InterestsSolvent extraction and interfacial process intensification for multi-metal separation from complex leach solutions in hydrometallurgical processes; Solution chemistry; Nano-microscopic structural chemistry and interface chemistry in separation processes; Control of separation selectivity based on interfacial non-equilibrium and non-linear chemical processes; Design, process simulation and scale-up of novel separation equipment to achieve interfacial mass transferring intensification.

Prof. Guangji Zhang, born in 1973, got his Ph.D. degree in chemical technology from CAS in 2003 and became an assistant professor of IPE in same year. He has been a professor of IPE since 2010. He has published more than 30 papers and held 5 patents.

Research InterestsBiohydrometallurgy and mine environmental technology

Prof. Yumei Yong, born in 1973, got her Ph.D. degree in Thermal Engineering from Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in 2004. She was a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of Fluid Machinery in Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (2006-2007). She has been a professor of Institute of Process Engineering (IPE), CAS since 2014.She has published 20 papers, 2 co-authored monographs, and held 7 patents and 4 software copyrights. She was voted as the National Chemical outstanding scientific and technological workers by China petroleum and Chemical Industry Association (2010), and awarded the First Prize of Technological Invention Award (2009).

Research InterestsChemical reaction engineering; Thermal engineering;Multi scale mathematical model; Numerical simulation and control and design of multiphase reactors.