Projects per year
Personal profile
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.
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
Expertise & Capabilities
- 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.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, Micro-reaction Mechanism Study of the Biomass Thermal Conversion Process using Density Functional Theory, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)
Sept 2009 → May 2013
Award Date: 23 May 2013
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Long, F., Wu, S., Chen, Y., Cao, X., Zhao, J., Liu, P., Jiang, J., Zhang, X. & Xu, J., 15 May 2023, In: Chemical Engineering Journal. 464, 142773.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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High quantum efficiency of hydrogen production from methanol aqueous solution with PtCu–TiO2 photocatalysts
Wang, H., Qi, H., Sun, X., Jia, S., Li, X., Miao, T. J., Xiong, L., Wang, S., Zhang, X., Liu, X., Wang, A., Zhang, T., Huang, W. & Tang, J., 10 Apr 2023, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Nature Materials . 22, 5, p. 619-626 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Activities
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28th Annual SCI-CSCST Conference
Xiaolei Zhang (Organiser)
9 Sept 2021 → 10 Sept 2021Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Organiser of major conference
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Bio-SNG production via dual fluidised bed gasification: a modelling approach
Xiaolei Zhang (External Examiner)
18 May 2021Activity: Examination types › Examination