Biomass Group, Nanjing Agricultural University, PO Box 68, 40 Dianjiangtai Road, Nanjing 210031

Lectures in Tengchong No.1 Middle School

On December 3, 2023, one of the activities of “Tengchong Scientists Forum series – Academician Science Popularization into Campus Activity” was held at Tengchong No.1 Middle School. The theme of the activity is “Love Science and Advocate Science”, which stimulates the interest of young people in exploring science through forms such as science popularization lectures, science experiment shows, and science popularization book exhibitions.

On the day of the event, Prof. Keqin Zhang (Academician of CAS), Dr. Zhaoyun Zhu (Academician of CAE), Prof. Caucher Birkar from Tsinghua University (2018 Winner of the Fields Medal), and Prof. Zhen Fang (Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering), gave lectures in their respective fields. Prof. Zhen Fang gave a talk on “Biorefining agricultural and forestry biomass as fuel and high value-added products”. The 14^th batch of Yunnan Province Science Popularization Base awarding ceremony was held on-site; The scientific experiment exhibition – Fun Science Gallium – was welcomed by teachers and students on site.

Prof. Caucher Birkar and Prof. Zhen Fang

Prof. Caucher Birkar and Prof. Zhen Fang

方老师参加“腾冲科学家论坛系列活动之一——院士科普进校园活动”

12月3日，2023腾冲科学家论坛系列活动之一——院士科普进校园活动在腾冲一中举行。活动以“热爱科学 崇尚科学”为主题，通过科普讲座、科学实验秀、科普图书展等形式，激发青少年探索科学的兴趣。

活动当天，中国科学院院士张克勤、中国工程院院士朱兆云、清华大学丘成桐数学科学中心教授考切尔•比尔卡尔(2018年菲尔兹奖获得者-数学诺奖)、加拿大工程院院士方真(南京农业大学教授)结合各自领域展开科普。现场举行了第十四批云南省科普基地授牌仪式；科学实验展演——趣味科学“镓”受到现场师生欢迎。

中国科学院院士张克勤以《真菌与线虫的战争》为题，从作物的杀手——根结线虫、线虫的天敌——捕食线虫真菌、真菌如何设置陷阱等六个方面，通俗易懂地讲解了真菌与线虫之间的战争。中国工程院院士朱兆云以《话说中药》为题，从历史上的中药、现代中药和云南中药三个部分，展示了中药作为中国科学文化的瑰宝所具有的无限魅力，详细介绍云南白药传承创新发展的历程。伊朗裔英籍数学家考切尔•比尔卡尔以《From Science to Happiness》为题，阐释了如何从科学中获得幸福，如何在解决问题、发现奥秘中收获喜悦，如何正确认识教育在科学研究发现中的重要作用。加拿大工程院院士方真以《生物精炼农林生物质为燃料和高附加值产物》为题，介绍了生物质资源、生物炼制、生物质的几种水解方式，分享如何通过化学、生物的方法将糖转化为高附加产物以及合成生物柴油，展现生物技术在实现经济可持续发展和环保方面的积极作用。

省科技厅党组书记、厅长王学勤表示，院士科普进校园活动搭建了院士专家与青年学生的交流平台，不仅是教育“双减”中做好科学教育加法的具体举措，更是践行习近平总书记关于科技创新和科学普及“一体两翼”理论，促进两翼齐飞的重要载体。以此次活动为契机，希望同学们心怀科学梦想、树立创新志向，爱科学、懂科学、学科学，传承科学家精神。

　　昆明日报全媒体记者：张怡

责编：莫开井

Lecture in Cixi middle school

In the afternoon of April 25^th, Professor Zhen Fang (Fellow of Canadian Academy of Engineering) from Nanjing Agricultural University visited our school.

Professor Zhen Fang visited the campus and school history exhibition room, learned about the basic situation of Cixi Middle School, and discussed educational achievements and the concept of talent cultivation together.

Professor Fang gave a science popularization lecture on “Biomass and Biorefinery” in the staircase classroom on the second floor, introducing bioenergy technology and majors from the perspectives of biomass resources, sugar conversion into high value-added products, and biodiesel.

After lecture, students enthusiastically asked questions, and Professor Fang patiently and professionally answered them one by one. He encouraged the students to demonstrate the vitality and proactive spirit of young people in the new era. This is not only for answering questions about professional knowledge, but also a great encouragement and motivation for their curiosity and professional interest. Professor Fang also expressed the hope that students can maintain diligence and progress, and work together to promote the progress and development of science and technology in China.

院士进校园 丨 加拿大工程院院士方真教授莅临我校讲学

慈溪中学 2023-04-29 07:43 Posted on 浙江

4月25日下午，加拿大工程院院士方真教授莅临我校。

方真教授参观了校园和校史陈列室，了解了慈溪中学的基本情况，共议教育成果与英才培育理念。

方真教授于二楼阶梯教室开设了主题为“生物质和生物炼制”的科普讲学，从生物质资源、糖转化为高附加产物及生物柴油等角度，科普介绍了生物能源技术与专业。

讲座结束后，同学们踊跃进行提问，方真教授一一进行了耐心而专业的解答，他鼓励同学们展现新时代青年的蓬勃朝气与积极主动精神，这不仅是针对专业知识的答疑解惑，更是对同学们好奇心、专业兴趣的莫大鼓舞与激励。方真教授还表示，希望同学们能够保持勤勉与奋进，共同助力中国科技的进步与发展。

方真：加拿大工程院院士，Springer系列丛书《生物燃料和生物炼制》总编辑，曾获中国农业大学工学学士、硕士、博士（导师：曾德超院士）、加拿大麦吉尔大学工学博士学位（导师：JA Kozinski院士）、欧共体居里夫人博士后。在西班牙、日本和加拿大工作12后，2007年初全职回国，先后在中科院（百人计划学者）和南京农大工作。他是“快速水解”技术的发明者, 国际著名刊物Biotechnol Biofuels和J Supercrit Fluid副主编/编委。他连续9年进入“中国高被引学者”榜单。获2012云南省政府彩云奖、2017中国科学院优秀导师奖、2020 Springer “中国新发展奖” 、2021贵州自然科学一等奖和2022中国侨界贡献奖。他在能源和农业工程刊物发表论文172篇，获31项中国和5项美国发明专利，出版英文专著21部（章节下载量达44万次）。

2022年2月，学校入选浙江省首批“院士科普基地”。本次活动是慈溪中学“院士进校园”系列活动四。在过去一年，82届校友、中国工程院院士陈建峰回母校赠书，中国科学院院士、西湖大学校长施一公，中国工程院院士、温州医科大学校长李校堃来我校讲学，这些“育科学精神，立强国之志”的思政课，培植了学生的家国情怀与社会责任，激发了学生献身科学、报效祖国的爱国热情。

相关链接：

1.院士回母校 | 慈溪中学82届杰出校友、中国工程院院士陈建峰赠书活动和报告会在慈溪中学隆重举行

2.中科院院士、西湖大学校长施一公莅临慈溪中学讲学

3.院士进校园 | 中国工程院院士、温州医科大学校长李校堃莅临我校讲学

Details soon.

 Green Energy and Resource Transformation: from Nanomaterials to Bio-based Chemicals”：Int’l Sym. of High-level Talents was Successfully Held

On the morning of December 25, 2024, the “Green Energy and Resource Transformation: from Nanomaterials to Bio-based Chemicals”: International Symposium of High-level Talents was successfully held by the College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University. At the invitation of Dr. Shuai Gao and Prof. Zhen Fang of the Biomass Group, Prof. Li Shuai from Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Senior Researcher Bing Song from the New Zealand Forest Research Institute (SCION), Prof. Richen Lin from the School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, and Prof. Wenlei Zhu from the School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, attended the meeting and delivered presentations.

Prof. Shuai introduced his research on the reorganization of lignocellulosic biomass for the preparation of plastic-like materials. He elaborated on the chemical composition of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose, as well as their roles in biomass transformation processes. He shared his team’s research findings on the direct conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into plastic-like materials, including the preparation process and performance optimization of cellulose-reinforced lignin composites (CRL).

Dr. Song provided a detailed introduction to the application of γ-valerolactone (GVL) as a solvent, especially its various roles in biomass decomposition. Additionally, Dr. Song discussed the impact of GVL on the primary reactions of glucose. Through a series of experiments, he demonstrated how GVL can improve the efficiency of biomass decomposition and discussed the selectivity of GVL in the biomass conversion process.

Prof. Zhu shared his research achievements in the field of precise control of nanomaterials for electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂. He detailed how the morphology and structure of nanomaterials can be regulated to enhance the selectivity and efficiency of the CO₂ reduction reaction and explored the nanoconfinement coupling mechanism. Among his introductions, Prof. Zhu presented a self-developed self-pressurized nano-catalyst capsule that efficiently achieved CO₂ reduction, which broadened the students’ horizons.

Prof Lin introduced the technology of bioenergy conversion driven by green electricity, including hydrogen production through electrolysis, CO₂ conversion and utilization, and the high-value conversion of biomass. He emphasized the key role of biomass energy conversion in achieving carbon neutrality goals and shared the latest research progress in the design and optimization of bioenergy systems.

This event primarily focused on academic discussions and sharing around “Green Energy and Resource Transformation.” The activity enhanced academic exchanges and cooperation between Nanjing Agricultural University and domestic and international universities and research institutions. It also contributed the students’ understanding and knowledge of the forefront of biomass energy conversion, well inherited the spirit of scientific research, and promoted innovative thinking in biomass energy conversion technology and materials. Prof Fang of the Biomass Group host the meeting, all the young researchers of the research group attended the meeting.

“绿色能源与资源转化：从纳米材料到生物基化学品”暨海内外高层次人才学术研讨会成功举办

2024年12月25日上午，“绿色能源与资源转化：从纳米材料到生物基化学品”暨海内外高层次人才学术研讨会在南京农业大学工学院A106-108学术报告厅成功举办。应生物能源研究组高帅副教授和方真教授邀请，福建农林大学帅李教授、新西兰林业研究所（SCION）宋兵高级研究员、东南大学能源与环境学院林日琛教授、南京大学环境学院朱文磊教授出席会议并作报告。

福建农林大学的帅李教授向大家介绍了木质生物质重组制备仿塑材料的相关研究，阐述了木质素、纤维素和半纤维素的化学组成及其在生物质转化过程中的作用，分享了自己团队将木质生物质直接转换为可塑性材料的研究成果，包括纤维素增强木质素复合材料（CRL）的制备工艺和性能优化。

新西兰Scion研究所的宋兵高级研究员针对γ-戊内酯（GVL）作为溶剂进行了详细的应用介绍，特别是在生物质分解中的诸多作用，另外宋兵提到了GVL对葡萄糖初级反应的影响。通过一系列实验，宋兵展示了GVL如何提高生物质分解效率，并讨论了GVL在生物质转化过程中的选择性。

南京大学环境学院的朱文磊教授分享了他在纳米材料精确调控用于CO2电催化还原领域的研究成果。他详细介绍了如何通过纳米材料的形貌和结构调控来提高CO2还原反应的选择性和效率，并探讨了纳米限域偶联机制。其中朱文磊教授介绍了一种自研的自增压纳米催化剂胶囊，高效地实现了CO2的还原，让同学们大开眼界。

东南大学能源与环境学院的林日琛教授介绍了绿电驱动的生物能源转化技术，包括电解制氢、CO2转化与利用、以及生物质的高值化转化。他强调了生物质能源转化在实现碳中和目标中的关键作用，并分享了他在生物能源系统设计和优化方面的最新研究进展。

活动围绕“绿色能源与资源转化”进行学术研讨与分享。增进了南京农业大学与国内外高校和科研机构的学术交流与合作，同时增强了同学们对生物质能源转化前沿知识的理解与认识，很好地传承了科研精神，推动了生物质能源转化技术与材料等方面的创新思考。生物能源研究组方真院士主持会议，课题组全体青年教师出席会议。

Lower temperature pretreatment of wheat straw for high production of fermentable sugars using ball-milling combined with deep eutectic solvent

Recently, PhD student Miss Li Wang supervised by Prof. Zhen Fang published a research article in Renewable Energy about pretreatment of ball-milling combined with deep eutectic solvent to enhance yield of fermentable sugar of wheat straw.

Mechanochemical pretreatment based on ball-milling (BM) and DES was designed to deconstruct wheat straw at moderate temperatures (50–60 ℃) for enzymatic hydrolysis. High glucose and xylose yield of 99.71 % and 92.77 % were achieved for 72 h enzymatic hydrolysis after BM assisted with choline chloride/oxalic acid (CO) treatment. This ascribes to the synergy of ball-milling and DES resulting in the loosening and collapse of lignocellulosic structures, leading to the selective removal and modification of hemicellulose and lignin. Relative saccharification activity of glucose and xylose was increased by 294.82 % and 658.41 % pretreated with BM and CO sequentially as compared with raw wheat straw, because of reduced crystallinity and increased of surface area and reducing-end concentration of pretreated wheat straw. Energy efficiency of ternary DES (CEO) system was 1.33 times that for the binary DES (CO) system during sequential treatment of BM and DES. Relative saccharification activity and energy consumption (or energy efficiency) was fitted as quadratic functions. This green and effective pretreatment method provides new insights for the lignocellulosic deconstruction.

Related results were published in Renewable Energy:

L Wang, CX Gong, JJ Guo, Zhen Fang*. Lower Temperature Pretreatment of Wheat Straw for High Production of Fermentable Sugars Using Ball-Milling Combined with Deep Eutectic Solvent,  Renewable Energy (IF 9), 241 (2025), 122240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2024.122240

High sugar yield (99.7% glucose and 92.8% xylose) of wheat straw was achieved by ball-milling combined with deep eutectic solvent pretreatment at lower temperature. （采用球磨法结合低共熔溶剂在较低温度下预处理，小麦秸秆的葡萄糖得率达到99.7%，木糖得率为92.8%）

球磨结合低共熔溶剂在温和温度下预处理小麦秸秆高产可发酵糖

近期，博士生王莉同学在方真教授的指导下，在国际学术期刊Renewable Energy (Q1，IF 9)发表了一篇关于球磨结合低共熔溶剂在温和温度下预处理小麦秸秆高产可发酵糖的研究性论文。

设计了基于球磨和低共熔溶剂的机械化学预处理方法，在50-60°C的中等温度下对小麦秸秆进行预处理。球磨辅助氯化胆碱/草酸处理后，葡萄糖和木糖的产率在酶解72 h时分别达到99.71%和92.77%。这归因于球磨和DES的协同作用，导致木质纤维素结构松动和崩溃，半纤维素和木质素被选择性去除和改性。葡萄糖和木糖的相对糖化活性提高了294.82%和658.41%，这与小麦秸秆的结晶度降低，表面积和还原端浓度增加有关。在球磨和低共熔溶剂的顺序处理过程中，三元低共熔溶剂（氯化胆碱/乙二醇/草酸）体系的能量效率是二元低共熔溶剂（氯化胆碱/草酸）体系的1.33倍，同时建立了相对糖化活性与能量消耗（或能量效率）的二次函数关系。这种绿色有效的预处理方法为木质纤维素的解构提供了新的思路。

结果发表在Renewable Energy：

L Wang, CX Gong, JJ Guo, Zhen Fang*. Lower Temperature Pretreatment of Wheat Straw for High Production of Fermentable Sugars Using Ball-Milling Combined with Deep Eutectic Solvent,  Renewable Energy (IF 9), 241 (2025), 122240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2024.122240

Comprehensive insights into synergistic effects of cotton stalk and polyethylene in hydrothermal liquefaction process

Recently, PhD student Mr. Sheng-ren Li, supervised by Prof. Zhen Fang, published a research article on hydrothermal synergistic effects of cotton straw and polyethylene.

The synergistic effects of cotton stalks (CS) and polyethylene (PE) during the hydrothermal co-liquefaction process increased the bio-oil yield by 22.8%, with solid residue decreased by 6.1% and {gas + aqueous} products declined by 18.2%. GC-MS presented oxygen-containing compounds in oil decreased but hydrocarbons (HCs from 6.2 % to 66.8%) increased. TG analysis and FT-IR of solid residues revealed significant mutual promotion of the decomposition between CS and PE. The decomposition kinetics calculation demonstrated that co-treatment reduced the decomposition temperature by 33 ℃, increased the mass loss by 7.8 wt%, and lowered the decomposition activation energy by 6.8 % (from 240.0 to 225.7 KJ/mol). Moreover, co-liquefaction of PE with biomass components further revealed that cellulose in CS predominantly facilitated the depolymerization of PE, followed by hemicellulose. This effect could be attributed to the acid from hydrolysis of cellulose and hemicellulose as well as high [H]⁺/[OH]^– concentration in from hydrothermal water, which promoted the β-scission of PE. The synergistic reaction pathways were proposed: CS and PE mutually promoting decomposition, with PE-derived olefins and hydrogen undergoing Diels-Alder, alkylation, and hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reactions with CS intermediates, thereby enhancing HCs yield and inhibiting carbonization rearrangement of intermediates. This work reveals the causes and reaction pathways underlying synergistic effects, offering comprehensive guidance on producing crude bio-oil.

Related results were accepted in Chemical Engineering Journal：

SR Li, GQ Zhu, C He, LJ Xu*, JA Kozinski, Zhen Fang*, Comprehensive insights into synergistic effects of cotton stalk and polyethylene in hydrothermal liquefaction process, Chemical Engineering Journal, 502 (2024), 157845. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.157845

Cellulose and hemicellulose predominantly facilitate the β-scission of PE, with the  derived hydrogens and olefins undergoing Diels-Alder, alkylation, and HDO reactions with lignocellulosic intermediates. (纤维素和半纤维素主要促进PE的β-scission,其衍生的氢和烯烃与木质纤维素中间体发生Diels-Alder 、烷基化和HDO反应) 。

棉花秸秆和聚乙烯在水热液化过程中协同效应的综合研究

近期，博士生李胜任在方真教授的指导下，在国际学术期刊Chemical Engineering Journal发表了一篇关于棉花秸秆与聚乙烯水热协同效应的研究性论文。

棉花秸秆(CS)和聚乙烯(PE)在水热共液化过程中的协同作用将生物油产率提高了22.8%，固体残渣减少了6.1 %，气+水产物减少了19.2%。气相色谱-质谱联用（GC-MS）分析表明，油中含氧化合物含量下降，而碳氢化合物(HC)含量从6.2%上升至66.8%。固体残留物的热重（TG）分析和傅里叶变换红外光谱（FT-IR）分析表明，CS和PE之间存在显著的相互促进作用。分解动力学计算表明，共处理使分解温度降低了33℃，质量损失增加了7.8 wt%，分解活化能降低了6.8%（从240.0降至225.7 KJ/mol）。此外，PE与生物质组分的共液化进一步表明，CS中的纤维素主要促进PE的解聚，其次是半纤维素。这可能是由于纤维素和半纤维素水解产生的酸以及热液中较高的[H]⁺/[OH]^–浓度促进了PE的β-scission。提出了CS和PE的协同反应途径：CS和PE相互促进分解，PE衍生烯烃和氢与CS中间体发生Diels-Alder、烷基化和加氢脱氧（HDO）反应，从而提高HC产率，抑制中间体的碳化重排。这项工作揭示了引发协同效应的原因和反应途径，为生物原油生产提供了综合指导。

结果发表在Chemical Engineering Journal：

SR Li, GQ Zhu, C He, LJ Xu*, JA Kozinski, Zhen Fang*, Comprehensive insights into synergistic effects of cotton stalk and polyethylene in hydrothermal liquefaction process, Chemical Engineering Journal, 502 (2024), 157845. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.157845

Regulating N-doped biochar with Fe-Mo heterojunctions as cathode in long-life zinc-air battery

Recently, PhD student Miss Xiao-ru Meng, supervised by Dr. Shuai Gao and Prof. Zhen Fang, published a research article on synthesizing cathode from soybean straw for zinc-air battery.

Carbonaceous electrode loaded nano Mo₂C-Fe₃N@NCF was synthesized by solvothermal and pyrolysis from soybean straw for high-performance zinc-air batteries (ZABs). The empowered ZAB achieved 1.51 V open-circuit voltage, 88.40 mW cm⁻² power density and over 1150 h cycle life. Density functional theory analysis indicates that charge transfer from Mo₂C-Fe₃N heterogeneous structure to N-doped biochar can significantly reduce the reaction barrier for oxygen reduction/evolution reactions, enhancing the adsorption of oxygen intermediates. Cellulose-derived carbon provides a large specific surface area, and N-doping enhances the conductivity of the resultant biochar, which both play a crucial role in the efficient loading of Fe and Mo active sites. This work inspires the design and application of interfacial engineering on low-cost biochar carriers.

Related results were published in Chemical Engineering Journal:

XR Meng, S Gao*, NX Liu, PD Wu, Zhen Fang*. Regulating N-doped biochar with Fe-Mo heterojunctions as cathode in long-life zinc-air battery, Chemical Engineering Journal, 500 (2024), 157463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.157463

 Carbonaceous material with multilayer structure derived from soybean straw was developed for long-life zinc-air batteries一种由大豆秸秆衍生的多层结构碳质材料，用于长寿命锌空气电池。

以Fe-Mo异质结为阴极调控长寿命锌空气电池中的 N 掺杂生物炭

近期，博士生孟晓茹同学在高帅博士和方真教授的指导下，在国际学术期刊Chemical Engineering Journal发表了一篇关于生物炭制备高性能氧电催化剂的研究性论文。

碳质电极负载纳米Mo₂C-Fe ₃N@NCF 是通过大豆秸秆的溶剂热和热解合成的，用于高性能锌空气电池（ZABs）。可逆的ZAB实现了1.51 V开路电压，88.40 mW cm⁻²功率密度和超过1150小时的循环寿命。密度泛函理论分析表明，从Mo₂C-Fe₃N向N掺杂生物炭发生电荷转移，此非均相结构可以显著降低氧还原/析出反应的反应势垒，增强氧中间体的吸附。纤维素衍生的碳提供了较大的比表面积，而N掺杂增强了所得生物炭的电导率，这两者都在Fe和Mo活性位点的有效负载中起着至关重要的作用。这项工作启发了界面工程在低成本生物炭载体上的设计和应用。

结果发表在Chemical Engineering Journal:

XR Meng, S Gao*, NX Liu, PD Wu, Zhen Fang*, Regulating N-doped biochar with Fe-Mo heterojunctions as cathode in long-life zinc-air battery, Chemical Engineering Journal, 500 (2024), 157463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.157463