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

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

Dual lipases immobilized on magnetic hydrophobic biochar for one-step production of biodiesel in deep eutectic solvent

Recently, PhD student Miss Jing-jing Guo supervised by Prof. Zhen Fang published a research article in Fuel about biodiesel production from high acid value oil with immobilized dual lipases.

Magnetic hydrophobic biochar was synthesized via pyrolysis of the chelated carboxymethyl cellulose/Fe³⁺ and modification by composite silanes, and subsequently used to covalently/physically immobilize dual lipases CALB/ET. The activity of dual lipases immobilized on hydrophobic magnetic biochar (16.1 U/mg) was increased by 11.8% than magnetic biochar, or 3.9% and 8.1% higher than that of single immobilized lipase ET (15.5 U/mg) and immobilized lipase CALB (14.9 U/mg), respectively. The highest loading of 39.5 mg lipase/g support was obtained with 17.9 U/mg activity. The immobilized dual lipases were stable with relative activity of 92.6% and 95.4% at 50 °C and pH 9 vs. 74.6% and 83.9% for liquid dual lipases, respectively. The immobilized dual lipases were further used for one-step production of biodiesel from acid oil (acid value 38 mg KOH/g) in deep eutectic solvent at 97.9% yield with 5 cycles (75.2%). Enzymatic reactions promote biodiesel purification, and crude biodiesel had 0.27 mg KOH/g acid value and 0.015% glycerol that met both Chinese national and US ASTM standards. The activation energy was 41.2 kJ/mol with kinetic Michaelis constant of 7.92×10^-1 mol/L. The immobilized dual lipases for one-step production and purification of biodiesel presented excellent activity that provided a new insight for the development of novel immobilized lipase in biodiesel production.

Related results were published in Fuel:

Jing-jing Guo, Li Wang, Yi-tong Wang, Wo-na Ding, Wei-wei Liu, Zhen Fang*. Dual lipases immobilized on magnetic hydrophobic biochar for one-step production of biodiesel in deep eutectic solvent. Fuel (IF 6.7), 381 (2025), 133497. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2024.133497

Two lipases were successfully covalent/physical immobilized on magnetic hydrophobic biochar for direct production of biodiesel at 97.9% yield from acid oil at low temperature of 35 °C. （双脂肪酶成功共价/物理固定化在磁性疏水生物炭上并用于在35 °C低温下催化酸性油制备生物柴油，产率为97.9%）。

磁性疏水生物炭固定化双脂肪酶在低共熔溶剂中一步法生产生物柴油

近期，博士生郭静静同学在方真教授的指导下，在国际学术期刊Fuel（Q1，IF 6.7）发表了一篇关于固定化双脂肪酶催化高酸值油制备生物柴油的研究性论文。

通过热解羧甲基纤维素/Fe³⁺螯合物和复合硅烷的改性制备了磁性疏水生物炭，并用于共价/物理固定化双脂肪酶CALB/ET。双脂肪酶固定化在疏水磁性生物炭上的活性（16.1 U/mg）比其固定化在磁性生物炭上提高了11.8%。固定化双脂肪酶CALB/ET的活性比固定化脂肪酶ET（15.5 U/mg）和固定化脂肪酶CALB（14.9 U/mg）分别提高了3.9%和8.1%。最高酶载量为39.5 mg脂肪酶/g载体，酶活为17.9 U/mg。在50 °C和pH 9时，固定化双脂肪酶的相对酶活分别为92.6%和95.4%，而液体双脂肪酶的相对酶活为74.6%和83.9%。在低共熔溶剂体系中，固定化双脂肪酶用于催化酸性油（酸值38 mg KOH/g）一步法制备生物柴油，产率为97.9%。固定化双脂肪酶循环5次，生物柴油产率仍为75.2%。该反应体系促进了生物柴油的纯化，粗生物柴油的酸值为0.27 mg KOH/g，甘油含量为0.015%，符合中国和美国ASTM的标准。动力学研究表明该反应的活化能为41.2 kJ/mol，动力学米氏常数为7.92×10^-1 mol/L。固定化双脂肪酶在一步法生产和纯化生物柴油中表现出优异的活性，为生物柴油生产中新型固定化脂肪酶的开发提供了新的见解。

结果发表在Fuel:

Jing-jing Guo, Li Wang, Yi-tong Wang, Wo-na Ding, Wei-wei Liu, Zhen Fang*. Dual lipases immobilized on magnetic hydrophobic biochar for one-step production of biodiesel in deep eutectic solvent. Fuel (IF 6.7), 381 (2025), 133497. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2024.133497

On Sep. 30, 2024, Prof. Zhen Fang was invited to the Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the PRC in Nanjing.

（更多…）

Co-production of porous N-doped biochar and hydrogen-rich gas production from simultaneous pyrolysis-activation-nitrogen doping of biomass: Synergistic mechanism of KOH and NH₃

Recently, Master student Miss Yu-rou Wang supervised by Dr. Wei Chen and Prof. Zhen Fang published a research article entitled “Co-production of porous N-doped biochar and hydrogen-rich gas production from simultaneous pyrolysis-activation-nitrogen doping of biomass: Synergistic mechanism of KOH and NH₃” in Renewable Energy.

In this study, a method of simultaneous activation and nitrogen doping during biomass fast pyrolysis for co-production of porous N-doped biochar and H₂-rich gas production was proposed. The effect of temperature on chemical interaction mechanism of KOH and NH₃ was investigated at 500-800°C. Results showed that KOH and NH₃ had a synergistic effect on pore development and nitrogen doping, and the specific surface area and nitrogen content reached maximum values of 2008.37 m²/g and 5.05 wt%, respectively. It may be due to that NH₃ entered pores generating by KOH activation for further activation, and at the same time, excessive NH₃ could convert new O-containing groups to N-containing groups for more effective nitrogen doping. What’s more, the H₂ concentration and yield were up to 56.67 vol% and 517.95 mL/g, respectively. It indicates that the synchronization method of fast pyrolysis-activation-nitrogen doping is a promising approach, which is of great significance for the high-value utilization of biomass.

Related results were accepted in Renewable Energy：

120777. Y. Wang, W. Guo, W. Chen*, G. Xu, G. Zhu, G. Xie, L. Xu, C. Dong, S. Gao, Y. Chen, H. Yang, H. Chen, Zhen Fang, Co-production of porous N-doped biochar and hydrogen-rich gas production from simultaneous pyrolysis-activation-nitrogen doping of biomass: Synergistic mechanism of KOH and NH₃, Renewable Energy 229 (2024) 120777. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2024.120777.

Co-production of porous N-doped biochar and hydrogen-rich gas production from simultaneous activation and nitrogen doping during biomass fast pyrolysis 生物质快速热解过程中同步活化掺氮联产多孔掺氮炭和富氢气体

生物质同步热解-活化-掺氮联产多孔掺氮炭和富氢气体：KOH和NH₃的协同机制

最近，硕士生王雨柔在陈伟副教授和方真教授的指导下，在国际学术期刊Renewable Energy (Q1, IF = 8.7) 发表了一篇题为“Co-production of porous N-doped biochar and hydrogen-rich gas production from simultaneous pyrolysis-activation-nitrogen doping of biomass: Synergistic mechanism of KOH and NH₃”的研究性论文。

本研究提出了一种在生物质快速热解过程中同步活化掺氮的方法，可以实现多孔掺氮生物炭和富氢气体的联产。探究了温度（500-800°C）对 KOH 和 NH₃ 化学协同作用的影响。结果表明，KOH 和 NH₃ 对孔隙发育和氮掺杂有协同促进作用，比表面积和氮含量分别达到最大值 2008.37 m²/g 和 5.05 wt%。这可能是由于 NH₃ 进入 KOH 活化产生的孔隙进一步活化，同时过量的 NH₃ 可以将新生成的含氧官能团转化为含氮官能团，从而实现更有效地掺氮。此外，热解气体中氢气浓度和产量可达到 56.67 vol% 和 517.95 mL/g。这表明，同步快速热解-活化-掺氮的方法前景广阔，对生物质的高值化利用具有重要意义。

结果发表在Renewable Energy：

120777. Y. Wang, W. Guo, W. Chen*, G. Xu, G. Zhu, G. Xie, L. Xu, C. Dong, S. Gao, Y. Chen, H. Yang, H. Chen, Zhen Fang, Co-production of porous N-doped biochar and hydrogen-rich gas production from simultaneous pyrolysis-activation-nitrogen doping of biomass: Synergistic mechanism of KOH and NH₃, Renewable Energy 229 (2024) 120777. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2024.120777.