Dr. Lei Wang is appointed as a principal investigator at Westlake University. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from Tsinghua University (2006), Master’s Degree and PhD from Imperial College London (2012). Under Marie-Curie Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways scheme (EU-Royal Dutch Shell), she became a Research Fellow in the Centre of Environmental Policy, Imperial College London. She worked in Royal Dutch Shell from 2016 and became Senior Research Scientist before joining Westlake University in 2019. Now she is the Zhong Zhi Endowed Assistant Professor, School of Engineering, Westlake University.

Waste lignocellulosic biomass material could become feedstock for renewable biofuels and biomaterials. The sustainable utilisation of waste biomass can significantly reduce the environmental impact caused by the conventional treatment. Dr. Wang’s research interests include converting waste biomass to energy and materials, establishing techno-economic feasible supply chain and assessing its environmental sustainability. The research contents include analytical chemistry, bioreactor operation; process simulation, supply chain optimisation; full life cycle analysis (attributional and consequential LCA), dynamic system modelling etc. Her research covers multidisciplinary fields, for example, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology. Since joining Westlake, she has published around 20 SCI journal papers in Nature Food, Nature Communications, Cell Reports Physical Science, Green Chemistry, Nano Letters, Chemical Engineering Journal, and Water Research. Dr. Wang is leading 2 projects funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and Zhejiang Provincial Department of Science and Technology. She is also an editorial board member of Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining and Carbon Management.

Her group will continue research in the fields of (1) converting lignocellulosic biomass (waste agriculture biomass and municipal solid waste) to biofuels and added-value biomaterials with focus in potential industrial applications; (2) developing life cycle based, multiscale sustainability assessment with interests in multiple environmental impacts (Greenhouse gas emissions, water quality and water intensity) to support the development of technology and waste management strategy. 

Lignocellulosic biomass fractionation and conversion

1. Liu, ZQ., Hu, XS,. Dong, XY., Zhao, S., Chen, YJ., Zhang, BB., Wen, LY*., Wang, L.*,2023, Sustainable upcycling of post-consumer waste to metal-graphene catalysts for green chemicals and clean water. Cell Reports Physical Science, 101256.

2. Zhang, CY., Yang, XP., Liu, ZQ., Zhang, L., He, HL., Qiu, WM., Zhuo, RY., Xu, J*.,Wang, L.*, 2023, Valorization of heavy metal enriched phytoremediation biomass using deep eutectic solvent (DES). Green Chemistry, 25, 771-778.

3. Yang, XP., Kentaro, A., Hiroyuki, Y., Wang, L.*, 2022, Multifunctional cellulosic materials prepared by a reactive DES based zero-waste system. Nano Letters, 22 (15), 6128-6134.

4. Yang, S., Yang, XP., Meng, XZ., Wang, L.*, 2022, Efficient pretreatment using dimethyl isosorbide as a biobased solvent for potential complete biomass valorization. Green Chemistry, 24 (10), 4082-4094.

5. Zhang, CY.†, Yang, XP.†, Yang, S., Liu, ZQ., Wang L.*, 2022, Eco-friendly and multifunctional lignocellulosic nanofibre additives for enhancing pesticide deposition and retention, Chemical Engineering Journal, 133011.

Sustainability assessment development and application

1. Liu, F., Xin, LQ., Tang, H., Qin, Y., Zhang, L., Dong, XY., Zhang, Y. ,Wu, WX.*, Wang, L.*, 2023, Regionalized life-cycle monetization can support the transition to sustainable rural food waste management in China. Nature Food, 2023, 4, 797–809.

2. Yu, S., Dong, XY., Zhao, P., Luo, ZC., Sun, ZH., Yang, XX., Li, QH., Wang, L.*, Zhang, YG.*, Zhou, H.*, 2022, Decoupled temperature and pressure hydrothermal synthesis of carbon sub-micron spheres from cellulose. Nature Communications, 13, 3613.

3. Zhang, Y., Guo, SC., Gong, Y.*, Wang, L.*, 2022, Potential trade-off between water consumption and water quality: life cycle assessment on nonaqueous solvent dyeing. Water Research, 118222

4. Liu, F., Dong. XY., Zhao, XB., Wang, L.*, 2021, Life cycle assessment of organosolv biorefinery designs with the complete use of biomass, Energy Conversion and Management, 246, 114653

5. Pang, B.†, Sun, ZH.†, Wang, L.† et al., 2021, Improved value and carbon footprint by complete utilization of corncob lignocellulose, Chemical Engineering Journal, 129565.

6. Wang, L., Templer, R., Murphy, RJ., 2012, Environmental sustainability of bioethanol production from waste papers: sensitivity to the system boundary, Energy & Environmental Science, 5,8281-8293

7. Wang, L., Sharifzadeh, M., Templer, R., Murphy, RJ., 2012, Technology performance and economic feasibility of bioethanol production from various waste papers, Energy & Environmental Science, 5, 5717-5730