Y. Y. Lee
Uthlaut Professor, Department of Chemical
Engineering
212 Ross Hall
Auburn University, AL 36849
Phone: (334) 844-2019, Fax: (334)
844-2063, E-Mail: yylee@eng.auburn.edu
Education
PhD, Chemical Engineering, 1972,
B.S., Chemical Engineering, 1964, Seoul National University
Research Interests
Bioconversion Processes, Biomass Pretreatment, Biofuels/Biomass Engineering Biochemical Engineering, Enzyme/Fermentation Process Technology, Reaction Kinetics and Modeling in Biomass Processing
Research Summary
Dr. Lee is conducting research in the area of bioprocessing of lignocellulosic materials for production of fuels and chemicals. These studies include physico-chemical properties of biomass, bioreactor development, and enzyme and microbial process technology. His recent research topics include development of a novel pretreatment/delignification of biomass for enzymatic saccharification and Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation of biomass, high temperature–low acid processing for total hydrolysis of biomass, transport properties of acid catalyst in biomass, analysis and design of biomass reactor, and ammonia recycled percolation (ARP) process for biomass pretreatment.
Recent Publications
1. Guan, W., Shi, S., Tu, M., Lee, Y.Y. (2016). Acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE)
Production from Paper Mill Sludge by Simultaneous Saccharification
and co-Fermentation (SSCF). Bioresource Technology,
Vol. 200, 713-721
2. Kim J. S., Lee Y.Y. and Kim T. H. (2016). A review on Alkaline
Pretreatment Technology for Bioconversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass. Bioresource Technology, Vol. 199, 42-48
3. Shi S., Kang L. and Lee Y. Y. (2015). Production of Lactic Acid from the
Mixture of Softwood Pre-hydrolysate and Paper Mill Sludge by Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation. Applied Biochemistry and
Biotechnology. Vol. 175 (5), 2741-2754
4. Wenjian Guan,
Danny R. Haynes and Y.Y. Lee. Effects of Cationic Polyelectrolytes on Enzymatic
Hydrolysis of Pulp Mill Sludge under High Solid Loading. J. Sci. Technol. for
Forest Products and Processes. Vol. 4 (2), pp: 36-43, 2014
5. Kang L., Y.Y. Lee, S. H. Yoon, A. J. Smith, and A. Krishnagopalan,
Ethanol Production from the Mixture of Hemicellulose Prehydrolysate
and Paper Sludge, BioResources, 7(3),3607-3626, 2012
6.
Kothari Urvi D. and Y. Y. Lee, Inhibition
Effects of Dilute-Acid Prehydrolysate of CornStover on
Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Solka FlocAppl
Biochem Biotechnol,
165:1391–1405, (2011)
7.
Pallapolu, Venkata Ramesh and Lee YY, “Effects of
Enzyme Loading and β-Glucosidase Supplementation on Enzymatic Hydrolysis of
Switchgrass Processed by Leading Pretreatment Technologies”, Bioresource Technology, 2011
8.
Kumar S., Kothari U., Kong L., Lee Y.Y., Gupta R.B. “Hydrothermal pretreatment of switchgrass and corn stover
for production of ethanol and carbon microspheres,”Biomass
and Bioenergy, 35: 956 -968, 2011
9.
Wang W, Kang L, Wei H, Arora R, Lee YY. “Study on the decreased sugar yield in enzymatic hydrolysis
of cellulosic substrate at high solid loading”. Appl Biochem Biotechnol.164(7):1139-49,
2011
10.
Charles E. Wyman, Venkatesh
Balan, Bruce E. Dale, Richard T. Elander,
Mark T. Holtzapple, Michael R. Ladisch,
Y. Y. Lee, Nathan Mosier, Venkata R. Pallapolu, Ryan E. Warner,
"Comparative Data on Effects of Leading Pretreatments and Enzyme Loadings
and Formulations on Sugar Yields from Different Switchgrass Sources”, Bioresource Technology, 102(24), 11152-11162, 2011
11.
Kumar S., Kothari U., Kong L., Lee Y.Y.,
Gupta R.B. “Hydrothermal pretreatment of switchgrass and corn stover for
production of ethanol and carbon microspheres,” Biomass and Bioenergy, 35: 956
-968, 2011
Book: Bioconversion of Corn Stover into Value-Added Chemicals: Dilute Sulfuric
Acid Pretreatment, Xylo-Oligosaccharides Production
and Lactic Acid Fermentation, 2011, Yongming
Zhu and Yoon Y. Lee, LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, ISBN-13: 978-3845471938
Book Chapter: Aqueous
Pretreatment of Plant Biomass for Biological and Chemical Conversion to Fuels
and Chemicals, Wiley Series in Renewable Resource, Wylie, ISBN-13:
978-047097202, 2013, ISBN-13: 978-3845471938, Chapter Title: Effect of Enzyme
Formulations and Loadings on Conversion of Biomass Pretreated by Leading
Technologies, Y. Y. Lee and Rajesh Gupta
Patents/Inventions:
Y. Lee, Wei Wang, and Li Kang,Fermentation and Chemical Treatment of Pulp and Paper Mill sludge,US Patent: 8,900,457, December 2, 2014
Use of Non-Crystalline Cellulose as a Medicine Tablet Medium, Y. Y. Lee, US Patent #7,977,473 B1, July 12, 2011
Recent Research Contracts/Grants
· Fundamental Study on Transport Phenomena and Reaction Kinetics in Dilute Acid Pretreatment of Agricultural Residues, National Biofuels Center, NREL, Golden, CO
· Technical Evaluation of Bioconversion of PCA Counce-Mill Sludges to Biogas, Packaging Corporation of America, Filer, MI
· Preliminary Test on Bioconversion of Kraft Pulp Mill Sludges to Lactic Acid, Alabama Center for Biofuels and Biomaterials, Auburn University
· Evaluation of Pulp Mill Sludges for Production of Value-Added Products, Alabama Center for Biofuels and Biomaterials, Auburn University
Synergistic Activities:
On Editorial Board of:
Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology
BioResources J.
Biotechnology for Biofuels
ISRN Renewable Energy
Founding Member of Biomass Refining
Consortium of Applied and Fundamental Innovation (CAFI), 2000-present
Session chairs at numerous
symposiums including Symposium in Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, AIChE Annual Meetings, International Solar and Renewable
Energy Congress
Member of US delegates to US/USSR
Cooperative Research in Science and Technology-Division of Enzyme Technology,
1978-1980.
Honors & Awards:
Uthlaut Professor, Auburn University (2010-2016)
Alumni Professor, Auburn University (2006-2009)
John and Mary Sanders Professor, Auburn University, 2000-2006
William F. Walker Teaching Award, Auburn University, 2004
Auburn Engineering Award for Excellence of Research, (1996, 2000)
Outstanding Faculty in Chemical Engineering, 1985
Honor Societies: Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi, Phi Lamda Upsilon, Omega Chi Upsilon