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Research

The Alabama Center for Paper and Bioresource Engineering, which is hosted within the Department of Chemical Engineering, has a complete, controlled-conditioned, wet-test laboratory for chemically and physically evaluating pulp and paper. The center also has a pilot sized microfluidizer capable of producing both micro and nanofibrillated cellulose. Their research covers fundamental and applied research focused on industry needs, with emphasis on decarbonization and integrated biorefining.

 

Current research projects include:

  • Decarbonization New additives in  kraft pulping
  • Enzyme/deep eutectic solvent enhanced kraft pulping to reduce its carbon intensity
  • Data-driven soft sensors for entrained air measurement and its application for brownstock  lstock washer control
  • Non-evaporative drying of porous materials using thermo-responsive polymers
  • Process and techno-economic analysis of CO 2 capture
  • Reuse paper machine white water in bleaching
  • Implementation of near-neutral chlorine dioxide brightening technology
  • Integrated biorefining Valorization of paper mill sludge Vitrimers from lignin Engineering novel cellulose nanocrystal films

Processing, characterization, and valorization of soybean hull \ The center also offers a range of research services to the pulp and paper and allied industries which may involve students from our program to get experience in these industry aligned research and testing projects.

Apply to Graduate School

Auburn University
Chemical Engineering
Pulp, Paper, & Bioresource Engineering

 

Publications

  • M Parit and Z. Jiang, (2023). “Cellulose nanocrystal films: effect of electrolyte and lignin addition on self‑assembly, optical, and mechanical properties”, Cellulose, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-023-05464-6.
  • J Li, NE Alamdari, B Aksoy, M Parit and Z Jiang, (2023). “Integrated enzyme hydrolysis assisted cellulose nanofibril (CNF) fabrication: A sustainable approach to paper mill sludge (PMS) management”, Chemosphere, 334:138966.
  • A Parkhi, D Young, S Cremaschi and Z Jiang, (2023). “Carbon dioxide capture from the Kraft mill limekiln: process and techno-economic analysis”. Discover Chemical Engineering, 3 (1):8
  • Y Ma, N Guo, X Li, Z Jiang, D Zhang, L Guo, Y Wang, (2023). “Development of an efficient recombinant protein expression system in Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum based on the bacteriophage T7 system”, ACS Synthetic Biology, 12(10):3092–3105
  • A More, T Elder, N Pajer, DS Argyropoulos and Z Jiang, (2022). “Novel and Integrated Process for the Valorization of Kraft Lignin to Produce Lignin-Containing Vitrimers”, ACS Omega, 8 (1): 1097-1108
  • A Parkhi, S Cremaschi and Z Jiang (2022). “Techno-economic analysis of CO2 capture from pulp and paper mill limekiln”, IFAC-PapersOnLine, 55 (7), 284-291
  • JM Kim, A Mazumder, J Li and Z Jiang, BS Beckingham, (2022). “Impact of PEGMA on transport and co-transport of methanol and acetate in PEGDA-AMPS cation exchange membranes”, Journal of Membrane Science, 642, 119950.
  • B Aksoy, M Yildirim-Aksoy, Z Jiang and B Beck, (2022). “Novel animal feed binder from soybean hulls-evaluation of binding properties”. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 288(14):115292.
  • M Parit, H Du, X Zhang and Z Jiang, (2022). “Flexible, Transparent, UV-Protecting, Water-Resistant Nanocomposite Films Based on Polyvinyl Alcohol and Kraft Lignin-Grafted Cellulose Nanofibers”, ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 4 (5):3587-3597
  • H Du, M Zhang, K Liu, M Parit, Z Jiang, X Zhang, B Li and C Si, (2022). “Conductive PEDOT: PSS/cellulose nanofibril paper electrodes for flexible supercapacitors with superior areal capacitance and cycling stability”, Chemical Engineering Journal, 428:131994
  • A More,  T Elder  and Z Jiang,  (2021), “Towards a new understanding of the retro-aldol reaction for oxidative conversion of lignin to aromatic aldehydes and acids”, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 183(31), 1505-1513.
  • J Li, S Shi, Y Wan. and Z Jiang, (2021), “Integrated Production of Optically Pure L-Lactic Acid from Paper Mill Sludge by Simultaneous Saccharification and Co-Fermentation (SSCF)”, Waste Management, 129(5), 35-46.
  • H Du, M Parit, K Liu, M Zhang, Z Jiang, TS Huang, X Zhang and C Si (2021). “Engineering cellulose nanopaper with water resistant, antibacterial, and improved barrier properties by impregnation of chitosan and the followed halogenation”, Carbohydrate Polymers, 27, 118372.
  • H Du, M Parit, K Liu, M Zhang, Z Jiang, TS Huang, X Zhang and C S, (2021). “Multifunctional Cellulose Nanopaper with Superior Water-Resistant, Conductive, and Antibacterial Properties Functionalized with Chitosan and Polypyrrole”, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 13(27), 32115-32125.
  • H Du, M Zhang, K Liu, M Parit, Z Jiang, X Zhang, C Si and B Li, (2021). “Conductive PEDOT: PSS/Cellulose Nanofibril Paper Electrodes for Flexible Supercapacitors with Superior Areal Capacitance and Cycling Stability”, Chemical Engineering Journal, 428, 131994.
  • Zhou, B, Wang, Y., Jiang, Z., Salam, A. and Li, K., 2021, “How do xylanase and hot acid stages differ at enhancing elemental chlorine-free bleaching of hardwood kraft pulp?”, Journal of Wood Chemistry and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1080/02773813.2021.1938130. 
  • Maria C. Iglesia, Fatima Hamade, Burak Aksoy, Zhihua Jiang, Virginia A. Davis and Maria S. Peresin (2021), “Comparison Between CNFs from Wood and Soybean Hulls with Different Chemical Composition”, BioResources, 16(3), 4831-4845.
  • More, A., Elder, T. and Jiang, Z. (2021). “A review of lignin hydrogen peroxide oxidation chemistry with emphasis on aromatic aldehydes and acids”, Holzforschung, https://doi.org/10.1515/hf-2020-0165.
  • Alamdari, N.E., Aksoy B, Aksoy M., Beck B.H. and Jiang Z., (2020). “A Novel Paper-Based and pH-Sensitive Intelligent Detector in Meat and Seafood Packaging”, Talanta, 224:121913. (75%)
  • Parit, M. and Jiang, Z., (2020). “Towards Lignin Derived Thermoplastic Polymers”. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 165:3180.
  • Parit M., Du H., Zhang X., Prather C., Adams M. and Jiang Z., (2020). “Polypyrrole and Cellulose Nanofiber Based Composite Films with Improved Physical and Electrical Properties for Electromagnetic Shielding Applications”, Carbohydrate Polymers, 240:116304.
  • Du, H., Parit, M., Wu, M., Che, X., Wang, Y., Zhang, M., Wang, R., Zhang, X., Jiang, Z. and  Lib, B., (2020). “Sustainable Valorization of Paper Mill Sludge into Cellulose Nanofibrils and Cellulose Nanopaper”, Journal of Hazardous Materials, 400:123106.
  • Dobyns, B.M., Lim, J.M., Li, J., Jiang, Z. and Beckingham, B.S., (2020). “Multicomponent Transport of Alcohols in Nafion 117 Measured by In Situ ATR FTIR Spectroscopy”, Polymer, 209:123046.
  • Miao C., Du H., Parit M., Jiang Z., Tippur H.V., Zhang Y., Liu Z., Li L. and Wang. R., (2020). “Superior Crack Initiation and Growth Characteristics of Cellulose Nanopaper”, Cellulose, 27(6):3319-3334.
  • Geleynse S., Jiang Z., Brandt K., Garcia-Perez M., Wolcott M. and Zhang X., (2020). “Pulp Mill Integration with Alcohol-to-Jet Conversion Technology”, Fuel Processing Technology, 207:106338.
  • Cao X, Liang L., Chen Z., Guo L., Jiang Z., Tang F., Yun Y. and Wang, Y., (2020). “Co-Valorization of Paper Mill Sludge and Corn Steep Liquor for Enhanced n-Butanol Production with Clostridium Tyrobutyricum Δcat1::adhE2”, Bioresource Technology, 296:122347.
  • Iglesias, M.C.,  Shivyari, N., Norris, A., Martin-Sampedro, R., Eugenio, M.E., Lahtinen, P.,  Auad, M.L., Elder. T. Jiang, Z., Frazier, C.E. and Peresin, M.S., (2020). “The effect of residual lignin on the rheological properties of cellulose nanofibril suspensions”, Journal of Wood Chemistry and Technology, 40(6), 370-381.
  • Iglesias M.C., Gomez-Maldonado D., Via B.K., Jiang Z. and Peresin, M.S., (2019). “Comparison of kraft and Sulfite Pulping Processes and Their Effects on Cellulose Fibers and Nanofibrillated Cellulose Properties: A Review”, Forest Products Journal, 70(1):10-21.
  • Parit M., Saha P., Davis A.V. and Jiang Z., (2018). “Transparent and Homogenous Cellulose Nanocrystal/Lignin UV Protection Films”, ACS Omega, 3:10679-10691. DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.8b01345
  • Parit M., Aksoy B. and Jiang Z., (2018). “Towards Standardization of Laboratory Preparation Procedure for Uniform Cellulose Nanopapers”, Cellulose, 25(5):2915-2924.
  • Acharjee T.C, Jiang Z., Haynes R.D. and Lee Y.Y., (2017). “Evaluation of Chlorine Dioxide as a Supplementary Pretreatment Reagent for Lignocellulosic Biomass”, Bioresource Technology, 2017, 244(1):1049-1054.
  • Acharjee T.C., Guan W., Lee Y.Y. and Jiang, Z., (2017). “Production of Lactic acid from Mixed Feed of Paper Sludge and Help Hurd by Simultaneous Saccharification and Co-Fermentation”, Journal of Science & Technology for Forest Products and Processes, 6(4):29-36

Patents

  • Aksoy B., Jiang Z., Aksoy M., Beck B., “Animal feed binders derived from pectin-and protein-containing feedstock”, US Patent 11,582,990
  • Jiang, Z. and Aksoy, B., “Phenols as additives in kraft pulping”, US Patent 11,390,990
  • Aksoy B., Jiang Z., Aksoy M., Beck B. and Navid, E.A., “Matrices for detecting volatile organic compounds”, US Patent 11,536,666.
  • Lehrburger, E., Laskar, D.D., Jiang, Z., Li, J., Lee, Y-Y., and Cullinan, H.T., “Apparatus and process for treatment of biomass for on-site cellulolytic enzyme production to manufacture fuels and chemicals”, US Patent 11,542,532.
  • Jiang Z. and Parit M., Transparent and Homogenous Cellulose Nanocrystal-Lignin UV Protection Films, US Patent No. 10,829,602 B2.

Graduate Students

Grad Student Headshot
Navid Etebari Alamdari | LinkedIn Profile | n.etebari@auburn.edu

PhD Candidate, Advised by Dr. Zhihua Jiang

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) rom soybean hull (SBH) as an excipient for solid dosage formulation: powder characterization and tableting properties

We have produced and tested SBH-based MCC as an alternative to wood-based commercial MCC (Avicel®). SBH-based and Avicel MCC powders were tested for their thermal properties (TGA), structural and morphological properties (XRD and SEM), chemical composition (HPLC), density and flowability (tap density tester, pycnometer, and angle of repose), and surface area (BET). The powders were then incorporated as a major part (60%) of excipient-only tablets comprised of lactose, sodium starch glycolate, and magnesium stearate. Quality and properties of the produced SBH MCC tablets (hardness, tensile strength, and disintegration) were tested and compared to the Avicel MCC tablets. Based on the results, we concluded that SBH MCC can be a potential alternative for industrial scale tablet production.

Grad Student Headshot
Ananya Ghosh | LinkedIn Profile | azg0016@auburn.edu

PhD Candidate, Advised by Dr. Zhihua Jiang

Engineering functional materials from cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) by exploring their structure and property relationships

This project aims at deepening the scientific and fundamental understanding of the role of electrostatic interactions on self-assembly and alignment of CNC and the structure and property relationships of aligned CNC films and developing a CNC and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) based optical sensor for humidity detection. We are characterizing the properties, such as the electrical and mechanical barrier and rheological properties of the aligned CNC films and working on improving the sensor’s sensitivity toward moisture and calibrate this sensor for different RH conditions as well as various dilution concentrations of polar organic solvent.

Grad Student Headshot
Shoumik Sadaf | LinkedIn Profile | szs0264@auburn.edu

Graduate Research Assistant, Advised by Dr. Zhihua Jiang

Advanced oxidative degradation of nonrecyclable municipal solid waste

The objective of this research is to systemically investigate the combination of two of the most promising advanced oxidation techniques: photocatalytic oxidation and ozonation to degrade nonrecyclable municipal solid waste into fragments with different chemical functional groups that can be used as feedstock for filamentous fungi to produce high value products. For enhancing the degradation, zinc oxide nanopowder was coated with graphene and was used as photocatalyst. The preliminary analysis showed varied degrees of weight degradation of pure low-density polyethylene with the formation of carbon oxygen double bonds. We will optimize the advanced oxidation conditions and systematically characterize the oxidation products using various analytical techniques including GPC (Gel Permeation Chromatography), GCMS (Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry), HPLC (High-performance liquid chromatography) and NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) Spectroscopy.

Grad Student Headshot
Erfan Hosseini | LinkedIn Profile| ezh0061@auburn.edu

Graduate Research Assistant, Advised by Drs. Selen Cremaschi and Zhihua Jiang

Joined Auburn University Chemical Engineering and AC-PABE in Spring 2022

Research coming soon!

Grad Student Headshot
Morteza Taghavi Kouzehkanan | LinkedIn Profile| szt0077@auburn.edu

Graduate Research Assistant, Advised by Drs. Tae-Sik Oh and Zhihua Jiang

Joined Auburn University Chemical Engineering and AC-PABE in Spring 2022

Research coming soon!

Grad Student Headshot
Mohammad Saber Bay | LinkedIn Profile| mzb0196@auburn.edu

Graduate Research Assistant, Advised by Dr. Zhihua Jiang

Joined Auburn University Chemical Engineering and AC-PABE in Fall 2022

Research coming soon!

Grad Student Headshot
Yasir Arafat Siddiki | LinkedIn Profile | szs0345@auburn.edu

Graduate Research Assistant, Advised by Dr. Zhihua Jiang

Research Coming Soon!

Joined Auburn University Chemical Engineering and AC-PABE in Fall 2022

 

Trials

  • Coming Soon