Research Interests:
My primary research interest is in the generation of alternative fuels and co-products from biomass and wastes via thermochemical conversion (TCC) routes and catalysis. Pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction are two important TCC processes that convert biomass components into a liquid fuel (called, bio-oil or biocrude) in a single step. Bio-oil can be catalytically modified and co-processed into hydrocarbon fuels in the presence of hydrogen and co-solvents. Integration of a well defined’ TCC process with a suitable low-cost catalytic method is important for production of commodity biofuels (gasoline/diesel). Co-product development and utilization in biomass processing has significance to the process sustainability and cost-economics. My research interests are in developing new processes and optimizing process parameters to maximize the primary fuel production (example, bio-oil) and co-product utilization. For example, in hydrothermal liquefaction and carbonization processes, the aqueous co-product streams have significant amounts of organics and nutrients that can be separated: the nutrients can be reused and recycled for plant growth, and the organics can be catalytically upgraded into high-value chemicals (levoglucosans, sugars, hydroxymethyl furfurals etc.), or converted into energy-dense gases via hydrothermal gasification process.
My secondary research interest in the integration of thermochemical and biochemical/biological conversion pathways. Using most of the biomass will be a key aspect in a sustainable biofuel production process. For example, in algal biodiesel or renewable diesel production, large amount of solid is left-behind (60-80% of the staring algae feedstock). Similarly, in the fermentation of agricultural grains and cellulosic crops, significant unused or residual mass is obtained. The utilization of the above residue by a second conversion process (catalytic or non-catalytic TCC) into fuels/chemicals will be important for the overall biofuel process viability. My overall goal will be to design integrated process and evaluate the process mass and energy balance, and its environmental and economic impacts.
Successful Grant Proposals:
Qatar National Research Foundation (2015; $900,000, International grant– collaborative research). United States Department of Agriculture –NIFA (2014; $90,000)
Department of Energy – EERE (2012; $698,000)
DRI’s Institute Project Assignments (2013 and 2015; $14,500 and $14, 879) Indian Council of Agricultural Research (2006; INR 1,250,000)
Postdoctoral Research Projects:
1. “Catalytic hydrodeoxygenation of fast pyrolysis bio-oil.”
Mentors: Prof. James R. Kastner and Prof. K.C. Das, College of Engineering, University of Georgia
2. “Development of bio-oil commodity fuel as a refinery feedstock from high impact algae feedstock”
Mentor: Prof. James R. Kastner, College of Engineering, University of Georgia
3. “Recovering valuable products through hydrothermal carbonization of whole and lipid- extracted algae”
Mentor: Prof. S. Kent Hoekman
PhD Dissertation: “Thermochemical conversion of microalgal biomass for production of biofuels and co-products”
Under supervision of Prof. K.C. Das, College of Engineering, University of Georgia
Research Experience:
I have over 12 years’ experience working in thermochemical and catalytic conversion of biomass and intermediate products. My doctoral research demonstrated hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and pyrolysis of algae, comprehensively evaluated process mass and energy balance and developed the concept of algae biorefinery. Understanding the process chemistry and reaction mechanism are important for new process development and its optimization. My laboratory studies have evaluated reaction kinetics of biomass decomposition (algae, woody biomass, and coal) using thermogravimetric techniques and mass spectrometry. My research has involved development of processes for HTL, pyrolysis, and gasification of dry and wet biomass (lignocellulosic, algae, and animal wastes) and conduct of laboratory and field evaluation. For example, my doctoral and postdoctoral studies evaluated batch HTL and pyrolysis of algae and woody biomass. One of the previous studies involved the field evaluation of downdraft gasification system in agricultural processing operation.
My current research is focused on integrating thermochemical conversion (HTL, pyrolysis, gasification) with the biological processes (fermentation, anaerobic digestion etc.) for production fuels/chemicals and waste remediation. For example, one of my recent studies reported on the renewable diesel production via HTL of yeast biomass generated from fermentation process using delactosed dairy effluent. Another study conducted under a DOE study has explored a novel two- step HTL process for converting algae into low-nitrogen fuel. I am presently exploring the integration of ethanol production from sweet sorghum while converting the residues into an energy-dense hydrochar (a coal-like solid fuel). Both of the studies involve environmental life cycle and/or techno-economic assessments (LCA and TEA) for evaluation of process sustainability.
Teaching Experience:
Aside from my research career, I also have extensive teaching experience. I spent a semester co- teaching a Chemical Engineering Course (Process Separations) at University of Nevada Reno (over 50% of the course); I TAed and guest-lectured undergraduate lecture and laboratory courses in Engineering Unit Operations and Environmental Engineering-I at the University of Georgia; and, lastly, I mentored graduate and undergraduate students in my group. As a post-doc I have worked with undergraduate summer students and new graduate students from chemistry, biochemistry, biological systems engineering and chemical engineering from outside universities (University of Nevada Reno, University of Nevada Las Vagas, Fort Valley State University-GA etc.). Their unique backgrounds have helped me generalize my teaching methods. I have helped them learn how to work in the laboratory, analyze data, and present results. The students helped identify process evaluation and optimization, develop experimental set-ups, develop product separation protocol in HTL, and identify methods for collecting liquid and gas samples. I enjoyed watching students succeed with my input which has always motivated me furthering my career in the academic profession.
Future Direction:
As faculty I would like to continue investigating fundamental and applied aspects of thermochemical conversion technologies: process development, evaluation, and optimization. In particular I would like to apply my skills that I obtained from various research works that I worked on during my Ph.D. and postdoc: hydrothermal reactions, integrated thermochemical and biological processes, and sustainability evaluation (TEA and LCA). For strengthening our understanding of the process, my future research projects will designed for conducting basic and applied studies investigating the reaction chemistry, mechanism, and the process as a whole (through process modeling). I would also conduct their life cycle and techno-economic assessments for sustainable biofuel production, waste utilization and environmental remediation. Listed below are the areas of my future research interests.
Research Areas of Interests
- Catalytic upgrading of bio-oil from HTL and pyrolysis processes
- Hydrothermal carbonization of biomass into hydrochar and pelletization
- Biomass pretreatments and pyrolysis
- New process development and evaluation
- Process techno-economics and life cycle assessments (LCA)
Selected Publications:
Jena, U., A. McCurdy, R. Ledbetter, H. Summers, Rhesa Ledbetter A, Warren, L. Seefeldt, S.K. Hoekman, J. Quinn. 2015. Oleaginous Yeast Platform for Producing Biofuels via Co-Solvent Hydrothermal Liquefaction. Biotechnology for Biofuels, 8:167.
Costanzo, W., U. Jena, R.N. Hilten, K.C. Das, J.R. Kastner. 2015. Evaluation of low temperature hydrothermal liquefaction of algae for low nitrogen biocrude generation and nutrient recycling, Algal Research, 12(2015): 377-387.
Broch, A. U. Jena, S.K. Hoekman. 2014. Analysis of solid and aqueous phase products from hydrothermal carbonization of whole and lipid-extracted algae. Energies, 7(1): 62-79.
Jena, U., K.C. Das and J.R. Kastner. 2012. Comparison of the effects of Na2CO3, Ca3(PO4)2 , and NiO catalysts on the thermochemical liquefaction of microalga Spirulina Platensis. Applied Energy, 98(2012): 368-375.
Jena, U. and K.C. Das. 2011. Comparative evaluation of BioOil production from microalgae by thermochemical liquefaction and pyrolysis. Energy &Fuels, 25, 5472–5482.
Jena, U., K.C. Das and J.R. Kastner. 2011. Effect of operating conditions of thermochemical liquefaction on biocrude production from Spirulina platensis. Bioresource Technology 102(10):
6221-6229.
Jena, U., N. Vaidyanathan, S. Chinnasamy and K.C. Das. 2010. Evaluation of microalgae cultivation using recovered aqueous solution from thermochemical liquefaction of algal biomass. Bioresource Technology, 102(3): 3380-3387.
Singh, R.N., U. Jena, J.B. Patel and A.M. Sharma. 2006. Feasibility study of cashew nut shells as an open core gasifier feedstock. Renewable Energy 31: 481–487.
Book Chapters:
Biomass energy from revegetation of landfill sites, B. Seshadri, N. S. Bolan, U. Jena, R. Thangarajan, K.C. Das, H. Wang and R. Naidu. Chapter 5, In Bioremediation and Bioeconomy, Edited by M.N. Prasad, Elsevier, pp: 99-109.Research Interests:
My primary research interest is in the generation of alternative fuels and co-products from biomass and wastes via thermochemical conversion (TCC) routes and catalysis. Pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction are two important TCC processes that convert biomass components into a liquid fuel (called, bio-oil or biocrude) in a single step. Bio-oil can be catalytically modified and co-processed into hydrocarbon fuels in the presence of hydrogen and co-solvents. Integration of a well defined’ TCC process with a suitable low-cost catalytic method is important for production of commodity biofuels (gasoline/diesel). Co-product development and utilization in biomass processing has significance to the process sustainability and cost-economics. My research interests are in developing new processes and optimizing process parameters to maximize the primary fuel production (example, bio-oil) and co-product utilization. For example, in hydrothermal liquefaction and carbonization processes, the aqueous co-product streams have significant amounts of organics and nutrients that can be separated: the nutrients can be reused and recycled for plant growth, and the organics can be catalytically upgraded into high-value chemicals (levoglucosans, sugars, hydroxymethyl furfurals etc.), or converted into energy-dense gases via hydrothermal gasification process.
My secondary research interest in the integration of thermochemical and biochemical/biological conversion pathways. Using most of the biomass will be a key aspect in a sustainable biofuel production process. For example, in algal biodiesel or renewable diesel production, large amount of solid is left-behind (60-80% of the staring algae feedstock). Similarly, in the fermentation of agricultural grains and cellulosic crops, significant unused or residual mass is obtained. The utilization of the above residue by a second conversion process (catalytic or non-catalytic TCC) into fuels/chemicals will be important for the overall biofuel process viability. My overall goal will be to design integrated process and evaluate the process mass and energy balance, and its environmental and economic impacts.
Successful Grant Proposals:
Qatar National Research Foundation (2015; $900,000, International grant– collaborative research). United States Department of Agriculture –NIFA (2014; $90,000)
Department of Energy – EERE (2012; $698,000)
DRI’s Institute Project Assignments (2013 and 2015; $14,500 and $14, 879) Indian Council of Agricultural Research (2006; INR 1,250,000)