The Research Group of Biomass Thermochemical Conversion is one of the earliest scientific research teams in China dedicated to the research and application of biomass energy. Since the China’s "Sixth Five-Year Plan" period, the team has undertaken national and provincial/ministerial scientific research projects, including key programs such as the National High-tech R&D Program (863 Program), the National Key Technologies R&D Program, the National Key Technology R&D Program, the National Key R&D Program, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Foundation, and the Strategic Emerging Industries Program of Guangdong Province. Through these endeavors, the team has achieved a series of valuable scientific research outcomes. To date, team members have published over 400 academic papers and been granted more than 70 invention patents. Furthermore, the team has received over 10 national and provincial/ministerial awards, including one Second Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award, one First Prize of the Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award, one Second Prize of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Science and Technology Progress Award, and one Second Prize of the Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award.

Focusing on core technologies in biomass pyrolysis/gasification and gas purification, the team conducts research and tackles key technical challenges across four levels: applied basic research, key technology development, integration and demonstration, and applied technology development. The team holds a leading position domestically in application technologies such as MW-scale biomass gasification for combined heat, power, and cooling; biomass gasification for the synthesis of oxygenated liquid fuels (methanol, mixed alcohols, dimethyl ether, etc.); large-scale substitution of kiln fuels with biomass; biomass gasification coupled with coal-fired boilers for power generation and flexible peak-load regulation; and hydrogen production from biomass gasification. These advancements have significantly propelled the industrial development of biomass energy technology in China.

The team comprises about 30 members, including 2 Principal Investigators (Professor), 2 Senior Engineers (Professorate Level), 2 Associate Professors, 5 Senior Engineers, 1 Assistant Professor, 1 Special Research Associate, 1 Postdoctoral Fellows, 13 postgraduate students.

Key Research Areas

· Mechanisms and Processes of Biomass Pyrolysis, Gasification, and Combustion

· Biomass Densification, Torrefaction Pretreatment, and Carbonization Technologies

· Low-Tar Biomass Gasification Technologies in Fixed-Bed and Fluidized-Bed Reactors

· Hydrogen Production from Catalytic Gasification of Biomass

· Synergistic Coupling Technologies for Syngas Purification and Conditioning

· Technologies for Liquid Fuels and Chemicals Synthesis via Biomass Gasification

· Power Generation and Flexible Peak-Load Regulation via Biomass Co-firing with Coal-Fired Boilers

· Biomass Gasification for Power Generation and Combined Heat, Power, and Cooling (CHPC) Supply

· Technologies for Large-Scale Substitution of Boiler and Kiln Fuels with Biomass

· High-Value Utilization Technologies for Light Industry Residues and Ash/Slag

· Biobased Carbon Materials for CO₂ Capture

·Techno-Economic Analysis, Environmental Impact Assessment, and Low-Carbon Development Planning for Biomass Energy

Core Researchers

·WU Chuangzhi, Professor, Doctoral Supervisor

· YIN Xiuli, Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, Team Leader

· LIU Huacai, Ph.D., Professorate Senior Engineer, Master's Supervisor

· LANG Lin, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Master's Supervisor

· YUAN Hongyou, Ph.D., Senior Engineer

· YANG Wenshen, Ph.D., Associate Professor

· LI Weizhen, Ph.D., Senior Engineer, Master's Supervisor

· PAN Xianqi, Professorate Senior Engineer

· ZHOU Yi, Senior Engineer

·CHEN Jian, Senior Engineer

· CHEN Wenwei, Senior Engineer

· XU Bin, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

·WANG Fengchao, Ph.D., Special Research Associate

Key Research Platforms & Facilities

· Pretreatment Equipment: Twin-screw extruders and kneaders, complete forming systems, baking equipment, carbonization units, etc.

· Pyrolysis and Gasification Equipment: Advanced pyrolysis reactors, gasification reactors; large-scale fixed-bed and fluidized-bed gasifiers.

· Purification Equipment: Reforming and shift conversion units, high-temperature filtration systems, plasma purification devices, etc.

· Power Generation Equipment: Experimental gas turbine power generation setups.

· Analysis and Sampling: On-site sampling and testing apparatus for syngas, tar, and particulate matter from gasification processes.

· Laboratory-Scale Equipment: Fixed-bed reactors, steam generators, dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactors, pulsed discharge reactors, catalyst evaluation systems, electrochemical workstations, tar catalytic cracking reactors, microwave-assisted pyrolysis reactors, etc.

·Online Analytical Instruments: Online gas chromatographs, ultra-high-temperature corrosion-resistant simultaneous thermal analyzers, ash fusion/sintering capacitance meters, industrial analyzers, multi-wavelength total carbon/organic carbon analyzers, multi-component online analyzers, thermal desorption units, emission spectrometers, etc.

Signature Achievements

· Heat and/or Power Generation Based on Biomass Gasification

· Power Generation and Flexible Peak Shaving Technologies Based on Indirect Co-firing

· Liquid Fuels Synthesis Based on Biomass Gasification

· Biomass Pretreatment, Densification, and Torrefaction Technologies

·Hydrogen Production Based on Biomass Catalytic Gasification

Contact Name: LIU Huacai 

Contact Number: +86 15915761504

Contact Email: liuhc@ms.giec.ac.cn