REN Tianyu received his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Tianjin University in 2022 under the supervision of Prof. Qi Wei and Prof. He Zhimin at the School of Chemical Engineering and Technology. From 2021 to 2022, he conducted joint research as an exchange student in Prof. Yan Ning’s group at the National University of Singapore. After graduation, he joined the Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion as a postdoctoral researcher, and was appointed Associate Professor in 2024.

His research focuses on the valorization of lignin and renewable resources via depolymerization and upgrading. He has developed efficient conversion strategies based on ozone oxidation and advanced characterization using comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography. His long-term goal is to establish sustainable transformation strategy that is largely-applied.

Selected Publications

1. Ren, Tianyu, Peidong Li, Zhuo He, Xinfeng Pan, Yutao Yang, Yuhe Liao, Haiyong Wang, Yanbin Cui, and Chenguang Wang. Green Aromatic Aldehyde Production from Biomass Via Catalytic Fractionation and Ozonolysis. Green Chemistry 26, 2024: 11866-11872.

2. Ren, Tianyu, Yang Luo, Xiaoli Chen, and Chenguang Wang. Ozonolysis with Mno₂: A Safe and Cost-Efficient Way for Producing Aldehydes and Ketones. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 12, 2024: 12719-12725.

3. Ren, Tianyu, Zhaofeng Zhang, Shengping You, Wei Qi, Rongxin Su, and Zhimin He. Isolation and Purification of 4-Propylguaiacol and 4-Propylsyringol by Extraction and Crystallization from the Products of Reductive Catalytic Fractionation Processes. Green Chemistry 24, 2022: 7355-7361.

4. Ren, Tianyu, Wei Qi, Zhimin He, and Ning Yan. One-Pot Production of Phenazine from Lignin-Derived Catechol. Green Chemistry 24, 2022: 1224-30.

5. Ren, Tianyu, Shengping You, Zhaofeng Zhang, Yuefei Wang, Wei Qi, Rongxin Su, and Zhimin He. Highly Selective Reductive Catalytic Fractionation at Atmospheric Pressure without Hydrogen. Green Chemistry 23, 2021: 1648-1657.

6. Ren, Tianyu, Shengping You, Muyuan Zhang, Yuefei Wang, Wei Qi, Rongxin Su, and Zhimin He. Improved Conversion Efficiency of Lignin-to-Fuel Conversion by Limiting Catalyst Deactivation. Chemical Engineering Journal 410, 2021: 128270.

▪ Utilization of lignin and other biomass for sustainable production of chemicals and materials.

▪ Organic and catalytic reactions for upgrading biomass-derived resources.

▪ Ozone oxidation and organic peroxides chemistry.

1. National Natural Science Foundation for Young Scientists of China, 22408365, Mechanism study of hydrogenative polymerization of polyhydroxyphenols assisted with omics software, Jan 2025 - Dec 2027, 300 thousand yuan, Principal Investigator.

2. Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation, 2024A1515010569, Depolymerization of lignin oligomers linked with C-C bonds to monophenols by hydroxyl elimination - ozonolysis, Jan 2024 - Dec 2026, 150 thousand yuan, Principal Investigator.

3. China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, 2023M743509, Linkage structure effects in cleavage of C-C bond in lignin to monophenols by acid-catalyzed and ozonolysis, Oct 2023 - Oct 2024, 80 thousand yuan, Principal Investigator.