School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences College of Science

Higher-Education

• 2023 Postdoc Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 2022 Ph.D. Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Kansas State University
• 2017 M.S. Food Science and Engineering, Henan University of Technology
• 2014 B.S. Food Science and Engineering, Henan University of Technology

Research Overview

Professor Jikai Zhao develops catalytic conversion and microbial fermentation technologies to upgrade lignocellulosic biomass, plastic waste, food waste, and grain into renewable ethanol, gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, platform chemicals, and food ingredients. He uses technoeconomic analysis and life cycle assessment methods to study the economic and environmental impacts of biorefineries. The long-term goal of his research is to explore biological and catalytic approaches for sustainable food, agriculture, and energy systems. He is striving to boost collaborative education opportunities for underrepresented students since he believes “student success is my success”.

Publications

• Fu, Q., Zhao, J., Rong, S., Han, Y., Liu, F., Chu, Q., ... & Chen, S. (2023). Research Advances in Plant Protein-Based Products: Protein Sources, Processing Technology, and Food Applications. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 71 (42), 15429-15444.
• Zou, R., Wang, C., Qian, M., Lei, R., Zhao, Y., Zhang, Q., Huo, E., Kong, X., Lin, X., Wang, L., Zhang, X., Gluth, A., Harahap, B., Wang, Y., Dai, L., Zhao, J., Ruan, R., Lei, H.* (2023). Catalytic fast co-pyrolysis of Douglas Fir and low-density polyethylene with nanocellulose-derived carbon catalyst for enhancing selectivity of hydrogen in syngas and mono-aromatic hydrocarbon in bio-oil products. Chemical Engineering Journal, 145640,
• Rivera, J. L., Zhao, J., Owonikoko, A., & Siliveru, K.* (2023). Significance of storage conditions on the flow properties of wheat flours. Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization, 1-11.
• Yang, Y., Zhao, J., Zhang, M., & Wang, D. (2023). Utilizing hydrolysis residue from bioethanol production as an additive for solid fuel pellets. Fuel, 348(15), 128582.
• Zhao, J.,* Feng, D., & Lee, J. (2023). Life Cycle Assessment of calcium oxide pretreatment of corn stover with carbon dioxide neutralization for ethanol production. Bioresource Technology, 379, 129042.
• Zhao, J.,* Wang, Z., Jin, Q., Feng D., & Lee, J.* (2023). Galactose to tagatose: Recent advances in non-enzymatic isomerization. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 71 (10), 4228–4234.
• Zhao, J.,* Lee, J., & Wang, D.* (2023). A critical review on water overconsumption in lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment for ethanol production through enzymic hydrolysis and fermentation. Energy & Fuels. 37 (4), 2667–2680.
• Zhao, J.,* Yang, Y., Lee, J., Zhang, M., Roozeboom, K., & Wang, D.* (2022). Experimental and technoeconomic assessment of monosaccharide and furan production under high biomass loading without solid- liquid separation. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. 10(5), 1972–1982.
• Zhao, J.,* Yang. Y., Lee. J., & Wang. D.* (2022). Technoeconomic analysis of ethanol production from corn stover without solid-liquid separation and detoxification. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. 10 (30), 10077–10083.
• Zhao, J.,* Lee, J., & Wang, D. (2022). An integrated deep eutectic solvent-ionic liquid-metal catalyst system for lignin and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural production from lignocellulosic biomass: Technoeconomic analysis. Bioresource Technology, 356, 127277.
• Lindsay, M., Molitor, M., Goculdas, T., Zhao, J., Featherman, J., Li, M., Miller, J., Avraamidou, S., Rankin, S. A., Dumesic, J. A., Huber, G. W.* (2022). Production of glucose-galactose syrup and milk minerals from Greek yogurt acid whey. Green Chemistry, 24, 8538–8551.
• Weiss, T., Zhao, J., Hu, R., Liu, M., Li, Y., Zheng, Y., & Wang, D.* (2022). Production of distilled spirits using grain sorghum through liquid fermentation. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 9, 100314.
• Zhao, J., Wilkins, M., and Wang, D.* (2022). A review on strategies to reduce ionic liquid pretreatment costs for biofuel production. Bioresource Technology, 364, 128045.
• Pradyawong, S., Brown, N.H., Zhao, J., Qi, G., Zheng, Y., Sun, X., & Wang, D.* (2022). Improved Soy Protein Adhesives by Lignin and Polyamide-epichlorohydrin: Adhesion Performance and Properties. Journal of Polymers and the Environment, e53086.
• Zhao, J., Yang. Y., Zhang. M., Rice. C., & Wang. D.* (2022). Elucidating thermochemical pretreatment effectiveness of different particle-size switchgrass for cellulosic ethanol production. Biomass & Bioenergy. 164, 106561.
• Zhao, J., Wang, W., Li, Y., Sun, X., & Wang, D.* (2022). Nutritional and chemical composition of industrial hemp seeds. Industrial Hemp. Elsevier.
• Zhao, J., Weiss, T., Du, Z., Hong, S., Bean, S., Li, Y., & Wang, D.* (2021). Comparative evaluation of physicochemical and fermentative responses of three sorghum varieties from dryland and irrigated land and properties of proteins from distillers’ grains. Journal of Cereal Science. 104, 103432.
• Yang, Y., Zhao, J., Zhang, M., & Wang, D.* (2021). Effects of particle size on biomass pretreatment and hydrolysis performances in bioethanol conversion. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery.
• Zhao, J., Lee, J., Weiss, T., & Wang, D.* (2021). Technoeconomic analysis of multiple-stream ethanol and lignin production from lignocellulosic biomass: Insights into the chemical selection and process integration. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 9(40), 13640–13652.
• Zhao, J.,* Wang, D., Pidlisnyuk, V., & Erickson, L.E. (2021). Miscanthus biomass for alternative energy production. Phytotechnology with Biomass Production, 177–199. CRC Press.
• Pidlisnyuk, V., Erickson, L.E., Wang, D., Zhao, J., Stefanovska, T., & Schlup, J.R. (2021). Miscanthus as Raw Materials for Bio-based Products. Phytotechnology with Biomass Production, 201–215. CRC Press.
• Zhao, J., Griffin, J., Roozeboom, K., Lee, J., & Wang, D.* (2021). Lignin, sugar, and furan production of industrial hemp biomass via an integrated process. Industrial Crops and Products, 172, 114049.
• Zhao, J., Yang, Y., Zhang, M., & Wang, D.* (2021). Minimizing water consumption for sugar and lignin recovery via the integration of acid and alkali pretreated biomass and their mixed filtrate without post-washing. Bioresource Technology, 337, 125389.
• Zhao, J., Yang, Y., Zhang, M., & Wang, D.* (2021). Effects of post-washing on pretreated biomass and hydrolysis of the mixture of acetic acid and sodium hydroxide pretreated biomass and their mixed filtrate. Bioresource Technology, 339, 125605.
• Li, Q., Qi, G., Liu, X., Bai, J., Zhao, J., Tang, G., Zhang, Y.S., Chen‐Tsai, R., Zhang, M., Wang, D., Zhang, Y., & Sun, X.* (2021). Universal peptide hydrogel for scalable physiological formation and bioprinting of 3D spheroids from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Advanced Functional Materials, 31(41), 2104046.
• Zhao, J., Wu, X. and Wang, D.* (2021). Potential of wheat milling byproducts to produce fermentable sugars via mild ethanol–alkaline pretreatment. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 9(10), 3626–3632.
• Zhao, J., Wang, D., & Li, Y.* (2021). Proteins in dried distillers’ grains with solubles: A review of animal feed value and potential non‐food uses. Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society, 98, 957–968.
• Xu, Y., Zhao, J., Hu, R., Wang, W., Griffin, J., Li, Y., Sun, X.S. & Wang, D.* (2021). Effect of genotype on the physicochemical, nutritional, and antioxidant properties of hempseed. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 3, 100119.
• Zhao, J., Jin, S., Zhang, Q., Wang, F., Lee, J., & Wang, D.* (2021). Characterization of four Chinese bread wheat varieties over five years. ACS Food Science & Technology, 1(5), 770–777.
• Xu, Y., Li, J., Zhao, J., Wang, W., Griffin, J., Li, Y., Bean, S., Tilley, M. &Wang, D.* (2021). Hempseed as a nutritious and healthy human food or animal feed source: a review. International Journal of Food Science & Technology, 56(2), 530–543.
• Zhao, J., Xu, Y., Wang, W., Griffin, J., & Wang, D.* (2020). Conversion of liquid hot water, acid and alkali pretreated industrial hemp biomasses to bioethanol. Bioresource Technology, 309, 123383.
• Zhao, J., Xu, Y., Wang, W., Griffin, J., Roozeboom, K., & Wang, D.* (2020). Bioconversion of industrial hemp biomass for bioethanol production: A review. Fuel, 281, 118725.
• Zhao, J., Xu, Y., Zhang, M., & Wang, D.* (2020). Integrating bran starch hydrolysates with alkaline pretreated soft wheat bran to boost sugar concentration. Bioresource Technology, 302, 122826.
• Zhao, J., Li, J., Qi, G., Sun, X.S., & Wang, D.* (2020). Two nonnegligible factors influencing lignocellulosic biomass valorization: filtration method after pretreatment and solid loading during enzymatic hydrolysis. Energy & Fuels, 35(2), 1546–1556.
• Zhao, J., Xu, Y., Wang, W., Griffin, J., & Wang, D.* (2020). High ethanol concentration (77 g/L) of industrial hemp biomass achieved through optimizing the relationship between ethanol yield/concentration and solid loading. ACS Omega, 5(34), 21913–21921.

Present Courses

• ENVR 1402 Intro to Environmental Science II
• BIOL 1406 General Biology I
• EEMS 6350 Novel Ecosystems and Built Environments
• EEMS 6311 Service Learning Project I
• EEMS 6312 Service Learning Project II
• Special Topic: Technoeconomic Analysis