Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, China
Profile
Scopus
🎓 Early Academic Pursuits
Yunyun Liu began her academic journey with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the School of Material Science and Chemical Engineering at Tianjin University of Science and Technology (2003–2007). Her passion for sustainable technologies led her to pursue a Master's degree in Pulp and Paper Engineering under the supervision of Prof. Gaosheng Wang at the same institution, completed in 2010. Her academic pursuit culminated in earning a Doctorate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at South China Agricultural University (2013–2016) under the guidance of Prof. Jun Xie, equipping her with robust interdisciplinary skills combining molecular biology and biomass engineering.
💼 Professional Endeavors
Dr. Liu’s professional career took root at the Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences, where she served as a Research Associate in the Biomass Energy Bio-Chemical Conversion Lab from 2010 to 2017. Here, under the mentorship of Prof. Zhenhong Yuan, she honed her expertise in bioenergy research. In 2017, she transitioned into academia, accepting a position as an Associate Professor in the Power Engineering Department at the Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, where she continues to contribute significantly in both teaching and research capacities.
🧪 Research Focus and Scientific Contributions
Dr. Liu’s primary research interests lie in the efficient conversion of biomass and waste resources into biofuels and biomaterials, including biochar. Her work emphasizes biomass pretreatment techniques, high-solids enzymatic hydrolysis, C1 gas fermentation (CO/CO₂) for bioethanol production, and the development of biochar for supercapacitor electrodes. She also integrates Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impacts of these processes. Dr. Liu’s interdisciplinary approach bridges biochemical conversion with sustainability analysis, reflecting her commitment to cleaner, renewable energy solutions.
🧬 Technical Expertise and Methodologies
Throughout her career, Dr. Liu has mastered various conventional and advanced bioconversion techniques. These include thermal chemical processing, enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation at high solids concentration, C1 gas utilization, and biochar synthesis and characterization. She is well-versed in process simulation and control, especially in the context of bioethanol fermentation, and proficient in LCA software tools for environmental analysis. Her laboratory acumen is coupled with field-scale experimental knowledge, offering a well-rounded perspective on both fundamental science and applied engineering.
📚 Teaching Experience and Academic Guidance
Since joining Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Dr. Liu has taken on active roles in undergraduate and graduate education, especially in guiding student research projects in energy systems and environmental engineering. Her dedication to academic mentorship has earned her Outstanding Thesis Supervisor Awards in 2025 for both Master's and Undergraduate Theses. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes integrating research with practical applications, fostering critical thinking in students across interdisciplinary boundaries.
🏆 Recognitions and Awards
Dr. Liu’s achievements have been acknowledged through numerous prestigious awards, including the First Prize of the Kudo Award (2016) at the Guangzhou Institute of Energy Research and recognition as an Excellent Doctoral Graduate at South China Agricultural University. She has also been honored multiple times for supervising award-winning theses and has received accolades at national and international conferences on bioenergy and sustainability. Her contributions continue to shape both scientific inquiry and academic mentorship.
📊 Research Projects and Leadership
Dr. Liu has led and contributed to numerous national and provincial research projects. She has been the Principal Investigator (PI) on projects funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province, the Xi'an Science and Technology Bureau, and the State Key Laboratory of Agro-bioresources. These projects focus on topics such as direct biomass-to-liquid fuel conversion, bioethanol process optimization, and rheological studies in enzymatic hydrolysis. Additionally, she has participated in major initiatives under China’s National High-Tech R&D Program (863 Plan) and the National Science and Technology Support Program, demonstrating her capacity for collaborative, high-impact research.
🌍 Academic Impact and Influence
Dr. Liu’s research has had a strong impact on the field of biomass energy technology, particularly in areas related to biofuel production and biochar applications. She has shared her insights at international symposia, such as the International Conference on Bioprocess and Sustainability (ICBS) and the International Symposium on Biomass Utilization Technologies. Her academic work is recognized and cited in numerous publications, and she is actively contributing to the dialogue on renewable energy innovation in China and beyond.
📈 Academic Citations and Publications
While detailed citation metrics are not included here, Dr. Liu’s papers are featured in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, covering topics such as bioethanol process development, biomass enzymatic hydrolysis, and biochar-based energy materials. Her participation in key conferences and forums helps disseminate her work and fosters international collaboration in bioenergy research.
🧑🏫 Legacy and Future Contributions
Dr. Liu’s academic and professional trajectory reflects a deep commitment to green technology, renewable energy, and sustainability. She continues to mentor the next generation of engineers and researchers while advancing the frontier of waste-to-energy conversion technologies. Her focus on life cycle environmental impact, coupled with her cross-disciplinary expertise, ensures that her work will contribute meaningfully to achieving China’s carbon neutrality goals and the global transition toward sustainable energy systems.
Selected Publications
-
Title: Life cycle environmental impact assessment of microalgae biodiesel derived from different processes
Authors: Yunyun Liu, Rundong Xia, Yujing Wang, et al.
Journal: Industrial Crops & Products
Year: 2025
-
Title: Efficient bamboo biorefining based on liquid hot water pretreatment: Co-production of xylo-oligosaccharides and lignin-containing cellulose nanofiber films
Authors: Miaomiao Ju, Yunyun Liu, Xinlong Sun, et al.
Journal: International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Year: 2025
-
Title: Interpretable Machine Learning for Optimizing Carbon Source Design to Enhance Bioethanol Yield in Gas Fermentation
Authors: Yunyun Liu, Chengcheng Feng, Chong Fang, et al.
Journal: Fuel
Year: 2025
-
Title: Product characteristics of supercritical water gasification via the preheating of hydrothermal flames: A detailed chemical kinetic simulation
Authors: Yuejie Zhao, Fengming Zhang, Yunyun Liu, et al.
Journal: Fuel
Year: 2025
-
Title: Thermodynamic and exergy assessments of supercritical water gasification of oily sludge assisted by hydrothermal flame
Authors: Yuxin Qiu, Yunyun Liu, Fengming Zhang, Weiqing Rong
Journal: Energy
Year: 2024