Tao Dong

Tao Dong serves as a Researcher IV in Chemical Engineering at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), operating within the Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center and the Catalytic Carbon Transformation and Scale-Up Center. He has maintained continuous employment at NREL since 2013, progressing from Postdoctoral Researcher to his current senior research position.

His academic foundation includes:

• PhD in Bio-Systems Engineering from Washington State University
• Master of Science in Food Chemistry from Jiangnan University
• Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Technology from Jiangnan University

Dong's research centers on microbial biomass characterization, fractionation, and conversion processes, with specialized expertise in biofuel production, catalytic conversion, and techno-economic analysis of biomass systems. His work particularly emphasizes microalgal feedstocks for biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuels, integrating extraction, separation, and catalytic refinement methodologies to optimize bioresource utilization.

Analysis of his 2024-2025 publications reveals a concentrated focus on microalgae valorization through thermal, biological, and catalytic approaches. Key themes include lipid conversion from proteins, surfactant development from phytol byproducts, pretreatment optimization for fuel co-production, and advanced lipidomics for aviation biofuels. These works demonstrate systematic efforts to enhance process efficiency, scalability, and economic viability in algal biorefining.

As an integral member of NREL's Catalytic Carbon Transformation and Scale-Up Center, Dong contributes to advancing industrial-scale catalytic processes for renewable fuel production. His research portfolio spans 46 outputs including patents and peer-reviewed articles, reflecting sustained contributions to bioenergy science and engineering.