Xiaolei Fan

Xiaolei Fan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at The University of Manchester. He holds a BEng in Environmental Engineering from Jilin Institute of Chemical Technology (2003), an MRes in Chemical Engineering from East China University of Science and Technology (2006), and a PhD in Continuous Flow Heterogeneous Catalysis from the University of Bath (2010). His research focuses on nonthermal plasma catalysis, CO2 conversion, catalytic biorefinery, and zeolite-based catalysts. He has contributed to over 180 publications, supervised 20+ students, and led projects like the EU-funded SPACING initiative for biofuel production.

Research interests include porous materials, reaction engineering, and process intensification through structured reactors/catalysts. He chairs the RSC Heterogeneous Catalysis committee and has organized conferences like the International Conference on Environmental Catalysis. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in clean energy and sustainable chemistry.

• Education:
  • BEng (Environmental Engineering), Jilin Institute of Chemical Technology, 2003
  • MRes (Chemical Engineering), East China University of Science and Technology, 2006
  • PhD (Chemical Engineering), University of Bath, 2010
• Awards:
  • Lee Hsun Lecture Award (2018)
  • Zhenxing Scholar Professor Award (2018)
  • Outstanding Achievement Recognition (2018)
• Grants/Projects:
  • SPACING: Sustainable Production of ACrylic Acid from Renewable Waste Glycerol (2021–2024)
• Labs/Teams:
  • Catalysis and Porous Materials Group at The University of Manchester