معرفی
Hsi-Wu Wong is a Professor and Associate Chair for Graduate Studies in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Francis College of Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell. He also serves as Associate Director of the Center for Energy Innovation. His research focuses on utilizing both experimental and theoretical techniques to study modern energy and environmental problems through the Sustainability and Reaction Engineering Laboratory (SuREL).
Education:
- B.S. in Chemical Engineering from National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
- Postdoctoral Researcher at MIT, Cambridge, MA
Dr. Wong's research expertise includes high temperature pyrolysis, gasification, and oxidation experiments along with molecular and detailed kinetic modeling. His primary focus is to uncover the fundamental interplay between chemical kinetics and transport phenomena to manipulate reaction pathways for producing high-value products from low-value hydrocarbon feedstocks including flared shale gas, lignocellulosic biomass, plastic waste, and food waste. His work spans reaction engineering, chemical kinetics, catalysis, sustainability principles, waste utilization and upcycling, alternative fuels, and process intensification.
Analysis of his recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a strong focus on sustainable chemical processes, particularly in plastic upcycling and waste conversion. His research demonstrates significant work on cellulose fast pyrolysis, noncovalent interactions during biomass processing, enzymatic depolymerization of polyesters, and safer solvent development across multiple disciplines including sustainable chemistry, reaction engineering, polymer science, and environmental engineering.
Scientific Awards and Honors:
- National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2019)
- North American Symposium on Chemical Reaction Engineering (NASCRE) Travel Award (2019)
- B. J. Martin Dissertation Year Fellowship, Northwestern University (2002)
- International Symposia on Chemical Reaction Engineering (ISCRE) Travel Award (2002)
Dr. Wong has successfully mentored numerous graduate students to completion, with many receiving departmental and university-wide awards. His lab has secured significant funding from the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and other agencies to support research in waste conversion technologies. Current projects include copyrolysis of waste mixtures, upcycling of single-use multi-layer plastic films, upcycling HDPE waste using hybrid approaches, bioconversion of polyester wastes, and safer solvents for pharmaceutical applications.
The Sustainability and Reaction Engineering Laboratory (SuREL) is equipped with advanced analytical instruments including Shimadzu GCMS, GC, Agilent HPLC systems, and a bench-scale fluidized bed pyrolysis reactor. The lab maintains active collaborations with multiple research groups at UMass Lowell and external institutions on projects related to sustainable energy and environmental solutions.
