A gift given by PhD students after their defence

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3 PhD and 8 master students successfully defended their theses

In the morning, May 19, 2026, PhD dissertation defence by Misses Qian Dong, Xiao-ru Meng and Li Wang (supervised by Prof. Zhen Fang) of Biomass Group at Nanjing Agricultural University (NJAU), was held at room B441, No.12 Engineering Building, Binjiang Campus, NJAU. Prof. Zhi-xiong Lu from NJAU chaired the defence committee, and other five Profs. Dr. Yong Huang from Nanjing Forestry University, Dr. Jun Zhou from Nanjing Tech University as well as Dr. Kun-Jie Chen, Chun-xia He and Hong Jin from NJAU were invited as the members of the Panel. The defense secretary is Dr. Lin chen.

Subsequently, in the afternoon, Master thesis defence by Messrs Zhi-qiang Wang, Ting-yu Bi and Zi-bin Zhou (supervised by Prof. Zhen Fang), Xuan Tao and Xiao-lei Shi (supervised by Assoc. Prof. Wei Chen), Ming-xu Zhu (supervised by Assoc. Prof. Lu-jiang Xu), Bo Xia (supervised by Dr. Cheng-yu Dong), and Jia-cheng Ye (supervised by Assoc. Prof. Shuai Gao) of Biomass Group at NJAU, was held. Prof. Zhixiong Lu from NJAU chaired the defence committee, and three other experts, Prof. Wei Zhuang from Nanjing Tech University, Senior Engineer Ming-zheng Hu from Everbright Green Environmental Protection Jiangsu Co., Ltd., and Prof. Hong Jin from NJAU, were invited as members of the committee. The defence secretary was Dr. Lin Chen.

All students presented their theses before the Panel after past external review and courses and replied questions raised by all the members.

Miss Dong (博士生董倩左5, left 5) presented her PhD dissertation entitled “A Study on High-Efficiency Sugar Production for Microbial Lipid Production from Rice Straw via Freeze Combined with Alkaline Salt Pretreatment”.

Miss Meng (博士生孟晓茹左5, left 5) presented her PhD dissertation entitled “A Study on the Synthesis of Cellulose-Based Carbon Electrode and Its Electrochemical Performance for Zinc–Air Batteries”.

Miss Wang (博士生王莉左5, left 5) presented her PhD dissertation entitled “Combined Ball Milling and Deep Eutectic Solvent Pretreatment of Wheat Straw for Enzymatic Saccharification and Microbial Lipid Production”.

Subsequently, in the afternoon, Master thesis defence by Messrs Zhi-qiang Wang, Ting-yu Bi and Zi-bin Zhou (supervised by Prof. Zhen Fang), Xuan Tao and Xiao-lei Shi (supervised by Assoc. Prof. Wei Chen), Ming-xu Zhu (supervised by Assoc. Prof. Lu-jiang Xu), Bo Xia (supervised by Dr. Cheng-yu Dong), and Jia-cheng Ye (supervised by Assoc. Prof. Shuai Gao) of Biomass Group at NJAU, was held. Prof. Zhixiong Lu from NJAU chaired the defence committee, and three other experts, Prof. Wei Zhuang from Nanjing Tech University, Senior Engineer Ming-zheng Hu from Everbright Green Environmental Protection Jiangsu Co., Ltd., and Prof. Hong Jin from NJAU, were invited as members of the committee. The defence secretary was Dr. Lin Chen.

All students presented their theses before the Panel after past external review and courses and replied questions raised by all the members.

Mr. Wang (学术硕士生王志强左4, left 4) and Mr. Tao (学术硕士生陶璇左4, left 4) presented master thesis entitled “A Study on Ni-Ce Bimetallic Catalysts Supported on Kaolin for Hydrogen Production via Supercritical Water Gasification of Straw”and“Study on nitrogen‑doped biochar regulated preparation of phenolic compounds from biomass pyrolysis and integrated systematic optimization”.

Mr. Zhou (理学学术硕士生周子斌左4, left 4) and Mr. Shi (工学专业硕士石晓雷左4, left 4)  presented his master thesis  entitled “Study on Phenol Adsorption Performance and Application of Iron and Nitrogen Co-doped Biochar” and “CoZrSr-MOF-Derived Bifunctional Catalyst for Microwave-Assisted Biodiesel Production from Waste Cooking Oil”.

Mr. Zhu (工学专业硕士朱明旭左4, left 4) and Mr. Xia (工学专业硕士夏波左4, left 4) presented his master thesis work entitled “Technology and Application of Straw-Assisted Carbonization Tar Rapid Drying and Value-Added Utilization” and “Ultrasound-assissted Lime Pretreatment To Prepare Lactic Acid And Phenolic Monomers from Wheat Straw”.

Mr. Bi (工学专业硕士毕庭喻左4, left 4) and Mr. Ye (学术硕士生叶嘉城左4, left 4) presented his master thesis entitled “A Study on the Mechanism and Constitutive Model of Acid/Alkali-assisted Straw Densification” and “Research on CO₂ Adsorption Performance of Lignocellulose‑Derived Carbon Foam Based on Machine Learning”.

Nine students published first-authored papers in prestigious Journals, i.e., 3 from Miss Dong (Including 1 in Chinese), 3 from Miss Meng, 2 from Miss Wang, Mr. Shi and Mr. Tao, 1 from Mr. Wang, Mr. Bi and Mr. Ye, respectively.

三位博士生八位硕士生通过答辩

2026年5月19日上午，南京农业大学生物能源组2020级博士研究生董倩（女）、2022级博士研究生孟晓茹（女）和王莉（女）（导师方真教授）毕业答辩会在南京农业大学滨江校区工学院12号楼B441举行。南京农业大学的鲁植雄教授担任答辩评审委员会主席，南京工业大学的周俊教授，南京林业大学的黄勇教授，南京农业大学的何春霞教授、陈坤杰教授和金宏教授共六位专家担任答辩评审委员，答辩秘书为陈林老师。下午，南京农业大学生物能源组2021级硕士研究生王志强（男）、2023级硕士研究生毕庭喻（男）和周子斌（男）（导师方真教授）、2023级硕士研究生陶璇（男）和石晓雷（男）（导师陈伟副教授）、朱明旭（男）（导师徐禄江副教授）、夏波（男）（导师董澄宇博士）以及叶嘉城（男）（导师高帅副教授）毕业答辩会在南京农业大学滨江校区工学院12号楼B440举行。南京农业大学的鲁植雄教授担任答辩评审委员会主席，南京工业大学的庄伟教授，光大绿保江苏有限公司的胡明正高级工程师和南京农业大学的金宏教授共四位专家担任答辩评审委员，答辩秘书为陈林老师。

答辩会上，董倩、孟晓茹、王莉、王志强、陶璇、石晓雷、周子斌、朱明旭、夏波、毕庭喻和叶嘉城十一位同学依次对其在校期间的学术论文进行汇报，同时答辩委员会主席和各位评委提出了相关问题。根据十一位同学的问题回答以及学位论文的外审意见，评委会经过评审决议，一致认为董倩、孟晓茹、王莉、王志强、陶璇、石晓雷、周子斌、朱明旭、夏波、毕庭喻和叶嘉城十一位同学顺利完成了毕业所需要的研究和学习要求。

董倩同学在毕业论文《冷冻结合碱盐预处理稻秆高效制糖及其发酵产微生物油脂研究》中，通过冷冻预处理秸秆糖化发酵产微生物油脂为生物柴油提供原料。建立了孔隙水结晶应力模型，阐明了木质纤维素在水冷冻过程中的冻胀损伤机制；结合实验与表征手段，揭示了碱盐冷冻预处理对木质纤维素结构损伤的作用机理。构建的冷冻结合碱盐预处理方法可有效破坏稻秆的致密结构、实现组分选择性分离，促进酶解效率。优化酶解策略，实现磷酸钾冷冻结合水热预处理稻秆在低酶载量和高浓底物下的高效糖化。孟晓茹同学在毕业论文《用于锌空电池的合成纤维素基炭电极材料及其电性能研究》中提出了从“整体掺杂”到“层层构建”的生物炭基电催化剂结构演进设计策略，实现了废弃生物质向高性能碳基催化材料的功能化升级。并揭示了生物炭载体与金属活性位点之间多层次的界面协同增强机制，建立了表界面工程提升催化性能的理论基础。最终构筑了一系列兼具高效催化活性与优异稳定性的生物炭基多功能电催化剂，能够实现从锌空电池（ZABs）到电解水器件的一体化应用突破。王莉同学在毕业论文《球磨辅助低共熔溶剂解构麦秆酶解糖化及发酵产微生物油脂研究》中系统研究了球磨协同不同低共熔溶剂预处理对小麦秸秆结构特征及酶解糖化性能的影响；结合分批补料酶解策略，探索了高固体系下提高酶解效率及总糖浓度的工艺条件；研究了低共熔溶剂对纤维素酶催化及微生物利用酶解液发酵生产油脂的调控作用，并结合转录组学分析，揭示了低共熔溶剂组分促进油脂积累的分子机制。

王志强同学在毕业论文《高岭土负载Ni-Ce双金属催化秸秆超临界水气化制氢的研究》中研究了Ni-Ce/c-Kaolin双金属催化剂并用于农业残渣超临界水气化制氢，探究了反应条件、Ni-Ce协同作用及Ce³⁺/Ce⁴⁺氧化还原循环对产氢效果和催化剂稳定性的影响，为农业废弃物高值化利用及低成本制氢催化剂设计提供了参考。陶璇同学在毕业论文《掺氮生物炭调控生物质热解制备酚类化合物及系统优化研究》中研究了生物质组分到真实原料在掺氮生物炭催化下热解向酚类化合物的转化规律，通过调控活化、掺氮与热解条件建立了催化剂结构特性与酚类选择性的构效关系，并采用数值模拟对固定床反应器进行了匹配非原位催化的系统优化。石晓雷同学在毕业论文《铁氮共掺杂生物炭对苯酚吸附性能与应用研究》中研究了快速热解结合KOH活化及FeCl₃-NH₃改性的方法制备Fe-N共掺杂生物炭。探究了热解温度、后处理方式及制备路径对材料性质及苯酚吸附性能的影响规律，为Fe-N共掺杂生物炭在水污染控制及资源化利用中的工程化应用提供了技术支撑。周子斌同学在毕业论文《微波辅助CoZrSr-MOF衍生双功能催化剂转化废食用油制备生物柴油的研究》中研究了三金属MOF衍生酸碱双功能磁性催化剂的制备条件与其用于一步法转化高酸值废弃食用油制备生物柴油。探究了催化剂的失活机制并进行了进一步优化研究，分析了微波辅助加热在生物柴油制备中的可行性和高效性，解析了催化剂同时催化酯化和酯交换反应的作用机制。朱明旭同学在毕业论文《秸秆辅助炭化焦油快速干燥增值利用技术及应用》中，针对炭化焦油脱水能耗高效率低的问题，提出秸秆辅助快速干燥并增值利用的技术路径。通过秸秆多孔结构破坏焦油乳化体系，实现水分快速蒸发。综合采用干燥实验、动力学建模、微观表征及CFD仿真，完成设备初步设计与样机验证。夏波同学在毕业论文《超声波-氢氧化钙预处理麦秆制备乳酸及酚类单体的研究》中，以小麦秸秆为原料，构建了超声波氢氧化钙协同预处理+高底物浓度同步糖化发酵全流程技术体系，系统探究了自供热超声氢氧化钙预处理工艺、高底物酶解发酵制备乳酸、木质素还原解聚制备酚类单体的关键技术与作用机理，为生物基乳酸与酚类单体的绿色制备提供了理论依据与技术支撑。毕庭喻同学在毕业论文《酸碱辅助秸秆压缩成型机理及其本构模型研究》中系统阐明了酸碱辅助压缩成型这一新型预处理方法解构秸秆结构的作用机理，并建立了秸秆压缩成型全过程的本构模型，据此开展了秸秆压缩过程的有限元分析，为大规模生物精炼厂的工程设计和计算机模拟提供了参考。叶嘉城同学在毕业论文《基于机器学习的木质纤维素泡沫炭CO₂吸附性能研究》中研究了木质纤维素组分发泡机制，构建了小样本迁移学习预测模型，并开展了闭环优化实验，为提升CO₂吸附性能提供了参考。

董倩同学以第一作者身份共发表学术论文3篇（其中中文1篇），孟晓茹同学以第一作者身份共发表学术论文3篇，王莉同学以第一作者身份共发表学术论文2篇，王志强同学以第一作者身份共发表学术论文1篇，陶璇同学以第一作者身份共发表学术论文2篇，石晓雷同学以第一作者身份共发表学术论文2篇，毕庭喻同学以第一作者身份共发表学术论文1篇，叶嘉城同学以第一作者身份共发表学术论文1篇。

经评委会无记名投票表决，一致同意董倩、孟晓茹和王莉同学通过博士学位论文答辩，建议授予工学博士学位。

王志强、陶璇、周子斌和叶嘉城同学通过硕士学位论文答辩，建议授予工学学术硕士学位。石晓雷、朱明旭、夏波和毕庭喻同学通过硕士学位论文答辩，建议授予工学专业硕士学位。

Publications发表的论文：

[1] Q Dong, S Tang**, Zhen Fang*, Efficient lignin removal from rice straw via alkaline-freeze combined with hydrothermal pretreatment to obtain high-titer sugar for microbial lipid production. Biomass and Bioenergy, 2026, 209, 108933. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.108933

[2] Q Dong, C-X Gong, G-L Xie, G-Q Zhu, Zhen Fang*, Thermodynamic modeling of freeze pretreatment in the destruction of rice straw structure combined with alkaline-hydrothermal method for enzymatic hydrolysis. Bioresource Technology, 2024, 403, 130864. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130864

[3] 董倩, 唐松, 徐禄江, 方真*, 乙二醇-氯化铁预处理对棉秆酶水解效率的影响, 农业工程学报, 2021, 37, 213-220. https://doi.org/10.11975/j.issn.1002-6819.2021.14.024

[4] X-R Meng, P-D Wu, S Gao, Zhen Fang*, Regulation of biochar interfaces by loading an Fe,N-carbon layer for the oxygen reduction reaction in acid electrolytes [J]. Applied Surface Science, 2026, 720: 165304. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.apsusc.2025.165304.

[5] X-R Meng, S Gao, J. A. Kozinski, Roger Ruan, Zhen Fang*, Biochar-based oxygen electrocatalysts for advanced Zn-air batteries: Mechanisms, applications, and prospects [J]. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2026, 529: 172878. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.cej.2026.172878

[6] X-R Meng, S Gao*, N-X Liu, P-D Wu, Zhen Fang*, Regulating N-doped biochar with FeMo heterojunctions as cathode in long-life zinc-air battery [J]. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2024, 500: 157463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.157463

[7] L Wang, J-J Guo, Zhen Fang*, Lower temperature pretreatment of wheat straw for high production of fermentable sugars using ball-milling combined with deep eutectic solvent. Renewable Energy, 2025, 241: 122240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2024.122240

[8] L Wang, J-Y Chen, Y Cao, Roger Ruan, Zhen Fang*, Simultaneous production of high-concentration sugar and purity lignin from wheat straw via ball-milling assisted DES pretreatment for high-loading enzymatic hydrolysis, Biomass and Bioenergy, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109655

[9] Z-Q Wang, S Nanda, G-X Xu, JA. Kozinski, Zhen Fang*, Hydrogen production from biomass via hydrothermal gasification using Ni–Ce catalysts supported on Kaolin, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2025, 193, 152353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.152353

[10] X Tao, X-L Shi, Z-J Pan, X-J Zhao, Z-Y Zhu, L-J Xu, S Gao, Wei Chen*, Zhen Fang, Biomass pyrolysis for phenolic compound production: Feedstock, process, and comprehensive mechanism, Separation and Purification Technology, 384, 2026, 136273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136273

[11] X Tao, H-l Jin,X-X Wang, X-L Shi, S Gao, L-J Xu, Wei Chen*, Zhen Fang, From single component to real biomass: insights into phenolic formation via N-doped biochar-catalyzed pyrolysis experiment and theoretical calculation, Bioresource Technology, Volume 457, 2026, 134996, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134996.

[12] X-L Shi, Z Duan, W Chen*, X Tao, Y-R Wang, C-X Gong, S Gao, L-J Xu, Z Fang, HP Yang, Fast pyrolysis derived Fe-N co-doped biochar for phenol adsorption: insights into mechanisms from experimental and modeling study. Energy, 2025, 341, 139429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2025.139429

[13] X-L Shi, W-B Ma, W Chen*, X Tao, C-X Gong, S Gao, L-J Xu, Z Fang, Enhanced phenol adsorption on Fe-N co-doped biochar: Experimental and simulation insights into the formation mechanism. Separation and Purification Technology, 2026, 387, 136689. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136689

[14] T-Y Bi, T-T Yang, Z-Y Ju, C-Y Dong, N Li, L-J Xu, W Chen, Zhen Fang, C-X Gong*. Insights into the Role of Chemical-Assisted Densification in Structural Deconstruction and Enzymatic Hydrolysis Enhancement of Corn Stover. Renewable Energy, 2026, 258, 124924. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2025.124924

[15] J-C Ye, X-R Meng, B Xia, T-Y Bi, W Chen, L-J Xu, S Gao*, Z Fang. Synchronized lignocellulosic pyrolysis for activator-free carbon foams: Role of selective hemicellulose removal. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 2026, 14, 123068. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2026.123068