Dr. Siakpebru Earns PhD for Research Advancing Sustainable Fuel Production from Biomass

Dr. Odiri Kingsley Siakpebru has successfully defended his doctoral dissertation and received his PhD for research focused on developing more efficient ways to convert renewable plant materials into liquid fuels. His work addresses the growing demand for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by creating practical, carbon-efficient pathways for producing hydrocarbons from biomass.

Titled “One-pot Synthesis of Liquid Hydrocarbons by Hydrodeoxygenation of Lignocellulosic Biomass using Metal-loaded Zeolites as Catalysts,” the dissertation investigates catalytic systems capable of transforming lignocellulosic biomass, such as woody materials, into long-chain hydrocarbons suitable for fuel applications. This type of biomass is abundant and renewable, but its complex, oxygen-rich structure has historically made efficient conversion challenging.

The research demonstrates that hierarchical, metal-loaded zeolite catalysts can overcome key limitations of conventional processes, improving selectivity and carbon efficiency. In direct hydrodeoxygenation experiments, a 10 wt% Ni/H-β zeolite catalyst achieved strong performance, producing jet-fuel-range C7–C15 cycloalkanes with meaningful carbon yield under moderate reaction conditions. To further extend carbon chain length, the work explored hydroxyalkylation–alkylation (HAA) reactions of biomass-derived intermediates, where a hierarchically structured H-Y zeolite delivered high yields of C15 fuel precursors. Catalyst performance was linked to optimized acidity, enhanced porosity, and improved resistance to deactivation.

Overall, Dr. Siakpebru’s dissertation advances catalyst design strategies for integrated biomass upgrading and provides insights relevant to industrial development of renewable, low-carbon fuels. 

Congratulations to Dr. Siakpebru on the successful defense of his dissertation and the completion of his PhD!