Engineer Assistant

Summary

Polymer Scientist/Chemical Engineer focused on polymer synthesis, characterization and scale-up production.

Comprehensive knowledge of structure-property relations of polymer, reaction kinetics and catalyst preparation.

Independent and solid team member with excellent research abilities.

Education

01/13-08/15

Mississippi State University

M.S., Chemical Engineering GPA: 4.0/4.0

Investigations of the stability of pyrolysis oil during high temperature treatment

09/05-01/11

Beijing University of Chemical Technology

Ph.D., Polymer Science and Engineering GPA: 3.7/4.0

Controlled cationic polymerization of isobutylene in mixed C4 hydrocarbons

09/01-07/05

Qingdao University

B.S. Polymer Science and Engineering

Experience

01/12-08/15

Mississippi State University (Graduate Research Assistant)

Developed a pathway for hydrogen production via steam-reforming reactions of pyrolysis oil model compounds over Ni/HZSM-5.

Investigated the effect of thermal processing on the physical and chemical properties of pyrolysis oil.

Investigated the stabilization effect of alcohols during high temperature treatment of pyrolysis oil.

Modeled the pyrolysis kinetics for pyrolysis oil in the absence of air.

02/11-12/11

Heyun Industrial Group (Chemical Engineer)

Reduced rubber weight loss to 5% by stabilization of polyisoprene emulsion with a semi-product of artificial latex.

Developed n-BuLi/hindered alcohol catalysts to synthesize 3,4-polyisoprene with 80% 3,4-structure.

09/05-01/11

Beijing University of Chemical Technology (Graduate Research Assistant)

Synthesized halogen-free highly reactive polyisobutylene (HRPIB) in mixed C4 hydrocarbons without the separation of 1-butene.

Developed AlCl3/ligand catalysts to synthesize HRPIB with 90% active end-structure and narrow molecular weight dispersity.

Developed BF3/ligand and AlEtnCl3-n/ligand catalysts to synthesize high/middle molecular weight PIB.

Investigated the polymerization kinetics of isobutylene by in-situ FTIR.

Synthesized homo and copolymers of tetrahydrofruan (THF) and 2-oxazoline by living ring opening polymerization.

Synthesized the world’s first PTHF-b-PIB and PTHF-b-PIB-b-PTHF.

Scale-up production of PIB from mL volumes to 5 L scale.

PUBLICATIONS

Peer-reviewed Journals

1.Laibao Zhang, Yixian Wu, Peng Zhou, et al., “Synthesis of highly reactive polyisobutylenes by selective polymerization with o-cresol/AlCl3 initiating system,” Polymers for Advanced Technologies, 2012, 23, 522-528.

2.Laibao Zhang, Yixian Wu, Peng Zhou, et al., “Synthesis of highly reactive polyisobutylenes with BF3 cyclohexanol initiating system,” Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2011, 29,360-367.

3.Lin Tao, Yixian Wu, Xiaolin Ye, Laibao Zhang, Qigu Huang, Guangying Wu, “Synthesis of reactive polyisobutylene by TiCl4 coinitiated cationic polymerization of isobutylene”, Acta Polymerica Sinica, 2008, (2):129-132.

4.Laibao Zhang, Andres Chaparro Sosa and Keisha B. Walters, “Impacts of thermal processing on the physicochemical properties of pyrolysis oil,” Energy & Fuel, 2015, submitted.

5.Laibao Zhang, Keisha B. Walters, “Alcohol stabilization of pyrolysis oil during high temperature treatment,” Energy & Fuel, 2015, to be submitted.

Patents

1.Laibao Zhang, Han Zhang, Suming Pei, et al., “An optimized process for preparation of polyisoprene latex,” CN 2011100407311.6.

2.Yixian Wu, Laibao Zhang, Qiang Liu, et al., “AlCl3 based initiating systems used for synthesizing polyisobutylenes with high reaction activity,” CN 101613423B.

3.Yixian Wu, Laibao Zhang, Peng Zhou, “Initiating systems for the synthesis of high-reactivity polyisobutylene by cationic polymerization of liquid-phase pure isobutylene, isobutylene-inert solvent mixed solution or isobutylene-containing mixed light C4 fractions,” CN 101781377B.

4.Yixian Wu, Peng Zhou, Laibao Zhang, “BF3 based initiating systems used for synthesizing middle molecular weight polyisobutylenes,” CN 201110147863.8.

PRESENTATIONS

1.Laibao Zhang, Peng Zhou, Fei Yu, Keisha B. Walters, “Production of hydrogen via steam-reforming reactions of bio-oil over nickel based catalysts,” poster presentation, 2013 AIChE Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, November 6, 2013.

2.Laibao Zhang, Keisha B. Walters, “Effects of Thermal Processing on the Physical and Chemical Properties of KiOR’s Renewable Crude Oil,” 12th Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium, Mississippi State University, March 22, 2014.

3.Laibao Zhang, Anandavalli Varadarajan, et al., “Impacts of Thermal Processing on the Physical and Chemical Properties of Renewable Crude Oil,” podium presentation, 2014 AIChE Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, November 19, 2014.

4.Laibao Zhang, Keisha B. Walters, “Effect of storage temperature and time on the physical and chemical properties of pyrolysis oil,” poster presentation, 13th Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium, Mississippi State University, March 21, 2015 [First place award].

5.Laibao Zhang, Keisha B. Walters, “Alcohol Stabilization of Bio-oils during High Temperature Treatment” poster presentation, November, 2015 AIChE Annual Meeting, Accepted.

MEMBERSHIPS and AWARDS

AIChE Member

Phi Kappa Phi Member

Outstanding Employee of Panjin Heyun Industrial Group

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