Location:
Zezhi Chen, Ph.D.
Professor
School of the Environment
Nanjing University
Email: chenzzg@nju.edu.cn
◢ Education
1994/03-1997/07: Department of Energy, Zhejiang University, PhD
1991/09-1994/01: Department of Power Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Master
1987/09-1991/07: Department of Thermal Engineering, Tianjin University, Bachelor
◢ Professional Experience
2006/06 - Present: Professor, School of the Environment, Nanjing University
2001/09-2006/5: Associate professor, School of the Environment, Nanjing University
1997/09-2001/07: Lecturer, School of Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology
◢ Research Interests
Waste gas purification and reuse
Solid waste treatment and reuse
Bio-energy utilization
◢ Teaching and academic research
The teaching courses offered include "Air Pollution Control Engineering", "Air Pollution Control Engineering Practice and Design" for undergraduates, and "Air Pollution Control Technologies and Theories" for graduate students.
Research are carried out to study the new methods, new materials and new technologies in fields including renewable energy and resource utilization, biomass gas purification and synthetic conversion, source emission abatement and end purification treatment of industrial waste gas (VOCs and flue gas), environment-friendly treatment & recovery of solid waste and industrial waste (household waste, restaurant/kitchen waste, sludge, reactor residue) , carbon capture, as well as biological purification technologies (biological desulfurization and biological denitrification). Part of developed technologies have been applied in practical engineering, and gained the Second Prize of National Science and Technology Progress Award (Ranked 2nd), the Second Prize of Jiangsu Science and Technology Progress Award (Ranked 1st), the First Prize of the Science and Technology Progress Award of the Ministry of Education (Ranked 2nd), Invention and Entrepreneurship Award (Ranked 1st), and Jinqiao Award (Ranked 1st).
◢ Selected Publications
1. Zihao Qiao, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Xiaofeng Guo, Huiqiang Yu, Lu Chen. Exogenous elemental sulfur promoting methane production and simultaneous ammonia nitrogen removal in anaerobic digestion of food waste: Experimental verification and mechanism analysis. Environmental Science & Technology. 2026, 60, 10029−10041.
2. Luwei Zhou, Zhenfan Wu, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Yong Qin b, Xiaofeng Guo. Optimizing selectivity of VOCs over polydimethylsiloxane membranes via modulation of fluorinated segments. Chemical Engineering Journal 536 (2026) 175972.
3. Luwei Zhou, Yuanyuan Xie, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Yong Qin, Mingze Xu, Yueyue Wang. Ni-Cu bimetallic structure for enhancing the performance of volatile organic solvent steam reforming: studies on activity and stability. Applied Surface Science 737 (2026) 166937.
4. Feng Lin, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong Xiaoshu Wang, Yong Qin. Controllably engineered β-Mo2C/α-MoC heterostructure catalysts for robust syngas production through upcycling of chlorinated volatile organic compounds. Chemical Engineering Science 320 (2026) 122373.
5. Zihao Qiao, Mingze Xu, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Xiaofeng Guo, Huiqiang Yu, Lu Chen. Full-chain analysis of biogas-to-hydrogen (BTH) process: Integrating advanced catalysis, multi-scale process modeling and techno-economic analysis for industrial implementation. Journal of Cleaner Production 538 (2026) 147429.
6. Zihao Qiao, Ziyi Yang, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Xiaofeng Guo, Huiqiang Yu, Yong Qin. A new mechanism for the formation of deposits induced by siloxane in internal combustion engines: Based on structural composition analysis of real samples and simulation verification. Fuel 417 (2026) 138718.
7. Feng Lin, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Xiaoshu Wang, Yong Qin. A synergistic catalyst of Ni-β-Mo2C/γ-Al2O3 for robust syngas production via catalytic steam reforming of chlorinated volatile organic wastes. Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy 370 (2025) 125181.
8. Yuchen Zhou, Feng Lin, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Donglin Jiang, Huiqiang Yu, Lu Chen. Enhancing ZnTPP performance as a carbonic anhydrase mimic for promoting CO2 absorption via circumferential and axial functionalization. Chemical Engineering Journal 511 (2025) 162169.
9. Zihao Qiao, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Xiaofeng Guo, Huiqiang Yu, Lu Chen. Enhancement of anaerobic digestion by adding elemental sulfur. Bioresource Technology 416 (2025) 131820.
10. Zhenfan Wu, Jing Chen, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Xiaofeng Guo, Lu Chen. Feasibility study of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes for siloxane removal from biogas. Separation and Purication Technology 379 (2025) 135047.
11. Jing Chen, Zhenfan Wu, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Zihao Qiao, Xiaofeng Guo, Huiqiang Yu. Performance and mechanism of VOC permeation through PDMS membrane: Experimental and molecular dynamics simulation. Journal of Applied Polymer Science 2025; 0:e57493.
12. Donglin Jiang, Yuanyuan Xie, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Huiqiang Yu , Lu Chen. ZIF-8 with a large specific surface area and its dopamine modified derivative as a carbonic anhydrase-mimicking catalyst for enhancing CO2 absorption in decarbonization solvents. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 726 (2025) 138092.
13. Cheng Zhang, Ziyi Yang, Jing Chen, Yifan Xu, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Feng Lin, Houhu Zhang. CuO-catalyzed depolymerization of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) promotes the thermal regeneration of siloxanes in activated carbon. Environmental Technology & Innovation 38 (2025) 104065.
14. Yuchen Zhou, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Donglin Jiang, Huiqiang Yu, and Lu Chen. Alumina-supported porphyrin zinc as a carbonic anhydrase mimic: Enhanced CO2 hydration catalysis. Langmuir 2025, 41, 3422−3433.
15. Yuchen Zhou, Donglin Jiang, Feng Lin, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Huiqiang Yu, Lu Chen. Study on the feasibility of using ZIF-8 as a carbonic anhydrase mimic to enhance CO2 absorption by K2CO3 solution in flue gas and biogas decarbonization. Fuel 392 (2025) 134930.
16. Feng Lin, Xiangwei Ma, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Mingze Xu. Rare earth-doped NiMgAl2O4 catalysts prepared via a one-step sol–gel method for steam reforming of volatile organic solvents at low temperatures. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental 340 (2024) 123212.
17. Feng Lin, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Xiaoshu Wang, and Yong Qin. Molybdenum carbide catalyst enables efficient conversion of chlorinated volatile organic waste into syngas through catalytic steam reforming. ACS Applied Material and Interfaces 2024,16,61868−61876.
18. Feng Lin, Xinyu Yang, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Xiaoshu Wang, and Ziyi Yang. Transformation of H2S in situ landfill gas deoxygen with Pt/γ-Al2O3 as the catalyst and its impact on catalyst activity. Journal of Physical Chemistry C 2024, 128, 13387-13394.
19. Yuchen Zhou, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Xiaoshu Wang, Lu Chen, Huiqiang Yu. Study on the zinc porphyrins as potential carbonic anhydrase mimics for promoting CO2 absorption in K2CO3 solution. Chemical Engineering Journal 481 (2024) 148690.
20. Zihao Qiao, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Yu Wang , Huiqiang Yu, Lu Chen. Carbon dioxide absorption and anti-clogging performance of a novel millimeter-scale channel absorber. Chemical Engineering Research and Design 200 (2023) 169–175.
21. Donglin Jiang, Yuchen Zhou, Mengfan Du, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong. Dopamine-modified highly dispersed ZIF-8 to promote CO2 absorption. Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2024, e202400241.
22. Yuchen Zhou, Yu Wang, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Lu Chen, and Huiqiang Yu. Highly hydrophilic ZIF‑8 as a carbonic anhydrase mimetic catalyst for promoting CO2 absorption. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C 2023, 127, 7184−7196.
23. Yuchen Zhou, Xiangwei Ma, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Lu Chen, Huiqiang Yu. Study on the feasibility of converting the recovered volatile organic compounds to syngas via catalytic steam reforming for gas-fueled power generation. Energy 263 (2023) 125761.
24. Xinyu Yang, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Feng Lin, Tingting Zhu, Ziyi Yang. Sulfate-enhanced low-temperature activity of Pt/γ-Al2O3 for landfill gas dioxygen. Fuel 332 (2023) 126095.
25. Xinyu Yang, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong. Coking of Pt/γ-Al2O3 catalyst in landfill gas deoxygen and its effects on catalytic performance. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering 57 (2023) 224–232.
26. Xinyu Yang, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Lu Chen, Huiqiang Yu. Catalytic activity of Cu/H-ZSM-5 zeolite for the removal of oxygen in the landfill gas. Biomass and Bioenergy 171 (2023) 106733.
27. Feng Lin, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Xiaoshu Wang, Lu Chen, and Huiqiang Yu. Oxygen vacancy induced strong metal-support interactions on Ni/Ce0.8Zr0.2O2 nanorod catalysts for promoting steam reforming of toluene: Experimental and computational studies. Langmuir 2023, 39, 4495-4506.
28. Cheng Zhang, Jun Yang, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Zehua Zhao, Houhu Zhang. Reuse of waste sulfur from biogas desulfurization for potentially toxic metals stabilization in MSWI fly ash towards zero-waste in venous industry park. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 11 (2023) 109708.
29. Yong Zeng, Zezhi Chen, Qingyang Lyu, Yapeng Cheng, Chenchen Huan, Xinru Jiang, Zhiying Yan, Zhouliang Tan. Microbiologically induced calcite precipitation for in situ stabilization of heavy metals contributes to land application of sewage sludge. Journal of Hazardous Materials 441 (2023) 129866.
30. Yong Zeng, Zezhi Chen, Qingyang Lyu, Xiuxiu Wang, Yaling Du, Chenchen Huan, Yang Liu, Zhiying Yan. Mechanism of microbiologically induced calcite precipitation for cadmium mineralization. Science of the Total Environment 852 (2022) 158465.
31. Ziyi Yang, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Xiaoshu Wang. Copper oxide modified activated carbon for enhanced adsorption performance of siloxane: An experimental and DFT study. Applied Surface Science 601 (2022) 154200.
32. Shuyu Zhou, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Lu Chen, Huiqiang Yu. Rare earth (Gd, Pr and La) promoted three‑dimensional ordered macro/mesoporous Ni/CeZr catalysts for low‑temperature catalytic steam reforming of toluene as tar model. Catalysis Letters (2022) 152:3772–3784.
33. Yuchen Zhou, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Ziyi Yang. Chromium speciation in tannery sludge residues after different thermal decomposition processes. Journal of Cleaner Production 314 (2021) 128071.
34. Yuchen Zhou, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Lu Chen , Huiqiang Yu. Study on the feasibility of using monolithic catalyst in the in-situ catalytic biomass pyrolysis for syngas production. Waste Management 120 (2021) 10–15.
35. Shuyu Zhou, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Xiaoshu Wang, Tingting Zhu, Yuchen Zhou. Low-temperature catalytic steam reforming of toluene as a biomass tar model compound over three-dimensional ordered macroporous Ni-Pt/Ce1−xZrxO2 catalysts. Applied Catalysis A, General 607 (2020) 117859.
36. Honglei Pang, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Mengfan Du. Fabrication of a super hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride–hexadecyltrimethoxysilane hybrid membrane for carbon dioxide absorption in a membrane contactor. Journal of Membrane Science 595 (2020) 117536.
37. Huijuan Gong, Shuyu Zhou, Zezhi Chen, Lu Chen. Effect of volatile organic compounds on carbon dioxide adsorption performance via pressure swing adsorption for landfill gas upgrading. Renewable Energy 135 (2019) 811-818.
38. Ziyi Yang, Zezhi Chen, Huijuan Gong, Weili Wu, Xiaoshu Wang, Huiqiang Yu, Xinyu Yang. Effect of siloxane on performance of the Pt-doped γ-Al2O3 catalyst for landfill gas dioxygen. Fuel 249 (2019) 161–168.
39. Huijuan Gong, Zezhi Chen, Huiqiang Yu, Weili Wu, Weixing Wang, Honglei Pang, Mengfan Du. Methane recovery in a combined amine absorption and gas steam boiler as a self-provided system for biogas upgrading. Energy 157 (2018) 744-751.
40. Honglei Pang, Huijuan Gong, Mengfan Du, Qi Shen, Zezhi Chen. Effect of non-solvent additive concentration on CO2 absorption performance of polyvinylidenefluoride hollow fiber membrane contactor. Separation and Purification Technology 191 (2018) 38–47.
◢ Opportunities
Admission of 1 PhD student, 1 or 2 Master students each year
