Dr Bolaji Shemfe
About
Biography
Bolaji received his PhD in Bioenergy Systems Engineering from Cranfield University in 2016. His doctoral research focused on the techno-economic and environmental life cycle analyses of advanced biofuel production via fast pyrolysis and conventional oil refinery technologies. His PhD work was an integral part of the SUPERGEN Bioenergy Challenge: Development of fast pyrolysis based technologies for the production of advanced biofuels, funded by The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
After completion of his degree, he joined CES as Research Fellow to work on an EPSRC-funded project: LifesCO2R. This project aims to develop a breakthrough technology, based on bioelectrochemical processes and synthetic biology, to synergistically treat industrial wastewater and convert CO2 into liquid fuels for transportation, energy storage, heating and other applications. The proposed technology will be coupled with existing wastewater treatment facilities.
My qualifications
ResearchResearch interests
- Development of techno-economic and LCSA tools for energy conversion systems
- Biochemical and thermochemical conversion technologies for the production of fuels, chemicals and power
- Microbial electrosynthesis systems for the production of biofuels and biochemicals
- Biorefinery design, integration and optimisation
- Resource recovery and utilisation from waste
Research projects
The aim of this project is to develop a breakthrough technology based upon integrated low cost bio-electrochemical processes to convert CO2 into liquid fuels for transportation, energy storage, heating and other applications. CO2 is firstly electrochemically reduced to formate using electric energy from biomass or wastes and other renewable sources. Formate then goes through a biotransformation SimCell reactor with microorganisms specialised in converting formate to medium chain alkanes using a Synthetic biology approach. The proposed technology will be developed around existing wastewater treatment facilities from, utilising the carbon source in wastewater and CO2, thus minimising the requirement to transport materials. A multidisciplinary team of engineers and scientists will develop this innovative technology in this project and rigorous life cycle assessment (LCA) will identify the optimum pathways for liquid biofuel production. We will also examine policies on low carbon fuel production and explore the ways to influence low carbon fuel policies. Through the development of this ground breaking technology, a positive impact to the UK’s target for reducing CO2 emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy will be achieved.
Research interests
- Development of techno-economic and LCSA tools for energy conversion systems
- Biochemical and thermochemical conversion technologies for the production of fuels, chemicals and power
- Microbial electrosynthesis systems for the production of biofuels and biochemicals
- Biorefinery design, integration and optimisation
- Resource recovery and utilisation from waste
Research projects
The aim of this project is to develop a breakthrough technology based upon integrated low cost bio-electrochemical processes to convert CO2 into liquid fuels for transportation, energy storage, heating and other applications. CO2 is firstly electrochemically reduced to formate using electric energy from biomass or wastes and other renewable sources. Formate then goes through a biotransformation SimCell reactor with microorganisms specialised in converting formate to medium chain alkanes using a Synthetic biology approach. The proposed technology will be developed around existing wastewater treatment facilities from, utilising the carbon source in wastewater and CO2, thus minimising the requirement to transport materials. A multidisciplinary team of engineers and scientists will develop this innovative technology in this project and rigorous life cycle assessment (LCA) will identify the optimum pathways for liquid biofuel production. We will also examine policies on low carbon fuel production and explore the ways to influence low carbon fuel policies. Through the development of this ground breaking technology, a positive impact to the UK’s target for reducing CO2 emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy will be achieved.
Publications
Shemfe, M.B.; Gadkari, S.; Sadhukhan, J. Social Hotspot Analysis and Trade Policy Implications of the Use of Bioelectrochemical Systems for Resource Recovery from Wastewater. Sustainability 2018, 10, 3193. doi
Shemfe, M., Gadkari, S., Yu, E., Rasul, S., Scott, K., Head, I.M., Gu, S., Sadhukhan, J., 2018. Life cycle, techno-economic and dynamic simulation assessment of bioelectrochemical systems: A case of formic acid synthesis. Bioresoure Technology 255, 39–49 (2018) doi
Sadhukhan, J., Joshi, N., Shemfe, M., & Lloyd, J.R. Life cycle assessment of sustainable raw material acquisition for functional magnetite bionanoparticle production. Journal of Environmental Management, 199, 166-125 (2017). doi
Shemfe, M., Gu, S. & Fidalgo, B. Techno-economic analysis of biofuel production via bio-oil zeolite upgrading: An evaluation of two catalyst regeneration systems. Biomass and Bioenergy, 98, 182-193 (2017). doi
Shemfe, M., Whittaker, C., Gu, S. & Fidalgo, B. Comparative evaluation of GHG emissions from the use of Miscanthus for bio-hydrocarbon production via fast pyrolysis and bio-oil upgrading. Appl. Energy, 176, 22-33 (2016). doi
Pearce, M., Shemfe, M. & Sansom, C. Techno-economic analysis of solar integrated hydrothermal liquefaction of microalgae. Appl. Energy, 166, 19-26 (2016). doi
Shemfe, M., Fidalgo, B. & Gu, S. Heat integration for bio-oil hydroprocessing coupled with aqueous phase steam reforming. Chem. Eng. Res. Des., (2015). doi
Shemfe, M., Gu, S. & Ranganathan, P. Techno-economic performance analysis of biofuel production and miniature electric power generation from biomass fast pyrolysis and bio-oil upgrading. Fuel, 143, 361-372 (2015). doi
Book chapters
Somorin, T, Sowale, A, Ayodele, A.S, Shemfe, M and Kolios, A. Clean Technologies and Innovation in Energy, in: Adesola, S and Brennan, F. (Eds), Energy in Africa - Policy, Management and Sustainablity, Palgrave Macmillian, (2018)
Shemfe, M., Sadhukhan, J. & Ng, K.S. Bioelectrochemical systems for biofuel (electricity, hydrogen, and methane) and valuable chemical production, in: Gnaneswar, V. (Ed.), Green Chem. Sustain. Biofuel Prod., Apple Academic Press, (2017)
Conferences
Shemfe, M., & Sadhukhan, J. Life Cycle Assessment of Microbial Electrosynthesis of Chemical Products. Energy for Economic Development and Welfare Workshop, IIP Dehradun, India (2017)
Shemfe, M., & Sadhukhan, J. Chemicals from Biomass: Chemistry, Synthesis, Engineering and Sustainability Analyses. 25th European Biomass Conference & Exhibition- EUBCE, Stockholm (2017)
Shemfe, M., & Sadhukhan, J. Software Development for Bioelectrochemicals Systems. 25th European Biomass Conference & Exhibition- EUBCE, Stockholm (2017)
Honorato, J.A., Martinez, E, Torres-Garcia, E, Ng, K.S., Sadhukhan, J. & Shemfe, M. Jatropha-based biorefinery systems. Research Forum 2016, Royal College of Surgeons, London (2016)
Shemfe, M., & Fidalgo, B. Comparative Techno-Economic Analysis of Bio-Hydrocarbon Production from Pyrolysis-Derived Bio-Oil via Hydroprocessing and Zeolite Cracking. 16th AIChE annual meeting, San Francisco (2016)
Ng, K.S, Sadhukhan, J, & Shemfe, M. Resource Recovery from Municipal Solid Wastes: A Case Study in the UK. 16th AIChE annual meeting, San Francisco (2016)
Ng, K.S, Sadhukhan, J, & Shemfe, M. Carbon Dioxide Reduction and Carbon Dioxide Reuse in Advanced Biorefineries. 16th AIChE annual meeting, San Francisco (2016)
Shemfe, M. “Techno-economic analysis of bio-hydrocarbon production via bio-oil zeolite upgrading: evaluation of two catalyst regeneration systems”. SUPERGEN Bioenergy Hub Assembly, Rothamsted Research (2015)
Fidalgo, B. and Shemfe, M. “Heat integration of bio-oil hydroprocessing coupled with aqueous phase steam reforming”. UK-Mexico Biorefinery Research International Workshop, Instituto Mexicano del Petroleo Mexico (2015)