Maobing Tu

Our research is centered on the development of cost-effective processes for producing biofuels, chemicals and biomaterials from lignocellulosic biomass. Specifically, we focus on the interface between biochemical engineering and biomass processing chemistry in an integrated biorefinery process. Our research approach is to use a combination of computational study and experimental determination to understand the molecular structure-activity relationship of biomass-derived compounds in the biochemical conversion process.
 

PhD : University of British Columbia Vancouver, 2007

PhD : East China Univesity of Science and Technology Shanghai, 2001

• Biomass Processing Chemistry
• Biofuels and Bioenergy
• Bioprocess Engineering
• Yeast and Bacterial Metabolomics
• Microbiome Engineering
• Environmental Biotechnology

2015 -2021 Associate Professor, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

2013 -2015 Assoticate Professor, Auburn University, Auburn, AL

2008 -2013 Assistant Professor, Auburn University, Auburn, AL

2021 -To Present Professor, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

Grant: #2014-67022-24925 Investigators:Tu, Maobing 07-15-2015 -07-14-2016 Department of Agriculture Nanocrystalline cellulose based piezoelectric materials for energy sustainability Role:PI $99,002.26 Awarded Level:Federal

Grant: #CBET-1555633 Investigators:Tu, Maobing 06-01-2015 -02-28-2018 National Science Foundation CAREER:Carbonyl Inhibition of Butanol Production from Biomass Hydrolysates by Clostridium acetobutylicum Role:PI $312,015.00 Awarded Level:Federal

Investigators:M. Tu, YY Lee and N Labbe 2013 -2015 USDA-Sun Elucidation of feedstock-microbe interactions for butanol production from lignocellulosic biomass Role:PI $44,333 Type:Grant

Grant: #16-MREC-205179-UC/2016-67022-25071 Investigators:Tu, Maobing 03-01-2016 -02-29-2020 Department of Agriculture Development of Nanocellulose-based Hybrid Fuel Role:PI $200,000.00 Active Level:Federal

Grant: #CHE-1726092 Investigators:Ayres, Neil; Connick, William; Guan, Hairong; Gudmundsdottir, Anna; Lee, Joo; Mack, James; Tu, Maobing 09-01-2017 -08-31-2020 National Science Foundation NSF MRI: Acquisition of a 400 MHz NMR Spectrometer for Research and Education Role:Collaborator $271,908.00 Awarded Level:Federal

Grant: #Action Fund #1150 (see NSF CHE-1726092) Investigators:Ayres, Neil; Connick, William; Guan, Hairong; Gudmundsdottir, Anna; Lee, Joo; Mack, James; Tu, Maobing 09-01-2017 -08-31-2020 Ohio Department of Higher Education OBR Action Fund Request for Guan's MRI: Acquisition of a 400 MHz NMR Spectrometer for Research and Education Role:Collaborator $60,000.00 Awarded Level:State of Ohio

Grant: #R40211 Investigators:Tu, Maobing; Wu, Jingjie 07-01-2019 -12-31-2020 UC's Collaborative Research Advancement Grant Program - Track 1: Pilot Teams Modular and Scalable CO2-to-Solar Liquid Fuels Production Role:Collaborator $25,000.00 Active Level:Internal UC

Grant: #R40212 Investigators:Guan, Hairong; Tu, Maobing 07-01-2019 -12-31-2020 UC's Collaborative Research Advancement Grant Program - Track 1: Pilot Teams Cumene process for upgrading biorefinery lignin to sustainable chemicals Role:PI $25,000.00 Active Level:Internal UC

Grant: #EPA SU83982001-0 Investigators:Tu, Maobing 10-01-2019 -09-30-2020 Environmental Protection Agency Practical PFAS Treatment with Sawdust Role:PI $24,952.00 Awarded Level:Federal

Grant: #CRA Investigators:Tu, Maobing 11-01-2019 -10-31-2024 Jiangnan University Review educational collaboration agreement Role:PI $.00 Active Level:Foreign Institution of Higher Education

Grant: #R25088 Investigators:Tu, Maobing 05-01-2020 -04-30-2021 UC's URC Faculty Research Cost Support Awards Program Identification of Unique Microbiomes Associated with Harmful Algal Blooms in Ohio River Role:PI $7,500.00 Active Level:Internal UC

Grant: #DE-EE-0009267 Investigators:Dong, Janet; McAvoy, Drew; Tu, Maobing 10-01-2020 -09-30-2023 Department of Energy High Precision Sorting, Fractionation, and Formulation of Municipal Solid Waste for Biochemical Conversion Role:PI $1,289,767.00 Awarded Level:Federal

Grant: #84038601 Investigators:Lu, Mingming; Tu, Maobing 04-01-2022 -03-31-2024 Environmental Protection Agency Practical PFAS Treatment with Functionalized Sawdust Role:PI 99895.00 Awarded Level:Federal

Investigators:Tu, Maobing 10-01-2022 -12-31-2025 Department of Energy Metabolic and process engineering of solventogenic clostridia for stable, continuous n-butanol production from lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysates Role:PI 0.00 Hold Level:Federal

Grant: #DEB-2343857 Investigators:Gross, Josh; Tu, Maobing 08-01-2024 -07-31-2028 National Science Foundation The constructive evolution of gustation: Molecular, organismal and environmental attributes of taste tuning Role:Collaborator 970670.00 Active Level:Federal

Peer Reviewed Publications

S. Sun, Y. Huang, R. Sun, M. Tu (2016. ) The strong association of condensed phenolic moieties in isolated lignins with their inhibition of enzymatic hydrolysis .Green Chemistry, ,

W. Guan, S. Shi, M. Tu, YY. Lee (2016. ) Acetone–butanol–ethanol production from Kraft paper mill sludge by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation .Bioresource Technology, , 200 ,713-721

R. Xie, M. Tu, T. Elder (2016. ) Substituent Effect of Phenolic Aldehydes Inhibition on Alcoholic Fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae .Energy & Fuel, , 30 ,3078-3084

R. Xie, M. Tu*, Y. Wu (2015. ) Detoxification of biomass hydrolysates with nucleophilic amino acids enhances alcoholic fermentation .Bioresource Technology, , 186 ,106-113

C. Lai, M. Tu, Q, Yong, S. Yu (2015. ) Disparate roles of solvent extractable lignin and residual bulk lignin in enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated sweetgum .RSC Advances, , 119 ,97966-97974

Xie, Rui; Tu, Maobing; Carvin, Jamarius; Wu, Yonnie (2015. ) Detoxification of biomass hydrolysates with nucleophilic amino acids enhances alcoholic fermentation.Bioresource technology, , 186 ,106-13 More Information

Li, Jing; Zhu, Caiqing; Tu, Maobing; Han, Pingping; Wu, Yonnie (2015. ) Effect of carbonyl inhibitors and their H2O2 detoxification on lactic acid fermentation.Applied biochemistry and biotechnology, , 175 (8 ) ,3657-72 More Information

Lai, Chenhuan; Tu, Maobing; Shi, Zhiqiang; Zheng, Ke; Olmos, Luis G; Yu, Shiyuan (2014. ) Contrasting effects of hardwood and softwood organosolv lignins on enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulose.Bioresource technology, , 163 ,320-7 More Information

Lai, Chenhuan; Tu, Maobing; Li, Mi; Yu, Shiyuan (2014. ) Remarkable solvent and extractable lignin effects on enzymatic digestibility of organosolv pretreated hardwood.Bioresource technology, , 156 ,92-9 More Information

Cao, Dongxu; Tu, Maobing; Xie, Rui; Li, Jing; Wu, Yonnie; Adhikari, Sushil (2014. ) Inhibitory activity of carbonyl compounds on alcoholic fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae.Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, , 62 (4 ) ,918-26 More Information

Shi, Hao; Zhang, Ying; Xu, Baiyun; Tu, Maobing; Wang, Fei (2014. ) Characterization of a novel GH2 family ?-L-arabinofuranosidase from hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga thermarum.Biotechnology letters, , 36 (6 ) ,1321-8 More Information

Li, Mi; Tu, Maobing; Cao, Dongxu; Bass, Patrick; Adhikari, Sushil (2013. ) Distinct roles of residual xylan and lignin in limiting enzymatic hydrolysis of organosolv pretreated loblolly pine and sweetgum.Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, , 61 (3 ) ,646-54 More Information

Yang, Xuepeng; Tu, Maobing; Xie, Rui; Adhikari, Sushil; Tong, Zhaohui (2013. ) A comparison of three pH control methods for revealing effects of undissociated butyric acid on specific butanol production rate in batch fermentation of Clostridium acetobutylicum.AMB Express, , 3 (1 ) ,3 More Information

Xie, R.,Tu, M.,Wu, Y.,Taylor, S. (2012. ) Reducing sugars facilitated carbonyl condensation in detoxification of carbonyl aldehyde model compounds for bioethanol fermentation. RSC Advances , , 2 (20 ) ,7699-7707

Thangalazhy-Gopakumar, Suchithra; Adhikari, Sushil; Gupta, Ram B; Tu, Maobing; Taylor, Steven (2011. ) Production of hydrocarbon fuels from biomass using catalytic pyrolysis under helium and hydrogen environments.Bioresource technology, , 102 (12 ) ,6742-9 More Information

Xie, Rui; Tu, Maobing; Wu, Yonnie; Adhikari, Sushil (2011. ) Improvement in HPLC separation of acetic acid and levulinic acid in the profiling of biomass hydrolysate.Bioresource technology, , 102 (7 ) ,4938-42 More Information

Thangalazhy-Gopakumar, Suchithra; Adhikari, Sushil; Ravindran, Harideepan; Gupta, Ram B; Fasina, Oladiran; Tu, Maobing; Fernando, Sandun D (2010. ) Physiochemical properties of bio-oil produced at various temperatures from pine wood using an auger reactor.Bioresource technology, , 101 (21 ) ,8389-95 More Information

Tu, Maobing; Saddler, Jack N (2010. ) Potential enzyme cost reduction with the addition of surfactant during the hydrolysis of pretreated softwood.Applied biochemistry and biotechnology, , 161 (1-8 ) ,274-87 More Information

Tu, Maobing; Zhang, Xiao; Paice, Mike; MacFarlane, Paul; Saddler, Jack N (2009. ) The potential of enzyme recycling during the hydrolysis of a mixed softwood feedstock.Bioresource technology, , 100 (24 ) ,6407-15 More Information

Tu, Maobing; Pan, Xuejun; Saddler, Jack N (2009. ) Adsorption of cellulase on cellulolytic enzyme lignin from lodgepole pine.Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, , 57 (17 ) ,7771-8 More Information

Tu, Maobing; Zhang, Xiao; Paice, Mike; McFarlane, Paul; Saddler, Jack N (2009. ) Effect of surfactants on separate hydrolysis fermentation and simultaneous saccharification fermentation of pretreated lodgepole pine.Biotechnology progress, , 25 (4 ) ,1122-9 More Information

Hutton, Eileen K; Saunders, Carolyn A; Tu, Maobing; Stoll, Kathrin; Berkowitz, Jonathan (2008. ) Factors associated with a successful external cephalic version in the early ECV trial. Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Canada : JOGC = Journal d'obstétrique et gynécologie du Canada : JOGC, , 30 (1 ) ,23-8

Tu, Maobing; Chandra, Richard P; Saddler, Jack N (2007. ) Recycling cellulases during the hydrolysis of steam exploded and ethanol pretreated Lodgepole pine.Biotechnology progress, , 23 (5 ) ,1130-7 More Information

Tu, Maobing; Chandra, Richard P; Saddler, Jack N (2007. ) Evaluating the distribution of cellulases and the recycling of free cellulases during the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic substrates.Biotechnology progress, , 23 (2 ) ,398-406 More Information

Tu, Maobing; Zhang, Xiao; Kurabi, Arwa; Gilkes, Neil; Mabee, Warren; Saddler, Jack (2006. ) Immobilization of beta-glucosidase on Eupergit C for lignocellulose hydrolysis.Biotechnology letters, , 28 (3 ) ,151-6 More Information

Berlin, Alex; Gilkes, Neil; Kurabi, Arwa; Bura, Renata; Tu, Maobing; Kilburn, Douglas; Saddler, John (2005. ) Weak lignin-binding enzymes: a novel approach to improve activity of cellulases for hydrolysis of lignocellulosics. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology, , 121-124 ,163-70

Huang, Yang; Sun, Shaolong; Huang, Chen; Yong, Qiang; Elder, Thomas; Tu, Maobing (2017. ) Stimulation and inhibition of enzymatic hydrolysis by organosolv lignins as determined by zeta potential and hydrophobicity.Biotechnology for biofuels, , 10 ,162 More Information

Sun, Fubao Fuelbiol; Bai, Renhui; Yang, Huimin; Wang, Fei; He, Jing; Wang, Chundi; Tu, Maobing (2016. ) Heterologous expression of codon optimized Trichoderma reesei Cel6A in Pichia pastoris.Enzyme and microbial technology, , 92 ,107-16 More Information

Guan, Wenjian; Shi, Suan; Tu, Maobing; Lee, Yoon Y (2016. ) Acetone-butanol-ethanol production from Kraft paper mill sludge by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation.Bioresource technology, , 200 ,713-21 More Information

Li, Jing; Zhang, Yu; Shi, Suan; Tu, Maobing (2020. ) Effect of residual extractable lignin on acetone-butanol-ethanol production in SHF and SSF processes.Biotechnology for biofuels, , 13 ,67 More Information

Li, Jing; Shi, Suan; Tu, Maobing; Via, Brain; Sun, Fubao Fuelbio; Adhikari, Sushil (2018. ) Detoxification of Organosolv-Pretreated Pine Prehydrolysates with Anion Resin and Cysteine for Butanol Fermentation.Applied biochemistry and biotechnology, , 186 (3 ) ,662-680 More Information

Ma, Hongzhi; Peng, Cheng; Jia, Yan; Wang, Qunhui; Tu, Maobing; Gao, Ming (2018. ) Effect of fermentation stillage of food waste on bioelectricity production and microbial community structure in microbial fuel cells.Royal Society open science, , 5 (9 ) ,180457 More Information

Zhang, Yu; Xia, Changlei; Lu, Mingming; Tu, Maobing (2018. ) Effect of overliming and activated carbon detoxification on inhibitors removal and butanol fermentation of poplar prehydrolysates.Biotechnology for biofuels, , 11 ,178 More Information

2013 -2018 National Science Foundation (NSF) Career award

2007 -2008 National Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC) Industry R&D Fellowship Award

2007-2008 NSERC Industry R&D Fellowship (Postdoctoral), FPInnovations, Paprican Division , , Canada