Y. Y. Lee

Uthlaut Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering

212 Ross Hall

Auburn University, AL 36849

Phone: (334) 844-2019, Fax: (334) 844-2063, E-Mail: yylee@eng.auburn.edu

 

Education
PhD, Chemical Engineering, 1972, Iowa State University

B.S., Chemical Engineering, 1964, Seoul National University

Research Interests

Bioconversion Processes, Biomass Pretreatment, Biofuels/Biomass Engineering Biochemical Engineering, Enzyme/Fermentation Process Technology, Reaction Kinetics and Modeling in Biomass Processing

Research Summary

Dr. Lee is conducting research in the area of bioprocessing of lignocellulosic materials for production of fuels and chemicals. These studies include physico-chemical properties of biomass, bioreactor development, and enzyme and microbial process technology. His recent research topics include development of a novel pretreatment/delignification of biomass for enzymatic saccharification and Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation of biomass, high temperature–low acid processing for total hydrolysis of biomass, transport properties of acid catalyst in biomass, analysis and design of biomass reactor, and ammonia recycled percolation (ARP) process for biomass pretreatment.

Recent Publications

1.      Urvi D. Kothari and Y. Y. Lee, “Inhibition Effects of Dilute-Acid Prehydrolysate of Corn Stoveron Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Solka Floc”, Appl Biochem Biotechnol (2011) 165:1391–1405

2.      Li kang, Venkata Ramesh Pallapolu, and Y. Y. Lee, “Enhanced Ethanol Production from De-ashed Paper sludge by SSF and SSCF“, BioResources, 6(4), 3791-3808, 2011

3.      Pallapolu Venkata Ramesh and Lee YY, “Effects of Enzyme Loading and <beta>-Glucosidase Supplementation on Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Switchgrass Processed by Leading Pretreatment Technologies”, Bioresource Technology, 102(24), 11115-11120, 2011

4.      Wang W, Kang L, Wei H, Arora R, Lee YY. “Study on the decreased sugar yield in enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic substrate at high solid loading”. Appl Biochem Biotechnol.164(7):1139-49, 2011

5.      Charles E. Wyman, Venkatesh Balan, Bruce E. Dale, Richard T. Elander, Mark T. Holtzapple, Michael R. Ladisch, Y. Y. Lee, Nathan Mosier, Venkata R. Pallapolu, Ryan E. Warner, "Comparative Data on Effects of Leading Pretreatments and Enzyme Loadings and Formulations on Sugar Yields from Different Switchgrass Sources”, Bioresource Technology, 102(24), 11152-11162, 2011

6.      Kumar S., Kothari U., Kong L., Lee Y.Y., Gupta R.B. “Hydrothermal pretreatment of switchgrass and corn stover for production of ethanol and carbon microspheres,” Biomass and Bioenergy, 35: 956 -968, 2011

7.      Rajesh Gupta and Yoon Y. Lee, Investigation of biomass degradation mechanism in pretreatment of switchgrass by aqueous ammonia and sodium hydroxide, in press, Bioresource Technology, Bioresource Technology 101,8185–8191, 2010

8.      Li Kang, Wei Wang, and Yoon Y. Lee Bioconversion of Kraft Paper Mill Sludges to Ethanol by SSF and SSCF, Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol, 161(1-8):53-66, 2010          

9.      Rajesh Gupta and Y Y Lee, “Mechanism of Cellulase Reaction on Pure Cellulosic Substrates”, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 102, 1570-1581, 2009

10.  Wei Wang, Li Kang, and Y. Y. Lee Production of Cellulase from Kraft Paper Mill Sludge by Trichoderma Reesei Rut C-30,  Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 161, 382-394, 2009R.

11.  Gupta, Y.Y. Lee, “Pretreatment of hybrid poplar by aqueous ammonia,”, Biotechnology Progress, 25, No.2,357-364, 2009 Rajesh Gupta and Y Y Lee, “Mechanism of Cellulase Reaction on Pure Cellulosic Substrates”, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 102, 1570-1581, 2009

12.  Charles E. Wyman, Bruce E. Dale, Richard T. Elander, Mark Holtzapple, Michael R. Ladisch, YY Lee, Colin Mitchinson, John N. Saddler, Comparative Sutar Recovery and Fermentation of Poplar Wood by Leading Technologies, Accepted for publication, Biotechnology Progress. 25, No.2,333-339, 2009

13.  Rajesh Gupta, Tae Hyun Kim, and Y. Y. Lee, “Substrate Dependency and Effect of Xylanase Supplementation on Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Ammonia-Treated Biomass”, Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol., 148(1-3), 59-70, 2008

14.  Tae Hyun Kim and Y. Y.Lee. “Pretreatment of Corn Stover by Soaking in Aqueous Ammonia at Moderate Temperatures”, Applied Biochem. and Biotechnol. Vol. 124, 1119-1131, 2007.

15.  Yongming Zhu, Y. Y. Lee, and Richard T. Elander, “Conversion of Aqueous Ammonia-TreatedCorn Stover to Lactic Acid by Simultaneous Saccharification and Cofermentation”, Applied Biochem. and Biotechnol. Vol. 124, 1119-1131, 2007.

16.  Suma Perri, Srinivas Karra, Y. Y. Lee and M. Nazmul Karim. “Modeling Intrinsic Kinetics of Enzymatic Cellulose Hydrolysis”, Biotechnol. Prog. 23, 626-637, 2007

17.  Tae Hyun Kim and Y.Y. Lee, “Fractionation of Corn Stover by Hot-Water and Aqueous Ammonia Treatment”, Bioresource Technology, 97, 224-232, 2006.

18.  Yongming Zhu, Tae Hyun Kim, Y.Y. Lee, Rongfu Chen, and Richard T. Elander. “Enzymatic Production of Xylooligsaccharides from Corn Stover and Corn Cobs treated with Aqueous Ammonia”, in press, Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol., 2006

19.  Z. Colley, O. O. Fasina, D. Bransby, Y. Y. Lee. “Moisture Effect on the Physical Characteristics of Switchgrass Pellets”, Transactions of the ASABE, 49, 1845-1851, 2006

20.  Yongming Zhu, Tae Hyun Kim, Y.Y. Lee, Rongfu Chen, and Richard T. Elander. “Enzymatic Production of Xylooligsaccharides from Corn Stover and Corn Cobs treated with Aqueous Ammonia”, Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol., 130, 586-598, 2006

21.  Tae Hyun Kim, Y.Y. Lee, Changshin Sunwoo, and Jun Seok Kim, “Pretreatment of Corn Stover by Low-liquid Ammonia Percolation Process”, Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol., Vol. 123, 41-57, 2006

22.  Tae Hyun Kim and Y.Y. Lee, “Pretreatment and Fractionation of Corn Stover by Ammonia Recycle Percolation (ARP) Process, Bioresource Technology”, 96, 2007-2013, 2005.

23.  Tae Hyun Kim and Y.Y. Lee, “Pretreatment of Corn Stover by Soaking in Aqueous Ammonia”, Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol. 121-124, 1119-1132, 2005

24.  Yongming Zhu, Y. Y. Lee and Richard T. Elander, "Optimization of High-Solids Dilute-Acid Pretreatment of Corn Stover Using a Percolation Reactor", Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 121-124, 1045-1054, 2005

            Patents/Inventions:

Use of Non-Crystalline Cellulose as a Medicine Tablet Medium, Y. Y. Lee, US Patent #7,977,473 B1, July 12, 2011

Chemical Treatment of Pulp Mill Sludges to Enhance Production of Cellulase Enzymes, 08/21/2009, Y. Y. Lee, Wei Wang, Li Kang, Disclosure 09-083, Serial No. 61/235,877     

Co-Fermentation of Prehydrolysates and Pulp Mill Sludges to Ethanol, 08/26/2009, Y. Y. Lee, Li Kang, Disclosure 09-083, Serial No. 61/237,031

Production and Purification of Glucose-Free Cello-Oligosaccharides, Y. Y. Lee,  Disclosure 3/25/2009, Serial No. 61/163,321     

                Current Research Contracts/Grants

·         Fundamental Study on Transport Phenomena and Reaction Kinetics in Dilute Acid Pretreatment of Agricultural Residues, National Biofuels Center, NREL, Golden, CO

·         Technical Evaluation of Bioconversion of PCA Counce-Mill Sludges to Biogas, Packaging Corporation of America, Filer, MI

·         Preliminary Test on Bioconversion of Kraft Pulp Mill Sludges to Lactic Acid, Alabama Center for Biofuels and Biomaterials, Auburn University

·         Evaluation of Pulp Mill Sludges for Production of Value-Added Products, Alabama Center for Biofuels and Biomaterials, Auburn University

 

Synergistic Activities:

 

On Editorial Board of:

 

Applied Biochemistry Biotechnology

BioResources J.

Biotechnology for Biofuels

            ISRN Renewable Energy

 

Founding Member of Biomass Refining Consortium of Applied and Fundamental Innovation (CAFI), 2000-present

Session chairs at numerous symposiums including Symposium in Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, AIChE Annual Meetings, International Solar and Renewable Energy Congress

Member of US delegates to US/USSR Cooperative Research in Science and Technology-Division of Enzyme Technology, 1978-1980.

 

Honors & Awards: 

 

Uthlaut Professor, Auburn University (2010-2016)

Alumni Professor, Auburn University (2006-2009)

John and Mary Sanders Professor, Auburn University, 2000-2006

William F. Walker Teaching Award, Auburn University, 2004

Auburn Engineering Award for Excellence of Research, (1996, 2000)

Outstanding Faculty in Chemical Engineering, 1985

Honor Societies: Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi, Phi Lamda Upsilon, Omega Chi Upsilon