Institute for the Development of Energy for African Sustainability (IDEAS)

Prof X Liu

College of Science, Engineering and Technology
School of Engineering
Department: Research
Professor
Tel: 011 670 9039
E-mail: liux@unisa.ac.za

Qualifications

  1. PostDoc Fellow, 1999-2003, WITS University, Johannesburg, South Africa
  2. PhD in Chemistry, 1999, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
  3. BSc in Chemistry, 1994, Nankai University, Tianjin, China

NRF Rating

C2

Currently teaching

Prof Xinying Liu is the head of the XTL/FTS research group in the Institute for Development of Energy for African Sustainability (IDEAS). He currently supervises approximately eleven PhD students, four masters students and two postdoctoral students. He is in charge of the XTL/FTS research and industrial project development group, looking after the research and industrial project development in the area of XTL processes especially middle and small scale XTL (less than 3000 bpd) and process development for renewable energy solutions for off-grid and rural area applications.  He is the process leader in the conceptual and basic engineering package development of a commercial demonstration scale gas to liquid (GTL) plant, in charge of the engineering phase (from conceptual to commissioning) of a mini scale waste to liquid (WTL) demonstration plant.

Fields of academic interests

Prof Liu is an expert in the field of catalytic and nano inorganic materials for energy application especially in Fischer Tropsch Synthesis (FTS).  He also has over 15 years of industrial experiences in carbonaceous material indirect liquefaction process (XTL process), in pilot scale XTL facility design and operation, and small/medium scale XTL plant design (process modelling, conceptual and basic engineering).  He has expanded his research into various other renewable energy solution suitable for off-grid and rural applications especially biomass hybrid with concentrated solar power. He has over 50 publications in peer reviewed journals and conference proceedings with an h-index of 17 (google scholar 28-Feb-2019).

Field of Specialisation

  1. Catalyst design, synthesis, characterization and industrial application
  2. Fischer Tropsch process development and evaluation
  3. Fischer Tropsch industrial project development
  4. Process synthesis for small scale application
  5. Alternative energy production and evaluation
  6. Life Cycle Assessment of alternative energy solutions

Books

Book Chapters

  1. Haifang Liu, Xinying Liu, From Zimbabwe to South Africa: what the land reform is doing? Land and politics: the land reform in Zimbabwe, page 1 to 9, published in 2018 by Social Sciences Academics Press (China)
  2. Xinying Liu, The Research and Development in South Africa, in Annual report on China-South Africa People to people exchange (2016-2017), p90-98

Journal articles

  1. Chike George Okoye-Chine, Mahluli Moyo, Xinying Liu, Diane Hildebrandt, A Critical Review of the Impace of Water on Cobalt-based Catalysts in Fischer Tropsch Synthesis, Fuel Processing Technology, 2019, accepted
  2. Fengyu Li, Xinying Liu, Zhongfang Chen, 1+1’ > 2: Heteronuclear Biatom Catalyst Outperforms Its Homonuclear Counterparts for CO Oxidation, Small Methods, 2019, 1800480, Accepted.
  3. A A Adeleke, M Moyo, X Lu, X Liu, D Hildebrandt, Cobalt hybrid catalysts in Fischer Tropsch synthesis, Reviews in Chemical Engineering, published online, doi: 10.1515/revce-2018-0012
  4. Liberty L Mguni, Yali Yao, Thulisile Nkomzwayo, Xinying Liu, Diane Hildebrandt, David Glasser, Desulphuriztion of diesel fuels using intermediate Lewis acids loaded on activated charcoal and alumina, Chemical Engineering Communications, published online, doi: 10.1080/00986445.2018.1511983
  5. Yue-Jun Song, Jin-Tao Ren, Gege Yuan, Yali Yao, Xinying Liu, Zhong-Yong Yuan, Facile synthesis of Mo2C nanoparticles on N-doped carbon nanotubes with enhanced electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution and oxygen reduction reactions, Journal of Energy Chemistry, 2019, 38, 68-77.
  6. Joshua Gorimbo, Adolph Muleja, Xinying Liu, Diane Hildebrandt, Fischer Tropsch Synthesis: product distribution, operating conditions, iron catalyst deactivation and catalyst speciation, International journal of industrial chemistry, 2018, 9(4), 317-333
  7. LF Zhang, XY Liu, MS Scurrell, Cold plasmas in the modification of catalysts, Rev Chem Eng, 2018, 34(2): 201-213
  8. Zhong-Pan Hu, Ze-Min Gao, Xinying Liu, Zhong-Yong Yuan, High surface area activated red mud for efficient removal of methylene blue from waste water, Adsorption Science and Technology, 2018, 36(1-2): 62-79
  9. Joshua Gorimbo, Adolph Muleja, Xiaojun Lu, Yali Yao, Xinying Liu, Diane Hildebrandt, David Glasser, Lu plot and Yao plot: models to analyse product distribution of long term gas phase FT experimental data on iron catalyst, Energy & Fuel, 2017, 31(5), 5682-5690
  10. Lingfeng Zhang, Gullapelli Sadanandam, Xinying Liu, Mike S Scurrell, Carbon Surface Modifications by Plasma for Catalyst Support and Electrode Materials Appliccations, Top Catal, 2017, 60 (12-14), 823-830
  11. Joshua Gorimbo, Xiaojun Lu, Xinying Liu, Diane Hildebrandt, David Glasser, Low Pressure Fischer Tropsch synthesis: in-situ oxidation regeneration of iron catalysts, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2017, 56, 4267-4274
  12. Joshua Gorimbo, Xiaojun Lu, Xinying Liu, Diane Hildebrandt, David Glasser, A Long Term Study of the Gas Phase of Low Pressure Fischer-Tropsch Products When Reducing an Iron Catalyst with Three Different Reducing Gases, Applied Catalysis A: General, 2017, 534, 1-11.
  13. Jingxiang Zhao, Xinying Liu, Zhongfang Chen, Frustrated Lewis Pair Catalysts in Two-Dimension: B/Al dopes phosphorene as promising catalysts for hydrogenation of small unsaturated molecules, ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7, 766-771.
  14. Lingfeng Zhang, Zhongpan Hu, Xinying Liu, Zhongyong Yuan, Research progress of TiO2 based photohydrolysis non metal catalyst for hydrogen production, Progress in Chemistry, 2016, 28(10): 1474-1488
  15. Fengyu Li, Lei Li, Xinying Liu, Zhongfang Chen; High Performance Ru1/CeO2 single atom catalyst for CO oxidation: a computational exploration, ChemPhysChem, 2016, 17(20), 3170-3175
  16. Zhong-Pan Hu, Yun-Pei Zhu, Ze-Min Gao, Guoxing Wang, Yuping Liu, Xinying Liu, Zhong-Yong Yuan; CuO catalysts supported on activated red mud for efficient catalytic carbon monoxide oxidation, Chemical Engineering Journal, 2016, 302, 23-32
  17. Ling-Feng Zhang, Min Li, Tie-Zhen Ren, Xinying Liu, Zhong-Yong Yuan; Ce-modified Ni nanoparticles encapsulated in SiO2 for COx-free hydrogen production via ammonia decomposition, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2015, 40, 2648-2656
  18. Xiaowei Zhu, Xiaojun Lu, Xinying Liu, Diane Hildebrandt, David Glasser; Heat Transfer study with and without Fischer Tropsch reaction in fixed bed reactor with TiO2, SiO2 and SiC supported cobalt catalyst, Chemical Engineering Journal, 2014, 247, 75-84
  19. Xiaojun Lu, Diane Hildebrandt, Xinying Liu, David Glasser; A thermodynamic approach to olefin product distribution in Fischer Tropsch synthesis, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2012, 51(51), 16544-16551
  20. Yali Yao, Xinying Liu, Diane Hildebrandt, David Glasser; Fischer Tropsch Synthesis using H2/CO/CO2 syngas mixtures: A comparison of paraffin to olefin ratios for iron and cobalt based catalysts, Applied Catalysis A: General, 2012, 433-434, 58-68.
  21. Yali Yao, Xinying Liu, Diane Hildebrandt, David Glasser; The effect of CO2 on a cobalt based catalyst for low temperature Fischer Tropsch synthesis, Chemical Engineering Journal, 2012, 193-194(318-327).
  22. Xinying Liu, Diane Hildebrandt, David Glasser; Environmental impact of electric vehicles in South Africa, South Africa Journal of Science, 2012, 108(1-2), 1-6.
  23. David Glasser, Diane Hildebrandt, Xinying Liu, Xiaojun Lu, Cornelius M Masuku; Recent advances in understanding the Fischer Tropsch synthesis reaction, Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering, 2012, 1(3), 296-302.  
  24. Xiaojun Lu, Xiaowei Zhu, Diane Hildebrandt, Xinying Liu, David Glasser, A New Way to Look at Fischer Tropsch Synthesis Using Flushing Experiments, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2011, 50(8), 4359-4365.
  25. Yali Yao, Xinying Liu, Diane Hildebrandt, David Glaser, Fischer Tropsch Synthesis using H2/CO/CO2 syngas mixtures over an iron catalyst, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2011, 50, 11002-11012.
  26. Yali Yao, Diane Hildebrandt, David Glasser, Xinying Liu, Fischer Tropsch Synthesis using H2/CO/CO2 syngas mixtures over a cobalt catalyst, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2010, 49, 11061-11066.
  27. Xiaojun Lu, Diane Hildebrandt, Xinying Liu, David Glasser, Making sense of the Fischer Tropsch Synthesis Reaction: Start-Up, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2010, 49, 9753-9758.
  28. Xiaowei Zhu, Xiaojun Lu, Xinying Liu, D Hildebrandt, D Glasser, Study of radial heat transfer in a tubular Fischer Tropsch Synthesis Reactor, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2010, 49, 10682-10688.
  29. M Sarah Mohlala, Xin-Ying Liu, Michael J Witcomb, Neil Coville, Carbon nanotube synthesis using ferrocene and ferrocenyl sulfide. The effect of sulfur, Applied organometallic chemistry, 2007, 21(4) 275-280. 
  30. M Sarah Mohlala, Xin-Ying Liu, Neil Coville, Synthesis of multi walled carbon nanotubes catalyzed by substituted ferrocenes, Journal of Organometallic Chemistry, 2006, 691(22), 4768-4772.
  31. Xin-Ying Liu, Neil Coville, A Raman Study of Titanate Nanotubes, South African Journal of Chemistry, 2005, 110-115.
  32. M Sarah Mohlala, Xin-Ying Liu, Janine M Robinson, Neil J Coville, Organometallic Precursors for Use as Catalysts in Carbon Nanotube Synthesis, Organometallics, 2005, 24, 9721.
  33. Bi-Chun Huang, Xin-Ying Liu, Mike S. Scurrell, Use of iron pentacarbonyl as a novel probe for the characterization of gold supported on silica, Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical, 2003, 193, 151-155.
  34. Xin-Ying Liu, Bi-Chun Huang, Neil J. Coville, The Fe(CO)5 catalyzed pyrolysis of pentane: Carbon nanotube and carbon nanoball formation, Carbon, 2002, 40, 2791-2799.
  35. Mbangiseni L. Mabudafhasi, Richard Bodkin, Christakis P. Nicolaides, Xin-Ying Liu, Michael J. Witcomb, Neil J. Coville, The ruthenium catalyzed synthesis of carbon nanostructures, Carbon, 2002, 40, 2737-2742.
  36. Xin-Ying Liu, Bi-Chun Huang, and Neil J. Coville, The influence of synthesis parameters on the production of multiwalled carbon nanotubes by the ferrocene catalyzed pyrolysis of toluene, Fullerenes, Nanotubes and Carbon Nanostructures, 2002, 10(4), 339–352.
  37. Xin-Ying Liu, Guo-Cai Deng, Yunti Chen, The Effect of Neodymia on the Activity of Hydrocarbon Synthesis Catalysts from Carbon Dioxide, Chinese Chemical Letter, 1999, 10(11), 956-966.
  38. Xin-Ying Liu, Guo-Cai Deng, Xian-Zhi Guo, Yunti Chen, Fe-Ni bimetallic catalysts for carbon dioxide hydrogenation to ligh olefins, Ranliao Huaxue Xuebao (Journal of fuel chemistry and technology), 1999, 27(5), 447-450.
  39. Xin-Ying Liu, Guo-Cai Deng, Yunti Chen, Min-Fang Chen, Hydrogenation of carbon dioxide olefin over Fe-Co bimetallic catalysis, Ranliao Huaxue Xuebao Journal of fuel chemistry and technology), 1999, 27(2), 145-149.
  40. Xin-Ying Liu, Qin-Xing Xie, Guo-Cai Deng, Shi-Hua Wu, Yunti Chen, Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide on Ultrafine Fe-Co Catalyst by MVS Method, Zhongguo Fenti Jishu (Chinese journal of powder technique), 1998, 4(4), 17-18.
  41. Guo-Cai Deng, Li Xu, Meng-Qing Li, Xin-Ying Liu, Hong-Tao Ma, Rui-Cai Mu, Jing-Jiang Liu, Yunti Chen, Hydroxylation Reaction of Phenol to Catechol on Ln/ZrO2 Catalyst, Zhongguo Xitu Xuebao (Journal of rare earth, Chinese edition), 1996, 14(4), 295-297.
  42. Guo-Cai Deng, Xin-Ying Liu, Rui-Cai Mu, He Huang, Yunti Chen, Direct determination by HPLC of the stepwise stability constant of the Ni-(1,10-phenanthroline) system and the protonation constant of the ligand, Gazzetta, Chimica Italiana, 1997, 127(4), 207-211.
  43. Guo-Cai Deng, Li Xu, Xin-Ying Liu, Rui-Cai Mu, Zhi Liu, Li Gao, Hong-Tao Ma, Qing-Gang Li, Jing-Jiang Liu, Yunti Chen, High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Analysis of Catechol Product, Fenxi Huaxue (Chinese journal of analysis chemistry), 1996, 24(11), 1312-1315.
  44. Rui-Cai Mu, Cuo-Cai Deng, Xin-Ying Liu, Hong-Tao Ma, Yunti Chen, Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of pyromellitic dianhydride, Fenxi Huaxue (Chinese journal of analysis chemistry), 1996, 24(9), 1114-1117.
  45. An, Dao Li; Bu, Xian He; Liu, Xin Ying; Liu, Yu; Chen, Yun Ti. Synthesis, complexation properties and crystal structure of new dioxocyclam bearing 8-methylquinoline as functional pendant(s). Chinese Chemical Letters, 1994, 5(12), 1027-30.

Paper presentations

Peer-reviewed conference proceedings

  1. Shahid Ansari, Xinying Liu, Aspen simulation study of concentrate solar power and biomass gasification for co production of power and liquid fuel, SolarPACES 2018, Casablanca, Morocco, October 2018, accepted
  2. Jianqi Shen, Weihua Ho, Xinying Liu, CSP simulation of a fluidized bed as a solar receiver, SolarCAPES 2018, Casablanca, Morocco, October 2018, accepted
  3. Shahid Ansari, Xinying Liu, Using CSP to boost liquid production in a BTL process, SolarPACES 2017, San Diego, Chile, September 2017, AIP conference Proceedings 2033, 130001 (2018); doi: 10.1063/1.5067135
  4. Xinying Liu, Bilal Patel, Synthesis of a Biomass to liquids (BTL) process using a hybrid pyrolysis-gasification system, 27th European symposium on computer aided process engineering, Barcelona, Spain, October 2017, published in computer aided chemical engineering, 2017, 39: 691-696
  5. Xinying Liu, Bilal Patel; Carbon efficiency targets for methanol production from a hybrid solar carbonaceous feedstocks process, SolarPACES 2016, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 11-14 October 2016, AIP conference proceedings 1850, 100014 (2017); doi.org/10.1063/1.4984471
  6. Xinying Liu, Bilal Patel, Diane Hildebrandt; Analysis of the carbon efficiency of a hybrid XTL-CSP processes, 26th European symposium on computer aided process engineering, Portoroz, Slovenia, 12-15 June 2016, published in Computer aided chemical engineering, 2016, 38: 835-840.
  7. Xinying Liu, Bilal Patel, Diane Hildebrandt; Water free XTL processes: Is it possible and at what cost? 12th International symposium on Process Synthesis Engineering and 25th European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2015, published in Computer aided process engineering, 2015, 37: 1265-1270
  8. Shahid Ansari, Diane Hildebrandt, Xinying Liu; Numerical simulation and mathematical modelling in coordination with experimental investigation of process parameters associated with the Fischer Tropsch fixed bed reactor performance, 1st International conference on advanced materials and process engineering, Karachi, Pakistan, 2015

Recent international conference presentations

Keynote/Plenary

  1. Xinying Liu, Liquid Fuel Production from unconventional carbon resources, International conference on sustainable energy in Pakistan, 12-13 March 2019
  2. Assessing the scientific collaboration between South Africa and China, 2nd South Africa – China dialogue, Johannesburg, South Africa, November 2018
  3. Xinying Liu, Carbon materials for Fischer Tropsch Synthesis, IEEE nanotechnology council 2nd symposium, Johannesburg, South Africa, November 2018
  4. Mahluli Moyo, Xinying Liu, Carbon Materials as support for Fischer Tropsch Synthesis, International workhop on porous materials and their applications, Pretoria, South Africa, August 2018
  5. Xinying Liu, Small scale Fischer Tropsch Process, International Symposium on Environmental and Energy Science and Technologies, Wuhan, China, July 2018
  6. Xinying Liu; Challenges of biomass gasification for liquid fuel production, International conference on biomass gasification, Islamabad, Pakistan, 27-28 July 2016

Invited

  1. Xinying Liu, Biofuel research at UNISA, 2nd BRICS Youth Scientific forum, Hangzhou, China, 11-15 July, 2017
  2. Yali Yao, Xinying Liu, Diane Hildebrandt; Fischer Tropsch synthesis product distribution: possible quasi thermodynamic equilibrium? The 2016 International conference of chemical thermodynamics, Guilin, China, 21-26 August 2016
  3. Yali Yao, Xinying Liu, Yongde Xia, Diane Hildebrandt, David Glasser; Development of Iron Carbide based Fischer Tropsch catalyst for the conversion of biomass to liquid fuels, Africa-EU Symposium on Renewable Energy Research and Innovation, Tlemcen, Algeria, 8-10 March 2016

Recent Oral and poster

  1. Shahid H Ansari, Xinying Liu, Maria Fernandez-Torres, Aspen simulation of hybrid concentrated solar power – biomass integrated gasification combined cycle process, 2nd Africa-EU reneable energy research and innovation symposium (RERIS) 2018, Maseru, Lesotho, Jan 2018
  1. Katuchero Ramutsindela, Xiaojun Lu, Xinying Liu, Diane Hildebrandt, David Glasser, use of iron ore as Fischer Tropsch synthesis catalyst, 253rd ACS annual meeting, San Francisco, US, 1-5 April 2017
  2. Xinying Liu, Lwazi Nguevana, Diane Hildebrandt; Challenges in design a hybrid solar-carbonaceous feed stocks to liquid process, SolarPACES 2016, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 11-14 October 2016
  3. X Liu, J van der Walt, M Peters, D Hildebrandt; Design of a one tone a day waste to liquid fuel plant, 6th international conference on engineering for waste and biomass valorisation, Albi, France, 23-26 May 2016
  4. Yusheng Zhang, Xinying Liu, Diane Hildebrandt, David Glasser; Development of a bench scale single batch biomass to liquid fuel facility, International conference on green chemistry and technology 2015, Kunming, China, 2015
  5. Jianli Chang, Tiezhen Ren, Xinying Liu, Diane Hildebrandt, David Glasser, Phase-adjusted synthesis of homogeneous nickel based graphene composites and electrochemical catalysis as counter electrode, International conference on green chemistry and technology 2015, Kunming, China, 2015
  6. Lingfeng Zhang, Zhongyong Yuan, Xinying Liu, Diane Hildebrandt, Development of Co3O4/attapulgite nanocomosite as catalyst for CO oxidation, International conference on green chemistry and technology 2015, Kunming, China
  7. Yali Yao, Xinying Liu, Diane Hildebrandt, David Glasser; A study of Fischer Tropsch Synthesis: does the product distribution approach quasi thermodynamic equilibrium? AIChE annual meeting, Salt Lake City, US, 2015
  8. Adolph Muleja, David Glasser, Diane Hildebrandt, Yali Yao, Xinying Liu; A study of the deactivation of titania bases Cobalt catalyst in Fischer Tropsch Synthesis, AIChE annual meeting, Salt Lake City, US, 2015
  9. Xiaojun Lu, Xinying Liu, Diane Hildebrandt, David Glasser; Distribution between C2 and C3 in the low temperature Fischer Tropsch synthesis over cobalt and iron catalysts, AIChE annual meeting, Salt Lake City, US, 2015
  10. Xinying Liu, Jaco van der Walt, Diane Hildebrandt; The design of a one ton a day waste to liquid plant, Challenges in Chemical Renewable Energy (ISAC17), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2015.
  11. Xinying Liu, Bilal Patel; Water consumption targets for gasification, Syngas Convention II, Cape Town, South Africa, 2015
  12. Mark Peters, Diane Hildebrandt, David Glasser, Xinying Liu; Making small scale GTL a reality, 2015 Spring meeting of AIChE, 11th global congress on process safety, Austin, US, 2015
  13. Yali Yao, Xinying Liu, Diane Hildebrandt, David Glasser; Stability, Activity and selectivity study of a precipitated iron catalyst for biomass to liquid fuels via Fischer Tropsch Synthesis, 2014 AIChE annual Meeting, Atlanta, US, 2014
  14. Xiaowei Zhu, Xiaojun Lu, Xinying Liu, Diane Hildebrandt, David Glasser; Comparison of radial heat transfer in lab and bench scale tubular Fischer Tropsch Synthesis reactors, 245 ACS National meetings, 2013
  15. Yali Yao, Xinying Liu, Diane Hildebrandt and David Glasser; Fischer Tropsch Synthesis using H2/CO/CO2 syngas mixtures: a comparison of product distribution for iron and cobalt based catalysts, 2012 AIChE annual meeting
  16. Xinying Liu, Bilal Patel, Diane Hildebrandt and David Glasser; Aspen simulation of mobile biomass to liquid facility – the BeauTi-fueL concept, 2012 AIChE annual meeting

Professional positions, fellowships & awards

Working experience

  1. Head of XTL/FTS group, from 2017, Institute of Development of Energy for African Sustainability (IDEAS), College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET), University of South Africa (UNISA)
  2. In charge of the XTL/FTS research and industrial project development group, looking after the research and industrial project development in the area of XTL processes especially middle and small scale XTL (less than 3000 bpd) and process development for renewable energy solutions for off-grid and rural area applications.  He is the process leader in the conceptual and basic engineering package development of a commercial demonstration scale gas to liquid (GTL) plant, in charge of the engineering phase (from conceptual to commissioning) of a mini scale waste to liquid (WTL) demonstration plant.
  3. Head of XTL/FTS group, from 2013 to 2017, Material and Process Synthesis Engineering (MaPS), College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET), University of South Africa (UNISA)
  4. In charge of the XTL/FTS research and industrial project development group, looking after the research and industrial project development in the area of XTL processes especially middle and small scale XTL (less than 3000 bpd); process lead in the conceptual and basic engineering package development of a commercial demonstration scale gas to liquid (GTL) plant, in charge of the engineering phase (from conceptual to commissioning) of a mini scale waste to liquid (WTL) demonstration plant.
  5. Consultant/Senior Consultant, 2007 – 2013, Centre of Material and Process Synthesis (COMPS), School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
  6. In charge of the Fischer Tropsch research group, looking after the research and industrial project development in the area of XTL processes; involved in the detail design and commissioning, operation of the Golden Nest coal to liquid pilot plant project, and various business opportunity analysis and pre-feasibility study of coal to liquid (CTL), gas to liquid (GTL) and biomass to liquid (BTL) projects; in charge of the engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and operation of the first biomass to liquid (BTL) demonstration pilot plant in China.
  7. Project coordinator/leader, 2004-2007, Golden Nest, Midrand, South Africa
  8. In charge of the technical side of the golden nest Coal to Liquid Fischer Tropsch Pilot plant project, covering business analysis, laboratory testing program supervision, conceptual design package development, pre-feasibility study, feasibility study and basic engineering package development

Awards

  1. NRF rated researcher: C2, 2015-2020
  2. Key team member of group winning the NST-BHP Billiton award for research for innovations through an NGO, NP or CBO 2009-2010

Projects

Projects experience

  1. Project leader, Fischer Tropsch pilot plant, (2014 - )
  2. Project leader, mini scale Waste to Liquid demonstration facility, in collaboration with Nuclear Energy Cooperation South Africa (NECSA) (2013 - )
  3. Lead process engineer, commercial demonstration scale (500 bpd) gas to liquid facility, US (2012 - 2015)
  4. Project leader, 10 bpd Gas to Liquid pilot plant conceptual and basic design, Xinjiang, China (2011-2012)
  5. Project leader, 3000 bpd Coal to Liquid project feasibility study, Botswana (2011)
  6. Project leader, 3000 bpd Gas to Liquid feasibility study, Xinjiang, China (2010)
  7. Project leader, Biomass to Liquid pilot facility in Hebei, China (2009 - 2013)
  8. Project coordinator / project leader, GNFT Coal to Liquid pilot plant, from pre-feasibility study phase to basic engineering phase (2004 - 2007)
  9. Consult to many South African companies including Sasol, PetroSA, Anglo Coal, Mintek on various energy and catalytic material related projects (from 2000)

Other

Patents:

  1. Xinying Liu, Ming Chen, Zhong-Yong Yuan, A novel route for nano sized LiFePO4/C for high performance lithium ion batteries, South Africa provisional patent filed on 23rd June 2015, application number: 2015/04539
  2. Xiang Huisheng, Zhao Mailing, Hu Hongjun, Chen Junmin, Liu Xinying, Zhao Xinhui, Yu Zhengrong, Zheng Huilin, Xu Bin, Wu Siqun, Zhang Lili, Huang Ziyi, A method for using coal bed methane as feed stock to produce clean fuel oil and high purity chemicals.  CN 101372626A, Application number 200810231646.5, published on 25th Feb 2009, ranted on 13th June 2012.
  3. Xiang Huisheng, Zhao Mailing, Hu Hongjun, Chen Junmin, Liu Xinying, Zhao Xinhui, Yu Zhengrong, Zheng Huilin, Xu Bin, Wu Siqun, Zhang Lili, Huang Ziyi, A method for using coal oven gas as feed stock to produce clean fuel oil and high purity chemicals.  CN 101372627A, Application number 200810231647.X, published on 25th Feb 2009, granted on 4th July 2012.
  4. Xiang Huisheng, Zhao Mailing, Hu Hongjun, Chen Junmin, Liu Xinying, Zhao Xinhui, Yu Zhengrong, Zheng Huilin, Xu Bin, Wu Siqun, Zhang Lili, Huang Ziyi, A method for using calcium carbide process tail gas as feed stock to produce clean fuel oil and high purity chemicals.  CN 101372628A, Application number 200810231648.4, published on 25th Feb 2009, granted on 23rd May 2012.