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Expertise and Interests

Dr. Joan Lynam is an expert in renewable energy, a subject that she is passionate about. Dr. Lynam has spent the last two decades working on research that will help reduce waste and improve the quality of life for future generations.

Her dedication to solving Grand Challenge level problems has earned her several awards, including Louisiana Tech's 2021 Virgil Orr Award and 2021 College of Engineering and Science Research Award, the 2015 Outstanding Honor the Best Graduate Student of the University of Nevada, Reno, and the 2012 and 2014 Outstanding Gradaute Student Researcher of the Engineering and Science Colleges Division at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Research

In the Biomass Research Lab, Dr. Lynam guides students as they search for solutions to convert waste to energy, develop biomass pretreatment techniques, study ionic liquids and membrane separation, and create new biotechnologies.

Select Peer-Reviewed Publications

Prathima Gujjula, Narendra Kumar, Joan G. Lynam*, Pretreatment of Loblolly Pine Tree Needles Using Deep Eutectic Solvents, Biomass 2021, Volume 1, pp. 1-10, https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass1010001.

Narendra Kumar, Sudhir S. Amritphale, John C. Matthews, Joan G. Lynam*, Shaurav Alam, Omar Abdulkareem, Synergistic utilization of diverse industrial wastes for reutilization, Waste Management 2021, Volume 126, pp. 728-736, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2021.04.008

Ekugbere O. Owhe, Narendra Kumar, Joan G. Lynam*, Lignin Extraction from Waste Biomass with Deep Eutectic Solvents: Molecular Weight and Heating Value, Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology 2021, Volume 32, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2021.101949

Ashique Akond, Joan G. Lynam*, Deep eutectic solvent extracted lignin from waste biomass: Effects as a plasticizer in cement paste, Case Studies in Construction Materials 2020, Volume 13, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2020.e00460

Ramu Gautam; Narendra Kumar; Joan G. Lynam*, Theoretical and Experimental Study of Choline Chloride-Carboxylic Acid Deep Eutectic Solvents and their Hydrogen Bonds, Journal of Molecular Structure 2020, Volume 1222, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2020.128849

Narendra Kumar, Ramu Gautam, Justin D. Stallings, Gary G. Coty, IV, Joan G. Lynam*. Secondary Agriculture Residues Pretreatment Using Deep Eutectic Solvents. Waste Biomass Valorization 2020, Volume 12(5), pp. 2259-2269. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-020-01176-1

Travis D. Garrett, Henry S. Cardenas, Joan G. Lynam*, Sugarcane Bagasse and Rice Husk Ash Pozzolans: Cement Strength and Corrosion Effects When Using Saltwater, Current Research in Green and Sustainable Chemistry 2020, Volumes 1–2, pp. 7-13, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crgsc.2020.04.003

Cameron Henry; Joan G. Lynam*, Embodied Energy of Rice Husk Ash Production to Replace Portland Cement, Case studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering 2020, Volume 2, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscee.2020.100004

Narendra Kumar, Pranjali D Muley, Dorin Boldor, Gary Coty IV, and Joan G. Lynam*, Pretreatment of Waste Biomass in Deep Eutectic Solvent: Conductive Heating versus Microwave Heating, Industrial Crops and Products 2019, Volume 142, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2019.111865

Md. Shams Arafat; Nazimuddin M. Wasiuddin; Narendra Kumar; Ekugbere O. Owhe; Joan G. Lynam*, Use of Sustainable Lignin to Enhance Asphalt Binder and Mix Properties, Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 217, (2019) pp. 456-468.

Narendra Kumar; Kunal Kupwade-Patil; Rayna Higuchi; David P. Ferrell; Vanya A. Luttrull; and Joan G. Lynam*, Use of Biomass Ash for Development of Engineered Cementitious Binders, ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 2018,Volume 6 (10): 13122- 13130. DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b02657

Akbar Saba; Brandon Lopez; Joan G. Lynam; and M. Toufiq Reza*, Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Loblolly Pine: Effects of Various Wastes on Produced Biocrude, ACS Omega, 2018,  Volume 4 (3): 3051-3059.

Joan G. Lynam*; Narendra Kumar; Mark J. Wong, Deep eutectic solvents’ ability to solubilize lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose; thermal stability; and density, Bioresource Technology 2017. Volume 238: pp. 684-689.

Joan G. Lynam; Genica I Chow; Phillip L Hyland; and Charles J Coronella, Corn Stover Pretreatment by Ionic Liquid and Glycerol Mixtures with Their Density, Viscosity, and Thermogravimetric Properties, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 2016. doi: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.6b00480

Joan G. Lynam; Genica I Chow; Charles J Coronella; Sage R Hiibel, Ionic liquid and water separation by membrane distillation. Chemical Engineering Journal 2016, 288, pp. 557-561

Joan G. Lynam and Charles J Coronella, Loblolly pine pretreatment by ionic liquid-glycerol mixtures, Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery 2015, pp. 1-14. doi:10.1007/s13399-015-0183-5

Joan G. Lynam, M. Toufiq Reza, Wei Yan, Charles J. Coronella*, Victor R. Vásquez, Hydrothermal carbonization of various lignocellulosic biomass. Biomass Conversion Biorefinery 2015. Volume 5(2): pp. 173-181. Citations: 12

Lisha Yang, Ji Su, Sarah Carl, Joan G. Lynam, Xiaokun Yang, Hongfei Lin, Catalytic conversion of hemicellulosic biomass to lactic acid in pH neutral aqueous phase media, Applied Catalysis B Environmental 2015. Volume 162: pp. 149-157. Citations: 15

Joan G. Lynam and Charles J Coronella, Glycerol as an ionic liquid co-solvent for pretreatment of rice hulls to enhance glucose and xylose yield, Bioresource Technology 2014. Volume 166: pp. 471-478. Citations: 4

M. Toufiq Reza*, Janet Andert, Benjamin Wirth, Daniela Busch, Judith Pielert, Joan G. Lynam, Jan Mumme 2014. Hydrothermal Carbonization of Biomass for Energy and Crop Production. Applied Bioenergy 2014. Volume 1: pp. 11-29. Citations: 44

M. Toufiq Reza, M. Helal Uddin, Joan G. Lynam, S. Kent Hoekman, and Charles J. Coronella*, Hydrothermal carbonization of loblolly pine: reaction chemistry and water balance, Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery 2014. Volume 4: pp. 311-321. Citations: 30

M. Toufiq Reza, Joan G. Lynam, M. Helal Uddin, and Charles J. Coronella, Engineered Pellets from Dry Torrefied and HTC Biochar Blends, Biomass and Bioenergy 2014. Volume 63: pp. 229-238. Citations: 35

M. Toufiq Reza, Wei Yan, M. Helal Uddin, Joan G. Lynam, S. Kent Hoekman, Charles J. Coronella*, and Victor R. Vásquez, Reaction Kinetics of Hydrothermal Carbonization of Loblolly Pine, Bioresource Technology. 2013. Volume 139: pp. 161-169. Citations: 46

M. Toufiq Reza, Joan G. Lynam, M. Helal Uddin, and Charles J. Coronella, Hydrothermal carbonization: Fate of Inorganics, Biomass and Bioenergy 2013. Volume 49: pp. 86-94. Citations: 81

M. Helal Uddin, M. Toufiq Reza, Joan G. Lynam, and Charles J. Coronella, Effects of water recycling in hydrothermal carbonization of loblolly pine. Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy 2013. Volume 33: pp. 1309-1315. Citations: 12

Joan G. Lynam, M. Toufiq Reza, Victor R. Vasquez, Charles J. Coronella*, Pretreatment of rice hulls by ionic liquid dissolution. Bioresource Technology 2012. Volume 114: pp. 629-636. Citations: 42

Joan G. Lynam, Charles J. Coronella*,, Mohammad T. Reza, and Victor R. Vasquez, Effect of Salt Addition on Hydrothermal Carbonization of Lignocellulosic Biomass. Fuel 2012. Volume 99: pp. 271-273. Citations: 29

M. Toufiq Reza, Joan G. Lynam, Victor R. Vasquez and Charles J. Coronella*, 2012. Pelletization of biochar from hydrothermally carbonized wood. Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy 2012. Volume 31: pp. 221-234. Citations: 58

Joan G. Lynam, M. Toufiq Reza, Victor R. Vasquez, Charles J. Coronella*, 2012. Effects of acetic acid and LiCl on lignocellulosic biomass. Bioresource Technology 2012. Volume 114: pp. 629-636. Citations: 70

Book Chapter: Charles J. Coronella*, Joan G. Lynam, M. Toufiq Reza, M. Helal Uddin, Hydrothermal Carbonization of Lignocellulosic Biomass, Application of Hydrothermal Reactions to Biomass Conversion. 2014, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, ISBN: 9783642544576. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-54458-3. Citations: 10

Teaching

Assistant Professor, Tenure-Track, Louisiana Tech University, September 1, 2016 to present. Researching deconstruction of biomass, teaching, and publishing research results

Adjunct Faculty, Louisiana Tech University, July 1, 2016 to August 31, 2016. Researching deconstruction of biomass and preparing for tenure-track position at Louisiana Tech University

Adjunct Faculty, University of Nevada, Reno, September 3, 2015 to June 30, 2016. Researched deconstruction of biomass using ionic liquids and co-solvents for biofuels and published research results

USDA Fellow, Project Director, Biomass Pretreatment, September 1, 2013 – August 31, 2015: Researched deconstruction of biomass using ionic liquids and co-solvents for biofuels. Conducted study in membrane separation of ionic liquids and cosolvents

Research Assistant, E-scholars, Fall 2012 – Spring 2013 - Mentored diverse first generation college students in STEM disciplines.

Patents

Provisional Patent Application: Joan G. Lynam, Using Membrane Distillation To Separate Water From Ionic Liquid-Water Mixtures, UNR15-020, U.S. Application no. 62/253,442.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering, August 2015, University of Nevada, Reno
Dissertation: Biomass Pretreatment using Ionic Liquid and Glycerol Mixtures
Advisor: Dr. Charles Coronella

Master of Science in Chemical Engineering, December 2011, University of Nevada, Reno
Thesis: Pretreatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass
Advisor: Dr. Charles Coronella

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio