Biography
Prof J J Leahy is currently an associate professor in the Dept of Chemical Sciences at the University of Limerick where he is involved in teaching, curriculum development and research in the area of waste management and renewable energy. He currently heads a research group consisting of chemists and chemical engineers that is focused on chemical technologies for biofuels and biorefining from wastes with particular interests in :
- Identifying the optimum thermochemical route (gasification, pyrolysis), & chemical hydrolysis route for the production of chemicals and second generation transport fuel from bio-waste.
- Using laboratory & pilot scale processing facilities to test & optimise the yield of selected product from characterised feedstocks. The goal will be to develop novelty through optimising the process variables for particular feedstocks or products.
- Develop and test catalysts/chemical processes for the production of and upgrading bio-oil.
- Develop state of the art pre-treatment processes, that will enable rapid and environmentally benign procedures for hydrolysis of the carbohydrate components in lignocellulosic materials.
- Demonstrate the feasibility of producing bio syngas and develop and test catalysts/chemical processes for production of alcohol or diesel fuels
He has a strong research background in applied biofuels research and has forged strong links with major and small stakeholders with the biofuels industry nationally. This collaboration with industry has led to two start-up biofuels companies in themed-west region. This research record is reflected in both a publication record in international journals and a demonstrated ability to attract funding from industry as well as national and international funding agencies. He plays a key role in several major EC funded and National projects bioenergy, biofuels and biorefineries. A major strength of the candidate is his ability to foster and develop collaborations with Universities and Research Institutes engaged in research in renewable energy both at national and EU level. This will be important both in providing a strong platform for the University of Limerick to increase it's profile nationally in the energy space and to create a profile with significant international impact.
Research Interests
- Identifying the optimum thermochemical route (gasification, pyrolysis), & chemical hydrolysis route for the production of chemicals and second generation transport fuel from biomass & waste.
- Using laboratory & pilot scale processing facilities to test & optimise the yield of selected product from characterised feedstocks. The goal will be to develop novelty through optimising the process variables for particular feedstocks or products.
- Develop and test catalysts/chemical processes for the production of and upgrading bio-oil.
- Develop state of the art pre-treatment processes, that will enable rapid and environmentally benign procedures for hydrolysis of the carbohydrate components in lignocellulosic materials.
- Demonstrate the feasibility of producing bio syngas and develop and test catalysts/chemical processes for production of alcohol or diesel fuels
Publications
Book Chapter
Ageing characteristics of g irradiated ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.
O'Neill, P., C. Birkinshaw , J.J. Leahy
Ageing Studies & Lifetime Extension of Materials
Conference Publication
European Conference of Educational Research, Dublin, Ireland.
Flaherty, A., Erduran, S., O'Dwyer, A., Leahy, J. J. (2016, August).
A study of hydrogen pressure during hydropyrolysis of Miscanthus x giganteus and online catalytic vapour upgrading with Ni on ZSM-5
Melligan, F,Hayes, MHB,Kwapinski, W,Leahy, JJ
Journal Of Analytical And Applied Pyrolysis
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaap.2013.01.005
Cat4Bio Thessaloniki
Melligan F., Kwapinski W., Leahy J.J., Hayes M.H.B.
4th International Symposium on Energy from Biomass and Waste
Wnetrzak R., Leahy J.J., Peters K., Jensen L.S., Kwapinski W.
UBIOCHEM
Melligan F., Leahy J.J., Hayes M.H.B., Kwapinski W.
19th International Symposium on Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis
Melligan F., Leahy J.J., Hayes M.H.B., Kwapinski W.
International Workshop of Biomass Torrefaction for Energy at Ecole des Mines d'Albi
Leahy J.J., Xue G., Kwapinska M., Kwapinski W.
Science and Industry Spectroscopic methods in practice
Wnetrzak R., Kolodynska D., Hubicki Z., Kwapinski W., Leahy J.J., Hayes M.H.B.
Hybrid Materials, Strasburg
Li Zhonglai, Kwapinski W. Leahy J.J.
1st International Congress on Catalysis for Biorefineries - CatBior
Wnetrzak R., Leahy J.J., Kwapinski W.
22nd North American Catalysis Society Meeting
Li Zonglai, Kwapinski W., Leahy J.J.
Nauka i przemysl metody spektroskopowe w praktyce, nowe wyzwania i mozliwosci, ISBN 978-83-227-3227-4
Wnetrzak R., Kolodynska D., Hubicki Z., Kwapinski W., Leahy J.J., Hayes M.H.B.
Hybrid Materials - organized by Elsevier
Li Zhonglai, Kwapinski W., Leahy J.J.
Proceedings 21st Irish Environmental Researchers' Colloquium, Environ 2011
Troy S., Nolan T., Lawlor P., Leahy J. Healy M., Kwapinski W.
Managing livestock manure for sustainable agriculture
Kwapinski W., Troy S., Wnetrzak R., Piterina A., Healy M.G., Nolan T., Lawlor P.G., Leahy J.J., Hayes M.H.B.
15th IHSS Conference, Tenerife
Kwapinski W., Wolfram P., Byrne C., Melligan F., Novotny E.H., Leahy J.J., Hayes M.H.B.
Bioten conference
Kwapinski W., Melligan F., Byrne B., Wolfram P., Nowotny E., Haverty D., Leahy J.J., Hayes M.H.B.
Bioten conference
Kwapinski W., Wnetrzak R., Melligan F., Leahy J.J., Hayes M.H.B.
2nd annual UK Biochar Conference, Rothamsted
Byrne C., Kwapinski W., Wolfram P., Melligan F., Novotny E.H., Leahy J.J., Hayes M.H.B.
10th European Gasification Conference, Amsterdam
Kwapinska M., Kwapinski W., Leahy J.J.
3rd International Conference on Engineering for Waste and Biomass Valorization, Beijing
Kwapinski W., Byrne C., Kryachko E., Wolfram P., Adley C., Leahy J.J., Hayes M.H.B.
3rd International Biochar Conference: IBI 2010
Hayes, M.H.B., Byrne, C.M.P., Kwapinski, W., Wolfram, P., Melligan, F.J., Novotny, E.H., Leahy, J.J.
3rd International Conference on Engineering for Waste and Biomass Valorization, Beijing
Kwapinski W., Wnetrzak R., Melligan F., Leahy J.J., Hayes M.H.B.
Working Party on Computer Aided Process Engineering
Melligan F., Kwapinski W., Leahy J.J., Hayes M.H.
IRCSET Symposium
Melligan F., Kwapinski W., Leahy J.J., Hayes M.H.
Energy Solutions¿09 `Energy to drive the Irish Economy¿
Kwapinski W., Kryachko E., Melligan F., Leahy J.J., Hayes M.H.B.
Working Party on Computer Aided Process Engineering
Melligan F., Kwapinski W., Leahy J.J., Hayes M.H.
16th European Biomass Conference & Exhibition
Kwapinski W., Leahy J.J., Hayes M.H.
16th European Biomass Conference & Exhibition
Kwapinski W., Leahy J.J., Hayes M.H.
2004 4TH IEEE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON POLYMERS AND ADHESIVES IN MICROELECTRONICS AND PHOTONICS
Griffin, P; Leahy, JJ; Punch, J; Galkin, T; Elonen, E; Rusanen, O
Other Publication
Synthesis of 'Diesel' or 'Gasoline' Oxygenated Fuel Components from Hexose Carbohydrates by Reaction with Ethanol
Flannelly T., Howard M., Dooley S., Leahy J.J.
Peer Reviewed Journal
Development of heterogeneous acid catalysts produced from the carbonization of Miscanthus x giganteus for the esterification of butyric acid to butyl butyrate with n-butanol
Severini, F,Flannelly, T,O'Nolan, D,Leahy, JJ,Kwapinski, W
Journal Of Chemical Technology And Biotechnology
DOI: 10.1002/jctb.4804
Chemically and biologically-mediated fertilizing value of manure-derived biochar
Subedi, R,Taupe, N,Ikoyi, I,Bertora, C,Zavattaro, L,Schmalenberger, A,Leahy, JJ,Grignani, C
The Science of the total environment
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.160
Updraft gasification of poultry litter at farm-scale - A case study
Taupe, NC,Lynch, D,Wnetrzak, R,Kwapinska, M,Kwapinski, W,Leahy, JJ
Waste Management
DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2016.02.036
Poultry Litter Gasification in a Fluidized Bed Reactor: Effects of Gasifying Agent and Limestone Addition
Pandey, DS,Kwapinska, M,Gomez-Barea, A,Horvat, A,Fryda, LE,Rabou, LPLM,Leahy, JJ,Kwapinski, W
Energy & Fuels
DOI: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.6b00058
Detailed Measurement Uncertainty Analysis of Solid-Phase Adsorption-Total Gas Chromatography (GC)-Detectable Tar from Biomass Gasification
Horvat, A,Kwapinska, M,Xue, G,Dooley, S,Kwapinski, W,Leahy, JJ
Energy & Fuels
DOI: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.5b02579
Catalytically Upgrading Bio-oil via Esterification
Liu, YC,Li, ZL,Leahy, JJ,Kwapinski, W
Energy & Fuels
DOI: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.5b00163
Determination of the Higher Heating Value of Pig Manure
Wnetrzak, R,Hayes, DJM,Jensen, LS,Leahy, JJ,Kwapinski, W
Waste And Biomass Valorization
DOI: 10.1007/s12649-015-9350-y
Fluidized Bed Gasification of Torrefied and Raw Grassy Biomass (Miscanthus x gigantenus). The Effect of Operating Conditions on Process Performance
Kwapinska, M,Xue, G,Horvat, A,Rabou, LPLM,Dooley, S,Kwapinski, W,Leahy, JJ
Energy & Fuels
DOI: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.5b01144
Multi-gene genetic programming based predictive models for municipal solid waste gasification in a fluidized bed gasifier
Pandey, DS,Pan, I,Das, S,Leahy, JJ,Kwapinski, W
Bioresource Technology
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.12.048
Hydrogenation of sunflower oil over Pt-Ni bimetallic supported catalysts: Preparation, characterization and catalytic activity
McArdle, S,Leahy, JJ,Curtin, T,Tanner, D
Applied Catalysis A-General
DOI: 10.1016/j.apcata.2013.08.033
Influence of pig manure biochar mineral content on Cr(III) sorption capacity
Wnetrzak, R,Leahy, JJ,Chojnacka, KW,Saeid, A,Novotny, E,Jensen, LS,Kwapinski, W
Journal Of Chemical Technology And Biotechnology
DOI: 10.1002/jctb.4159
Behavior of Heavy Metals during Fluidized Bed Combustion of Poultry Litter
Lynch, D,Low, F,Henihan, AM,Garcia, A,Kwapinski, W,Zhang, L,Leahy, JJ
Energy & Fuels
DOI: 10.1021/ef500981k
Gasification of Miscanthus x giganteus in an Air-Blown Bubbling Fluidized Bed: A Preliminary Study of Performance and Agglomeration
Xue, G,Kwapinska, M,Horvat, A,Li, ZL,Dooley, S,Kwapinski, W,Leahy, JJ
Energy & Fuels
DOI: 10.1021/ef4022152
Impact of torrefaction on properties of Miscanthus x giganteus relevant to gasification
Xue, G,Kwapinska, M,Kwapinski, W,Czajka, KM,Kennedy, J,Leahy, JJ
Fuel
DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2013.12.022
ZrO2-modified TiO2 nanorod composite: Hydrothermal synthesis, characterization and application in esterification of organic acid
Li, Z., Liu, Y., Kwapinski, W., Leahy, J.J.
Materials Chemistry And Physics
DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2014.01.037
Gasification of torrefied Miscanthus x giganteus in an air-blown bubbling fluidized bed gasifier
Xue, G,Kwapinska, M,Horvat, A,Kwapinski, W,Rabou, LPLM,Dooley, S,Czajka, KM,Leahy, JJ
Bioresource Technology
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.02.094
The influence of the pig manure separation system on the energy production potentials
Wnetrzak, R,Kwapinski, W,Peters, K,Sommer, SG,Jensen, LS,Leahy, JJ
Bioresource Technology
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.03.001
Effects of tensile strain on the nanostructure of irradiated and thermally stabilised ultra high molecular weight polyethylenes for orthopaedic devices
Collins, MN,Dalton, E,Leahy, JJ,Birkinshaw, C
Rsc Advances
DOI: 10.1039/c2ra21722h
Ash Agglomeration and Deposition during Combustion of Poultry Litter in a Bubbling Fluidized-Bed Combustor
Lynch, D,Henihan, AM,Kwapinski, W,Zhang, L,Leahy, JJ
Energy & Fuels
DOI: 10.1021/ef400744u
Utilisation of poultry litter as an energy feedstock
Henihan, AM,Bowen, B,Lynch, D,McDonnell, K,Kwapinski, W,Leahy, JJ
Biomass & Bioenergy
DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2012.12.009
Effect of sawdust addition and composting of feedstock on renewable energy and biochar production from pyrolysis of anaerobically digested pig manure
Troy, SM,Nolan, T,Leahy, JJ,Lawlor, PG,Healy, MG,Kwapinski, W
Biomass & Bioenergy
DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2012.12.014
Effect of sawdust addition on composting of separated raw and anaerobically digested pig manure
Troy, SM,Nolan, T,Kwapinski, W,Leahy, JJ,Healy, MG,Lawlor, PG
Journal Of Environmental Management
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.06.035
Kinetic and adsorptive characterization of biochar in metal ions removal
Kolodynska, D,Wnetrzak, R,Leahy, JJ,Hayes, MHB,Kwapinski, W,Hubicki, Z
Chemical Engineering Journal
DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2012.05.025
Characterisation of the products from pyrolysis of residues after acid hydrolysis of Miscanthus
Melligan, F,Dussan, K,Auccaise, R,Novotny, EH,Leahy, JJ,Hayes, MHB,Kwapinski, W
Bioresource Technology
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.12.110
Crystal morphology of strained ultra high molecular weight polyethylenes
Collins, MN,Dalton, E,Schaller, B,Leahy, JJ,Birkinshaw, C
Polymer Testing
DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2012.03.009
Mutagenic activity of biochars obtained from pyrolysis biorefinery processes in Salmonella typhimurium TA100 and TA98 tester strains with and without metabolic S9 mix activation.
Piterina, AV., Chipman, K. Leahy, J.J., Pembroke, J.T., and M.H.Hayes
Environmental Engineering and management Journal
Hydro-Pyrolysis of Biomass and Online Catalytic Vapor Upgrading with Ni-ZSM-5 and Ni-MCM-41
Melligan, F,Hayes, MHB,Kwapinski, W,Leahy, JJ
Energy & Fuels
DOI: 10.1021/ef301244h
Effects of Tensile Strain on the Morphology of Irradiated and Thermally Stabilised Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylenes
Maurice N. Collins, Eric Dalton, J.J. Leahy, Colin Birkinshaw
Polymer
Pressurised pyrolysis of Miscanthus using a fixed bed reactor
Melligan, F; Auccaise, R; Novotny, EH; Leahy, JJ; Hayes, MHB; Kwapinski, W
Bioresource Technology
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2010.10.129
Selective hydrogenation of sunflower oil over noble metal catalysts
McArdle, S; Girish, S; Leahy, JJ; Curtin, T
Journal Of Molecular Catalysis A-Chemical
DOI: 10.1016/j.molcata.2011.10.004
Characterization of compost produced from separated pig manure and a variety of bulking agents at low initial C/N ratios
Nolan, T; Troy, SM; Healy, MG; Kwapinski, W; Leahy, JJ; Lawlor, PG
Bioresource Technology
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.04.066
Hydrogenation of sunflower oil over platinum supported on silica catalysts: Preparation, characterisation and catalytic activity
McArdle, S; Curtin, T; Leahy, JJ
Applied Catalysis A-General
DOI: 10.1016/j.apcata.2010.05.018
Biochar from Biomass and Waste
Kwapinski, W,Byrne, CMP,Kryachko, E,Wolfram, P,Adley, C,Leahy, JJ,Novotny, EH,Hayes, MHB
Waste And Biomass Valorization
DOI: 10.1007/s12649-010-9024-8
Biochar from biomass and waste
Kwapinski W., Byrne C.M.P., Kryachko E., Wolfram P., Adley C., Leahy J.J., Novotny E.H., Hayes M.H.B.
Waste And Biomass Valorization
DOI: 10.1007/s12649-010-9024-8
Crystal ageing in irradiated ultra high molecular weight polyethylene
Barron, D; Collins, MN; Flannery, MJ; Leahy, JJ; Birkinshaw, C
Journal Of Materials Science-Materials In Medicine
DOI: 10.1007/s10856-007-3333-x
The use of fly ash from the combustion of poultry litter for the adsorption of chromium(III) from aqueous solution
Kelleher, BP; O'Callaghan, MN; Leahy, MJ; O'Dwyer, TF; Leahy, JJ
Journal Of Chemical Technology And Biotechnology
DOI: 10.1002/jctb.689
Advances in Poultry Litter Disposal Technology - A Review
Kelleher, BP; Leahy, JJ; Henihan, AM; O'Dwyer, TF; Sutton, D; Leahy, M
Bioresource Technology
A study of ageing in acrylic adhesives
Lyons, E; Leahy, JJ; Hayes, K
International Journal Of Adhesion And Adhesives
DOI: 10.1016/S0143-7496(00)00025-7