Shahab Sokhansanj

Adjunct Professor

Email: shahab.sokhansanj@ubc.ca


Research Summary

Food engineering, bioenergy, drying and densification, modeling & instrumentation

Education

Michigan State University, 1977, Ph.D.

Michigan State University, 1977, M.Sc.

University of Tehran, Iran, 1966, B.Sc.

Research interests + projects

My core research is in feedstock engineering focusing on harvesting, drying, fractionating, and densification of cellulosic biomass. These processes add value to an otherwise low value commodity. The work has evolved in two fronts: (1) experimenting with innovative biomass preprocesses to acquire engineering data for design and optimum operation of individual unit operations; and (2) developing engineering models for simulation of unit operations for optimizing the entire supply chains. Our research has resulted in the development of a highly successful modeling platform IBSAL (Integrated Biomass Supply Analysis & Logistics). This dynamic modeling environment is constructed on GIS spatial data, engineering processes, operations research, and real time climate data. A value chain that consists of a sequence of operations is constructed from an ensemble of modules available in a library. The elements of the IBSAL have been validated through peer reviewed publications in engineering journals.

Scholarly and professional activities + affiliations

Agricultural & Bioresource Engineering, University of Saskatchewan

Biosystems Engineering & Environmental Sciences, University of Tennessee

Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia

Canadian Society for Bioengineering and American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers

GS Bioresource Systems, North Vancouver, BC

Fluidization Reserach Center, University of British Columbia

Biomass and Bioenergy Research Group

Selected publications + presentations

Yan Yu, Jie Wu, Xueyong Ren, Anthony Lau, Hamid Rezaei, Masatsugu Takada, Xiaotao Bi, Shahabbadine Sokhansanj, 2022.  Steam explosion of lignocellulosic biomass for multiple advanced bioenergy processes: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 154 (2022) 111871

Ruixu Wang, Ziliang Wang, Xiaotao Bi, C. Jim Lim, Shahabaddine Sokhansanj. Residence time distribution and solids mixing of sawdust in a horizontal pulsed fluidized bed. Powder Technology (2021), 117006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2021.11.050

Yu, Yan. Anthony Lau, Shahabaddine Sokhansanj Improvement of the pellet quality and fuel characteristics of agricultural residues through mild hydrothermal treatment Industrial Crops & Products 169 (2021) 113654

Yu, Yan , Jie Wu, Xueyong Ren, Anthony Lau, Hamid Rezaei, Masatsugu Takada, Xiaotao Bi, Shahabbadine Sokhansanj. Steam explosion of lignocellulosic biomass for multiple advanced bioenergy processes: a review Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 154 (2022) 111871

Thengane, Sonal K.; Kevin Kung, Josiah Hunt, Haris R. Gilani, C. Jim Lim, Shahabaddine Sokhansanj, Daniel L. Sanchez. Market prospects for biochar production and application in California. Biofpr.  Volume15, Issue6, November/December 2021, Pages 1802-1819

Lee, J.S., B. Ghiasi, A.K. Lau, S. Sokhansanj (2021) Chlorine and ash removal from salt-laden woody biomass by washing and pressing. Biomass and Bioenergy 155 (2021) 106272.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.

Jacobson, R., Sokhansanj, S., Roeser, D., Hansen, J., Gopaluni, B. and Bi, X. (2021) A Cost Analysis of Mobile and Stationary Pellet Mills for Mitigating Wildfire Costs. Journal of Sustainable Bioenergy Systems, 11, 131-143. doi: 10.4236/jsbs.2021.113010.

Sokhansanj, S. (2020). Baling Biomass: Densification and Energy Requirements. In Holden, N. M., Wolfe, M. L., Ogejo, J. A., & Cummins, E. J. (Ed.), Introduction to Biosystems Engineering. https:// doi .org/ 10 .21061/IntroBiosystemsEngineering/Baling Biomass

Rezaei H, Yazdanpanah F, Sokhansanj S, Marshall L, Lim CJ, Lau AK, Bi X. Biomass Drying and Sizing for Industrial Combustion Applications. Chap. 2 in Drying of Biomass, Biosolids, and Coal: for efficient energy supply and environmental benefits, by Pang S, Bhattacharya S, Yan J, 19-50. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. (2019). doi: 10.1201/9781351000871.

Rezaei, Hamid, Fahimeh Yazdanpanah, C. Jim Lim, Anthony Lau, Shahab Sokhansanj. 2018. Woody Feedstock Pretreatments to Enhance Bio-oil Quality and Produce Transportation Fuel. Intechopen.

Sokhansanj, Shahab, Hamid Rezaei, Pak Sui (Wilson) Lam, Tang Yong, Bahman Ghiasi and Zahra Tooyserkani. 2018. Steam Treatment of Cellulosic Biomass for Pelletization. Chapter 7 Pages 161-191. In Biomass Preprocessing and Pretreatments for Production of Biofuels: Mechanical, Chemical and Thermal Methods, Ed. Jaya Shankar Tumuluru. Science Publishers, Taylor and Francis.

Hosseinizand H, Sokhansanj S, Lim CJ. Studying the drying mechanism of microalgae Chlorella vulgaris and the optimum drying temperature to preserve quality characteristics, Drying Technology. (2017). doi: 10.1080/07373937.2017.1369986.

Wang Y, Ebadian M, Sokhansanj S, Webb E, Lau AK. Impact of the biorefinery size on the logistics of corn stover supply – A scenario analysis, Applied Energy. (2017). doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.03.056.

Borén E, Yazdanpanah F, Lindahl R, Schilling C, Chandra RP, Ghiasi B, Tang Y, Sokhansanj S, Broström M, Larsson SH. Off-Gassing of VOCs and Permanent Gases during Storage of Torrefied and Steam Exploded Wood, Energy & Fuels. (2017). doi: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.7b01959.

Yazdanpanah F, Sokhansanj S, Lim CJ, Lau AK, Bi X. Gas Adsorption Capacity of Wood Pellets, Energy Fuels. (2016). doi: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.5b02736.

Yazdanpanah F, Sokhansanj S, Lim CJ, Lau AK, Bi X. Effectiveness of purging on preventing gas emission buildup in wood pellet storage, Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering. (2015). doi: 10.1002/cjce.22199.

He X, Lau AK, Sokhansanj S, Lim J, Bi X. Application of a Model to Simulate the Wetting and Drying Processes of Woody Biomass in the Field, Drying Technology. (2015). doi: 10.1080/07373937.2014.988221.

Ebadian M, Sowlati T, Sokhansanj S, Smith LT, Stumborg M. Development of an integrated tactical and operational planning model for supply of feedstock to a commercial-scale bioethanol plant, Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining. (2014). doi: 10.1002/bbb.1446

Oveisi E, Lau AK, Sokhansanj S, Lim CJ, Bi X, Larsson SH, Melin S. Breakage behavior of wood pellets due to free fall, Powder Technology. (2013). doi: 10.1016/j.powtec.2012.10.022.

Tooyserkani Z, Sokhansanj S, Bi X, Lim CJ, Lau AK, Saddler J, Kumar L, Lam PS, Melin S. Steam treatment of four softwood species and bark to produce torrefied wood, Applied Energy. (2013). doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.10.016.

Kumar L, Tooyserkani Z, Sokhansanj S, Saddler JN. Does densification influence the steam pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of softwoods to sugars?, Bioresource Technology. 2012. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.06.049.

Lam PS, Sokhansanj S, Bi X, Lim CJ. Colorimetry Applied to Steam-Treated Biomass and Pellets made from Western Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga Menziesii L.), Transactions of the ASABE. (2012). doi: 10.13031/2013.41368.

Ghafghazi S, Sowlati T, Sokhansanj S, Bi X, Melin S. Particulate matter emissions from combustion of wood in district heating applications, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. (2011). doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2011.04.001.

Tumuluru JS, Sokhansanj S, Lim CJ, Bi X, Lau AK, Melin S, Sowlati T, Oveisi E. Quality of Wood Pellets Produced in British Columbia for Export, Applied Engineering in Agriculture. (2010). doi: 10.13031/2013.35902.