Dr. Xiaoyu Zhu is an Associate Professor at the Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and a member of the CAS Youth Innovation Promotion Association. She received her Ph.D. from Tongji University, was a visiting scholar at the Pennsylvania State University (USA), and was selected for the CAS “Light of West China” Category A Talent Program. Her research focuses on the biosynthesis of medium-chain fatty acids (particularly caproate). She pioneered the theoretical framework of lactate-driven chain elongation for caproate biosynthesis, elucidated key metabolic mechanisms governing the conversion of lactate to caproate, and advanced the technology from laboratory study to 100-ton-scale industrial application across multiple enterprises. The resulting bio-based caproate and ethyl caproate product series were designated as Sichuan Provincial Flagship Bio-manufacturing Products (Key Cultivation) in 2026. She has served as Principal Investigator for more than 10 research projects, including a Major Science and Technology Special Project of Sichuan Province and General Programs of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). She has published over 30 peer-reviewed papers in leading journals such as Environ. Sci. Technol., Appl. Environ. Microbiol., and Chem. Eng. J. (with a single representative paper cited over 300 times), and holds 9 invention patent applications (6 granted).

Focusing on non-grain bio-manufacturing, our group develops functional microbial consortia centered on lactate-driven chain elongation for caproate biosynthesis to achieve directed conversion of organic wastes into high-value chemicals.

Current research priorities include:

(1) microbiome stability mechanisms and AI-driven intelligent control in industrial fermentation;

(2) engineering demonstration and high-value utilization of bulk organic solid wastes;

(3) construction of microbial cell factories for high-value products such as adipic acid and medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (mcl-PHA).

• 083002 - Environmental Engineering
• 071005 - Microbiology
• 071010 - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

• Environmental Microbiology; Treatment, Disposal, and Resource Recovery of Organic Wastes
• Microbial Physiology
• Microbial Metabolism

   

• 2016.01 – Present Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Associate Research Fellow
• 2013.01 – 2015.12 Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Assistant Research Fellow
• 2012.03 – 2012.12 Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Assistant Research Fellow

• 2011.05 – 2011.08 Pennsylvania State University Visiting Scholar
• 2008.09 – 2012.03 Tongji University Doctor of Philosophy
• 2005.09 – 2008.07 Nanjing Agricultural University Master of Science
• 2000.09 – 2005.07 Anhui Agricultural University Bachelor of Science

   

1. Dong, Y.^†; Fan, G.^†; Liang, Y.^†; Qin, H.; Song, P.; Tan, H.; Huang, M.; Pu, S.; Liu, Y.; Zhu, X.*. Evaluating Baijiu Huangshui-derived caproate as a C6 feedstock for bioconversion to 6-hydroxyhexanoic acid and PHHx-rich mcl-PHA. ACS ES&T Eng. 2026. DOI: 10.1021/acsestengg.6c00640.

2. Luo, Y.; Zhao, Y.; Liang, Y.; Ren, B.; Luo, Y.; Zhu, X.*. Process innovation for caproate production at neutral pH: development and characterization of a novel Anaerococcus-centered microbial community converting lactate to caproate. Chem. Eng. J. 2025, 524, 169607.

3. Liang, Y.; Luo, Y.; Lin, Q.; Luo, Y.; Zhu, X.*; Zheng, L. Concentration-dependent enhancement of caproate production from lactate by graphene nanosheets in chain elongation systems. Chem. Eng. J. 2025, 525, 170190.

4. Zhu, X.*; Huang, H.; He, Y.; Wang, X.; Jia, J.; Feng, X.; Li, D.; Li, H. A preliminary study on the feasibility of industrialization for n-caproic acid recovery from food wastewater: from lab to pilot. Bioresour. Technol. 2022, 366, 128154.

5. Zhu, X.*; Feng, X.; Liang, C.; Li, J.; Jia, J.; Feng, L.; Tao, Y.; Chen, Y. Microbial ecological mechanism for long-term production of high concentrations of n-caproate via lactate-driven chain elongation. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2021, 87 (11), e03075-20.

6. Wei, Y.; Ren, B.; Zheng, S.; Feng, X.; He, Y.; Zhu, X.*; Zhou, L.; Li, D. Effect of high concentration of ammonium on production of n-caproate: recovery of a high-value biochemical from food waste via lactate-driven chain elongation. Waste Manage. 2021, 128, 25–35.

7. Zhang, Q.; Zhang, L.; Wang, H.; Jiang, Q.; Zhu, X.*. Simultaneous efficient removal of oxyfluorfen with electricity generation in a microbial fuel cell and its microbial community analysis. Bioresour. Technol. 2018, 250, 658–665.

8. Zhu, X.*; Zhou, Y.; Li, X. Production of high-concentration n-caproic acid from lactate through fermentation using a newly isolated Ruminococcaceae bacterium CPB6. Biotechnol. Biofuels 2017, 10, 102.

9. Tao, Y.; Wang, X.; Zhu, X.*. The functional potential and active populations of the microbiome in pit mud used for the production of Chinese strong-flavour liquor. Microb. Biotechnol. 2017, 10, 1603–1615.

10. Tao, Y.; Hu, X.; Zhu, X.; et al. Production of butyrate from lactate by a newly isolated Clostridium sp. BPY5. Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol. 2016, 179 (3), 361–374.

11. Yin, Q.; Tao, Y.; Zhu, X. Clostridium liquoris sp. nov., isolated from a fermentation pit used for the production of Chinese strong-flavored liquor. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 2016, 66 (2), 749–754.

12. Zhu, X.; Tao, Y.; Liang, C.; et al. The synthesis of n-caproate from lactate: a new efficient process for medium-chain carboxylates production. Sci. Rep. 2015, 5, 14360.

13. Yin, Q.; Zhu, X.*; Zhan, G.; et al. Enhanced upgraded-biogas production in electrochemical and anaerobic digestion coupling system with co-cultivation of Methanogens and Geobacter. J. Environ. Sci. 2015, 33, 61–68.

14. Qian, J.^†; Zhu, X.^†; Tao, Y.; et al. Promotion of Ni²⁺ removal by masking toxicity to sulfate-reducing bacteria: addition of citrate. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2015, 16 (4), 7932–7943.

15. Bo, T.; Zhu, X.*; Zhang, L.; Tao, Y.; et al. A new upgraded biogas production process: coupling microbial electrolysis cell and anaerobic digestion in single-chamber, barrel-shape stainless steel reactor. Electrochem. Commun. 2014, 45, 67–70.

16. Bo, T.; Zhang, L.; Zhu, X.; et al. Lead ions removal from aqueous solution in a novel bioelectrochemical system with a stainless steel cathode. RSC Adv. 2014, 4, 41135–41140.

17. Zhan, G.; Li, D.; Tao, Y.; Zhu, X. Ammonia as carbon-free substrate for hydrogen production in bioelectrochemical systems. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 2014, 39, 11854–11859.

18. Zhan, G.; Zhang, L.; Tao, Y.; Wang, Y.; Zhu, X. Anodic ammonia oxidation to nitrogen gas catalyzed by mixed biofilms in bioelectrochemical systems. Electrochim. Acta 2014, 135, 345–350.

19. Zhu, X.; Chen, Y.*; Chen, H.; Li, X.; Peng, Y.; Wang, S. Minimizing nitrous oxide in biological nutrient removal from municipal wastewater by controlling copper ion concentrations. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 2013, 97 (3), 1325–1334.

20. Chen, Y.*; Wang, D.; Zhu, X.; Zheng, X.; Feng, L. Long-term effects of copper nanoparticles on wastewater biological nutrient removal and N₂O generation in activated sludge process. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2012, 46 (22), 12452–12458.

21. Zhu, X.; Chen, Y.* Reduction of N₂O and NO generation in anaerobic-low DO biological wastewater treatment process. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2011, 45 (6), 2137–2143.

22. Zhang, D.; Chen, Y.; Zhao, Y.; Zhu, X. A new sludge pretreatment method to improve methane production in waste activated sludge digestion. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2010, 44 (12), 4802–4808.

23. Zhao, Y.; Zhang, D.; Chen, Y.; Zhu, X. Waste activated sludge fermentation for hydrogen production enhanced by anaerobic process improvement and acetobacteria inhibition: the role of fermentation pH. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2010, 44 (9), 3317–3323.

24. Zhang, P.; Chen, Y.; Zhou, Q.; Zheng, X.; Zhu, X.; Zhao, Y. Effect of SDBS on waste activated sludge hydrolysis and short-chain fatty acids accumulation under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2010, 44 (24), 9343–9348.

25. Wei, Y.; He, Y.; Feng, X.; Ren, B.; Zhu, X.*; Hu, J.; Yao, L. Metabolic characteristics of a novel medium-chain fatty acid-synthesizing microbial consortium and its application in brewing wastewater treatment. Chin. J. Appl. Environ. Biol. 2025. DOI: 10.19675/j.cnki.1006-687x.2021.03007 (in Chinese).

26. Wang, X.; Zhu, X.*; Li, H.*; et al. Research progress on lactate-driven chain elongation technology and its application in organic waste valorization. Chin. J. Appl. Environ. Biol. 2020, 26 (4), 827–835 (in Chinese).

27. Zheng, S.; Zhu, X.*; Zhou, L.; Wang, X.; Gu, Y. Effects of sodium chloride on caproate production from lactate and functional microbial community. Chin. J. Appl. Environ. Biol. 2019, 25 (6), 1–14 (in Chinese).

28. Liang, C.; Zhu, X.*; Tao, Y.; et al. Process construction and condition optimization for butyrate synthesis from lactate. Chin. J. Appl. Environ. Biol. 2016, 22 (5), 865–871 (in Chinese).

29. Hu, X.; Zhu, X.; Tao, Y.; et al. Identification and characterization of a lactate-utilizing butyrate-producing Clostridium sp. BEY8. Chin. J. Appl. Environ. Biol. 2016, 22 (2), 259–264 (in Chinese).

30. Zhou, Y.; Zhu, X.; Tao, Y.; et al. Isolation and identification of a novel Lachnospiraceae bacterium BTY6. J. Sichuan Univ. (Nat. Sci. Ed.) 2016, 53 (3), 645–651 (in Chinese).

31. Zhu, X.; Chen, Y. Research progress on resource utilization of excess sludge from wastewater treatment plants. Technol. Water Treat. 2009, 35 (6), 1–5 (in Chinese).

32. Zhu, X.; Liang, J.; Wang, S.; Zhou, L. Isolation, identification and denitrification efficiency of two highly efficient aerobic denitrifying bacteria. Acta Sci. Circumstantiae 2009, 29 (1), 111–117 (in Chinese).

1. A method for extracting medium-chain fatty acid caproic acid (ZL201710681405.X, granted), 1st inventor.

2. A method for resource utilization of organic waste (ZL201710681433.1, granted), 1st inventor.

3. A method for synthesizing medium-chain hydroxy fatty acids from organic waste (CN App. No. 202510319544.2, under substantive examination), 1st inventor.

4. A method for synergistic synthesis of medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates based on functional microbial consortia (CN App. No. 202510390351.6, under substantive examination), 1st inventor.

5. A method for closed-loop fermentation of Huangshui and esterification to prepare ethyl caproate (CN App. No. 202611082261.1, under substantive examination), 1st inventor.

6. A method for synthesizing caproic acid from lactic acid via microbial catalysis (ZL201410593446.X, granted), 2nd inventor.

7. Bacillus licheniformis, method for preparing bioflocculant therefrom, and application thereof (ZL201510306188.7, granted), 2nd inventor.

8. A method for reducing N₂O generation during simultaneous biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal (ZL201110025899.9, granted), 2nd inventor.

9. A method for methane production from sludge (ZL200910195302.8, granted), 5th inventor.

 

1. Major Science and Technology Special Project of Sichuan Province on Bio-manufacturing (Principal Investigator), total project funding: RMB 20 million, 2025–2028.

2. National Natural Science Foundation of China (General Program), “Spatial microbial consortia for synergistic conversion of food waste and CO₂ into medium-chain-length PHA”, No. 22476193, 2025–2028.

3. Industry-Sponsored Project, “Industrialization of bio-fermentation technology for high-concentration caproate production”, 2024–2028.

4. Industry-Sponsored Project, “Pilot-scale bio-fermentation technology for producing high-concentration caproate from food brewing wastewater”, 2024–2026.

5. Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province (General Program), “Efficiency and mechanism of synergistic carbon fixation of CO₂ and food-waste caproate fermentation broth based on medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis”, No. 2023NSFSC0347, 2022–2024.

6. Chengdu Science and Technology Bureau R&D Project, “Synthesis of bulk chemical adipic acid from food waste”, No. 2022-YF05-00512-SN, 2021–2022.

7. Chinese Academy of Sciences “Light of West China” Category A Talent Program, 2019–2022.

8. Chengdu Science and Technology Bureau Project, “High-efficiency treatment and resource conversion of municipal organic waste into caproate”, 2019–2020.

9. National Natural Science Foundation of China (General Program), “Resource conversion of food waste into medium-chain fatty acids”, No. 21777153, 2018–2021.

10. Member of the Youth Innovation Promotion Association, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2018–2021.

11. Sichuan Provincial Science and Technology Support Program, “Technology and equipment for converting municipal excess sludge into biofuel precursors”, No. 2016JZ0010, 2017–2019.

12. National Natural Science Foundation of China, “Enhancing the efficiency and elucidating the mechanism of CO₂ fixation into CH₄ in microbial electrolysis cells”, 2014–2016.

13. Chinese Academy of Sciences “Light of West China” Western Young Doctor Program, 2014–2016.

Former Students

Xin Feng, M.S. Student, 071005 – Microbiology

Huanhuan Huang, M.S. Student, 086000 – Biology and Medicine

Hong Tan, M.S. Student, 086000 – Biology and Medicine

Yan Liang, M.S. Student, 086000 – Biology and Medicine

Yuecen Luo, M.S. Student, 071005 – Microbiology

Current Students

Lunqian Zheng, M.S. Student, 086001 – Biotechnology and Engineering

Guofeng Fan, M.S. Student, 086001 – Biotechnology and Engineering

Chenyang Wang, M.S. Student, 086001 – Biotechnology and Engineering

We warmly invite postdoctoral fellows, special research assistants, graduate students, and interns to join us in exploring the frontiers of green bio-manufacturing. Candidates with backgrounds in synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, systems biology, industrial microbiology, fermentation engineering, biochemical engineering, environmental engineering, or analytical chemistry are especially welcome. We look for strong experimental and engineering skills coupled with data-driven scientific thinking. If you are experienced in AI-assisted research—such as machine learning for fermentation process modeling and intelligent control, AI-guided protein and enzyme design, or multi-omics data mining of microbiomes—and are passionate about industrial translation, our group offers an ideal platform. You will engage in frontier projects addressing real-world industrial scenarios in collaboration with industry partners, receive comprehensive training across the full “research–engineering–industry” chain, and enjoy competitive compensation and full support. Interested applicants are invited to send their CV and representative achievements to zhuxy@cib.ac.cn.