Dr. Tinggang Li is a Professor in the Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He received his Ph.D. degree from Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2008. He carried out joint Ph.D. study in Nanyang Technological University, Singapore from 2006 to 2008. He joined the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences as an assistant professor in 2008. He was a research fellow at the National University of Singapore for nine years from 2010 to 2019 before joining the Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences as a Professor in 2019. Dr. Li’s research focuses on environmental biotechnology, discovering novel microorganisms to directly transform and detoxify environmental contaminants, converting sustainable biomass to biofuels and value-added biochemicals, biofilm technology and environmental application of genomics.
Research Areas
Energy, resource and environmental biotransformation
Bioremediation of soil, sediments, and groundwater
Education
Experience
Work Experience
Professor, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2019-present).
Research fellow, National University of Singapore (2010-2019).
Assistant Professor, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2008-2010).
Publications
Papers
1. Mengfei Zhao, Hualin Zhang, Hexing Han, Xiaoliang Jiang, Youming Yang*, Tinggang Li*. Differential leaching mechanisms and ecological impact of organic acids on ion-adsorption type rare earth ores. Separation and Purification Technology, 2025, 362: 131701.
2. Hualin Zhang, Wenlong Bai, Shaojing Tian, Mengfei Zhao, Youming Yang, Xiaoliang Jiang, Tinggang Li*. Utilizing Ca3(PO4)2 and calcium superphosphate fertilizer for the passage of heavy metals in coal gangue: Mechanical insights and efficiency evaluation. Environmental Engineering Research, 2025, 30(4): 240322.
3. Hualin Zhang, Xiaoliang Jiang, Qiong Li, Youming Yang*, Tinggang Li*. Sustainable coal gangue-based silicon fertilizer: Energy-efficient preparation, performance optimization and conversion mechanism. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2025, 505: 159205.
4. Hualin Zhang, Qiong Li, Mengfei Zhao, Youming Yang, Renbi Bai, Xiaoliang Jiang*, Tinggang Li*. Leaching law of heavy metals in coal gangue: A combination of experimental optimization and simulation. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2025, 485: 136790.
5. Shaojing Tian, Xin Shu, Xiaoliang Jiang, Hualin Zhang, Xingyu Ma, Zedong Teng*, Tinggang Li*. Mineralization and stabilization of toxic Pb2+ ions using CMC loaded S/P co-doped biochar composite. Separation and Purification Technology, 2025, 354: 129161.
6. Mengfei Zhao, Zedong Teng, Xingyu Ma, Xiaoliang Jiang, Hualin Zhang, Youming Yang*, Tinggang Li*. Insight into leaching rare earth from ion-adsorption type rare earth ores with citric acid: Performance, kinetic analysis and differentiation leaching. Journal of Rare Earths 2025, 43: 591–602.
7. Huiyuan Guo, Zedong Teng, Hexing Han, Tinggang Li*. Biohydrogen production from saline wastewater: An overview. Clean Energy Science and Technology, 2024, 2(3): 210.
8. Xuequan Jing, Meina Guo, Jiarong Li, Wei Xu, Haonan Oin, Weidong Xiao, Yinhua Wan, Hongdong Yu, Jieliang Chen, Zhangwei Yao, Weijie Song, Kang Hu*, Tinggang Li*. An Eu (III)-functionalized covalent organic framework fluorescent probe for specific detection of Flumequine based on pore restriction and antenna effect. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 2024, 323: 124884.
9. Liyan Wang, Bojie Jia, Zedong Teng*, Hao Cao, Yanli Miao, Huiyuan Guo, Tinggang Li*. Iron-based materials functionalized with carbon and phosphorus recovered from sludge enhanced the formation of stable minerals to passivate lead and chromium in wastewater and soil. Chemosphere 2024, 359: 142340.
10. Hualin Zhang, Xiaoliang Jiang, Mengfei Zhao, Xingyu Ma, Youming Yang, Tinggang Li*. Performance of ball-milling modified coal gangue on Pb2+, Zn2+ and NH4+-N adsorption. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management 2024, 323: 124884.
11. Hongyu Tian, Jianwei Liu*, Jianbin Sun, Yuxiu Zhang, Tinggang Li. Cross-media migration behavior of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from municipal wastewater treatment systems (MWTSs): Fugitive characteristics, sharing mechanisms, and aerosolization behavior. Science of the Total Environment 2023, 893: 164710.
12. Huiyuan Guo, Meina Ji, Tianxiao Du, Weichao Xu, Jianwei Liu, Renbi Bai, Zedong Teng*, Tinggang Li*. Salt stress altered anaerobic microbial community and carbon metabolism characteristics: The trade-off between methanogenesis and chain elongation. Journal of Environmental Management 2023, 341: 118111.
13. Jianwei Liu*, Mingjia Chi, Hongyu Tian, Xuewei Chen, Tinggang Li. Use of dewatered sludge and fly ash to prepare new fillers: Application and evaluation in wastewater treatment. Biochemical Engineering Journal 2023, 97: 108988.
14. Zedong Teng, Xin Zhao, Bojie Jia, Liangjun Ye, Shaojing Tian, Huiyuan Guo, Yali Guo,f, Xiaonan Ji, Tinggang Li, Min Li. Bioremediation system consisted with Leclercia adecarboxylata and nZVI@Carbon/Phosphate for lead immobilization: The passivation mechanisms of chemical reaction and biological metabolism in soil. Journal of Environmental Management 2023, 340: 117888.
15. Jianwei Liu*, Nana Zang, Liutang Gao, Xueli Liu, Hongyu Tian, Peng Yue, Tinggang Li*. A modified packed anaerobic baffled reactor based on phase separation treating decentralized wastewater: Performance and microbial community. Biochemical Engineering Journal 2022, 183: 108455.
16. Shu Shi, Zedong Teng, Jianwei Liu*, Tinggang Li*. Conversion of waste cooking oil to rhamnolipid by a newly oleophylic Pseudomonas aeruginosa WO2. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19: 1700.
17. Zedong Teng#, Liyan Wang#, Bingqian Huang, Yue Yu, Jianwei Liu, Tinggang Li*. Synthesis of green deep eutectic solvents for pretreatment wheat straw: Enhance the solubility of typical lignocellulose. Sustainability 2022, 14: 657.
18. Zedong Teng, Xin Zhao, Junjun Yuan, Min Li*, Tinggang Li*. Phosphate functionalized iron based nanomaterials coupled with phosphate solubilizing bacteria as an efficient remediation system to enhance lead passivation in soil. Journal of Hazardous Materials 2021, 419: 126433.
19. Jianwei Liu, Mengfei Zhao, Cui Duan, Peng Yue, Tinggang Li. Removal characteristics of dissolved organic matter and membrane fouling in ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis membrane combined processes treating the secondary effluent of wastewater treatment plant. Water Science and Technology 2021, 83: 689–700.
20. Chen Zhang, Tinggang Li, Guandong Su, Jianzhong He. Enhanced direct fermentation from food waste to butanol and hydrogen by an amylolytic Clostridium. Renewable Energy 2020, 153: 522–529.
21. Bingqian Huang, Liyan Wang*, Xuan Wei, Weichao Xu, Zhen Sun, Tinggang Li*. Lignocellulose pretreatment by deep eutectic solvents for biobutanol production. Progress in Chemistry, 2020, 32(12): 2034-2048.
22. Weichao Xu, He Zhao, Hongbin Cao, Yuxiu Zhang, Yuxing Sheng, Tinggang Li, Siyuan Zhou, Haibo Li. New insights of enhanced anaerobic degradation of refractory pollutants in coking wastewater: Role of zero-valent iron in metagenomic functions. Bioresource Technology 2020, 300: 122667.
23. Tinggang Li*, Junxin Liu*. Factors affecting performance and functional stratification of membrane-aerated biofilms with a counter-diffusion configuration. RSC Advances 2019, 9: 29337–29346.
24. Tinggang Li, Chen Zhang, Kun-Lin Yang, Jianzhong He. Unique genetic cassettes in a Thermoanaerobacterium contribute to simultaneous conversion of cellulose and monosugars into butanol. Science Advances 2018, 4: e1701475.
25. Chen Zhang, Tinggang Li, Jianzhong He. Characterization and genome analysis of a butanol-isopropanol-producing Clostridium beijerinckii strain BGS1. Biotechnology for Biofuels 2018, 11: 280.
26. Tinggang Li, Yi-Rui Wu, Jianzhong He. Heterologous expression, characterization and application of a new beta-xylosidase identified in solventogenic Clostridium sp strain BOH3. Process Biochemistry 2018, 67: 99–104.
27. Tinggang Li*, Junxin Liu*. Rapid formation of biofilm grown on gas-permeable membrane induced by famine incubation. Biochemical Engineering Journal 2017, 121: 156–162.
28. Tinggang Li, Jianzhong He. Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of hemicellulose to butanol by a non-sporulating Clostridium species. Bioresource Technology 2016, 219: 430–438.
29. Yu Yan, Anindya Basu, Tinggang Li, Jianzhong He. Direct conversion of xylan to butanol by a wild-type Clostridium species strain G117. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 2016, 113: 1702–1710.
30. Tinggang Li#, Yan Yan#, Jianzhong He. Enhanced direct fermentation of cassava to butanol by Clostridium species strain BOH3 in cofactor-mediated medium. Biotechnology for Biofuels 2015, 8: 166.
31. Tinggang Li, Yan Yan, Jianzhong He. Reducing cofactors contribute to the increase of butanol production by a wild-type Clostridium sp. strain BOH3. Bioresource Technology 2014, 155: 220–228.
32. Huiyu Dong, Zhimin Qiang, Tinggang Li, Hui Jin, Weidong Chen. Effect of artificial aeration on the performance of vertical-flow constructed wetland treating heavily polluted river water. Journal of Environmental Science 2012, 24: 596–601.
33. Mengkai Li, Zhimin Qiang, Tinggang Li, James R. Bolton, Changlong Liu. In situ measurement of UV fluence rate distribution by use of a micro fluorescent silica detector. Environmental Science & Technology 2011, 45: 3034–3039.
34. Tinggang Li, Renbi Bai, Dieudonné-Guy Ohandja, Junxin Liu. Biodegradation of acetonitrile by adapted biofilm in a membrane-aerated biofilm reactor. Biodegradation 2009, 20: 569–580.
35. Tinggang Li, Junxin Liu, Renbi Bai, F. S. Wong. Membrane-aerated biofilm reactor for the treatment of acetonitrile wastewater. Environmental Science & Technology 2008, 42: 2099–2104.
36. Tinggang Li, Renbi Bai, Junxin Liu. Distribution and composition of extracellular polymeric substances in membrane-aerated biofilm. Journal of Biotechnology 2008, 135: 52–57.
37. Tinggang Li, Junxin Liu, Renbi Bai. Membrane aerated biofilm reactors: a brief current review. Recent Patents on Biotechnology 2008, 2: 88–93.
38. Tinggang Li, Junxin Liu, Renbi Bai, Dieudonne-Guy Ohandjad, Fook-Sin Wong. Biodegradation of organonitriles by adapted activated sludge consortium with acetonitrile-degrading microorganisms. Water Research 2007, 41: 3465–3473.
39. Tinggang Li, Xiufen Li, Jian Chen, Guoping Zhang, Hongchun Wang. Treatment of landfill leachate by electrochemical oxidation and anaerobic process. Water Environment Research 2007, 79: 514–520.
Research Interests
Energy, resource and environmental direct biotechnology
Direct biotransformation of hazardous pollutants
Bioremediation of soil, sediments, and groundwater
Biomass to bioenergy and value-added biochemicals
Green synthesis of catalytic functional materials
Students
已指导学生
杜甜笑 硕士研究生 083000-环境科学与工程
现指导学生
郭慧媛 博士研究生 083002-环境工程
刘晴 硕士研究生 085700-资源与环境