Mahlet Nigus Gebresillase

Resourceful Graduate Research Assistant passionate about advancing knowledge in the field of heterogeneous catalysis and reaction engineering toward the production of biomass-derived transport fuels through high-quality research. Self-motivated professional with excellent communication, planning, and problem-solving abilities.

• Production of synthetic transportation fuel precursors from furanic platform molecules over solid acids.
• Production of drop-in fuels from Levulinic acid over supported bi-metallic catalysts.
• Development and demonstration of reaction-separation and purification energy-saving process technology in the fine chemical industry.
• Development of technology for chemical conversion of furan derivatives derived from pentose for manufacturing lubricant grade chemical products.

1. J.G. Seo, M.N. Gebresillase, H.B. Jeon, "바이오매스 유래 퓨란계 화합물의 중합용 촉매 및 이를 이용한 바이오매스 유래 퓨란계 화합물의 중합체 제조방법", PCT/KR2018/008707

1. M.N. Gebresillase1, R. Shavi, J.G. Seo*, "A Comprehensive Investigation of Condensation of Furanic Platform Molecules to C14-C15 Fuel Precursors over Sulfonic Acid Functionalized Silica Support" Green Chemistry, 20, 5133-5146 (2018), [IF=9.480]

2. V. Hiremath†, M.L.T. Triviño†, R. Shavi, M.N. Gebresillase, J.G. Seo*, "Sacrificial Templating Method for Fabrication of MgO-Al2O3@C Spheres and Their Application to CO2 Capture" Materials Letters, 211 pp. 304-307 (2018), [IF=3.019]

3. R.Q. Raguindin, M.N. Gebresillase, S.J. Han, J.G. Seo*, "Niobic Acid Nanoparticles for Synthesis of High-Carbon Fuel Precursors from Biomass-Derived Furanic Compounds" Sustainable Energy & Fuel, 4, pp. 3018-3028 (2020), [IF=4.912]

4. M.N. Gebresillase1, R.Q. Raguindin, H. Kim, J.G. Seo*, "Supported Bimetallic Catalysts for the Solvent-free Hydrogenolysis of Levulinic Acid to gamma-Valerolactone: Effect of metal combination (Ni-Cu, Ni-Co, Cu-Co)" Catalysts 2020, 10(11), 1354; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10111354

5. M.N. Gebresillase1, , J.G. Seo*, "Utilization of Furfuryl Alcohol Derivatives for the Synthesis of Diesel Fuel Range Precursors" (submitted)

6. M.N. Gebresillase1, R.Q. Raguindin, J.G. Seo*, “Application of 2-Methylfuran and 5-Methylfurfural for the Synthesis of C16 Fuel Precursor over Supported Heteropoly acid Functionalized Ionic Liquid” Korean J Chem Eng. (submitted)

7. M.N, Gebresillase1, J.G. Seo*, "Sulfonated Wrinkled Silica-Carbon Composite with Tunable Surface Properties as a Catalyst for the Synthesis of Higher Carbon Fuel Precursor" (In preparation)

8. M.N. Gebresillase1, R.Q. Raguindin, J.G. Seo*, "Size and Fiber Density Controlled Synthesis of Fibrous Al2O3 Sphere and Application in One-Pot Synthesis of Diesel Range Fuel Precursor from Furfuryl Alcohol " (In preparation)

1. M.N. Gebresillase, J.G. Seo*, “Brønsted acid-catalyzed hydroxyalkylation /alkylation of furanic platform molecules to higher carbon transport fuels,” Korean Institute of Chemical Engineers (KIChE) Spring, 2017, [Poster]

2. M.N. Gebresillase, J.G. Seo*, “Condensation of furanic platform molecules to diesel precursors over silica-supported sulfonic acid functionalized catalysts” Korean Institute of Chemical Engineers (KIChE) Fall, 2017, [Poster, Excellent Paper Presentation]

3. M.N. Gebresillase, J.G. Seo*, “Condensation of furanic platform molecules to diesel precursors over silica-supported sulfonic acid functionalized catalyst” Korean Institute of Chemical Engineers (KIChE) Spring, 2018, [Poster]

4. M.N. Gebresillase, J.G. Seo*, “A Comprehensive investigation of condensation of furanic platform molecules to C14-C15 fuel precursors over sulfonic acid functionalized silica support” 3rd Green and Sustainable Chemistry conference, 13-16 May 2018, Berlin, Germany, [Poster]

5. M.N. Gebresillase, J.G. Seo*, “Effect of sulfonic acid functionalized different silica support on the condensation of furanic platform molecules to C14-C15 fuel oxygenates” The 8th Tokyo Conference on Advanced Catalytic Science and Technology, (TOCAT8), 2018, Yokohama, Japan, [Poster]

6. M.N. Gebresillase, J.G. Seo*, “A Comprehensive investigation of condensation of furanic platform molecules to C14-C15 fuel precursors over sulfonic acid functionalized silica support” Korean Institute of Chemical Engineers (KIChE) Fall, 2018, [Oral]

7. M.N. Gebresillase, J.G. Seo*, “Sulfonated wrinkled carbon- silica nanocomposite: an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of higher carbon fuel precursors” Korean Institute of Chemical Engineers (KIChE) Fall, 2018, [Poster]

8. M.N. Gebresillase, J.G. Seo*, “Fibrous nano silica-supported ionic liquid catalysts for the CTH product simulated reactions of 2-pentanone and 2-Methylfuran in 2-pentanol” Korean Institute of Chemical Engineers (KIChE) Spring, 2019, [Poster]

9. M.N. Gebresillase, J.G. Seo*, “Sulfonated wrinkled carbon- silica nanocomposite: an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of higher carbon fuel precursors” Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals (SBFC) 2019, Seattle, U.S.A, [Poster]

10. M.N. Gebresillase, J.G. Seo*, “A Comprehensive investigation of condensation of furanic platform molecules to C14-C15 fuel precursors over sulfonic acid functionalized silica support” Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals (SBFC) 2019, Seattle, U.S.A, [Poster]

11. M.N. Gebresillase, J.G. Seo*, “Sulfonated wrinkled carbon- silica nanocomposite: an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of higher carbon fuel precursors” Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals (SBFC) 2019, Seattle, U.S.A, [Oral, Outstanding Paper Presentation]

12. M.N. Gebresillase, J.G. Seo*, “Size and fiber density-controlled synthesis of fibrous Al2O3 spheres (AMC) and application in biomass conversion” Korean Institute of Chemical Engineers (KIChE) Fall, 2019, [Poster]

13. M.N. Gebresillase, J.G. Seo*, “Synthesis of fibrous γ-Al2O3 sphere supported Nb2O5 catalysts for the one-pot furfuryl alcohol conversion to levulinic acid and high carbon fuel precursors” 4th International Conference, BEEM 2020, Fall, 2020, [Oral, Best Student Oral Presentation]