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Lance L. Lobban

Lance L. Lobban

Lance Lobban

Professor
Francis W. Winn Chair of Chemical Engineering
David Ross Boyd Professor

Email: llobban@ou.edu
Office: Sarkeys Energy Center, Room T-317

Education
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering (1987)
University of Houston
B.S. Chemical Engineering (1981)
University of Kansas 

 

Research Focus

  • Reaction Engineering
  • Biofuels
  • Catalysis

Experience and Awards

  • Brandon H. Griffin Award for Excellent Qualities in Teaching, Advising and Support (2006)
  • Francis W. Winn Chair (2000-present)
  • Lloyd G. and Joyce Austin Presidential Professor (2000)
  • Kerr-McGee Distinguished Lectureship Award (1998)
  • Regents' Award for Superior Teaching (1996)
  • Outstanding Chemical Engineering Instructor (2011, 2009, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1998, 1996, 1992).
  • OU Student Association Outstanding Professor in the College of Engineering (1994)
  • Gulf-Western Engineering Lectureship Award (1994)
  • Richard M. Cyert Outstanding Team Award (1993) (Awarded for contributions in the recruitment of National Scholars to OU)
  • Baldwin Study/Travel Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (1992)
  • Mortar Board Top Ten Faculty, University of Oklahoma (1990).;

About

My research focuses on catalysis and reaction engineering. My group combines experimental measurement with theoretical analyses of reaction mechanisms in order to better understand and improve catalytic processes. The operating conditions of the reacting systems we have studied include gas phase reactions at temperatures up to 800°C, liquid phase reactions at room temperature and below, and reactions in presence of a strong electric field. The experimental techniques include steady and unsteady (transient) state kinetics measurements, adsorbed species identification using diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and measurement of isotopic species using mass spectrometry.

My current research involves thermochemical conversion of biomass to fuels and chemicals.  We are investigating both conversion of natural fats and oils to diesel fuel and petrochemicals, and conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals.  Although the “refining” of biomass has analogies to refining of petroleum, biomass is highly oxygenated, and conversion to hydrocarbons requires new catalysts, reactors and reaction conditions that differ greatly from those used in petroleum refining.  A huge challenge in development of these biomass conversion systems is the smaller scale at which they must operate due to the distributed nature of biomass resources.

Selected Publications
  1. Zaimes, G., Beck, A., Janupala, R., Resasco, D., Crossley, S., Lobban, L., Khanna, V. (2017) “Multistage torrefaction and in situ catalytic upgrading to hydrocarbon biofuels: analysis of life cycle energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.” Energy Environ Sci, 10, 1034-1050.
  2. Waters, C., Janupala, R., Mallinson, R. and Lobban, L. (2017) Staged thermal fractionation for segregation of lignin and cellulose pyrolysis products: An experimental study of residence time and temperature effects. J. of Applied and Analytical Pyrolysis, 126, 380-389.
  3. Herron, J. A., Vann, T., Duong, N., Resasco, D., Crossley, S., Lobban, L., Maravelias, C. T. (2017). A Systems-Level Roadmap for Biomass Thermal Fractionation and Catalytic Upgrading Strategies. Energy Technology, 5(1), 130–150.
  4. Tamiyakul, S., Sooknoi, T., Lobban, L., Jongpatiwut, S. (2016). Generation of reductive Zn species over Zn/HZSM–5 catalysts for n–pentane aromatization. Applied Catalysis A: General, 525, 190 - 196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apcata.2016.07.020. //www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926860X16303891
  5. Wan, S., Waters, C., Stevens, A., Gumidyala, A., Jentoft, R., Lobban, L., Resasco, D., Mallinson, R., & Crossley, S. (2015). Decoupling HZSM‐5 Catalyst Activity from Deactivation during Upgrading of Pyrolysis Oil Vapors. ChemSusChem, 8, 552-559.
  6. Lin F, Waters C, Bartley L.E., Mallinson R.G, Lobban L.L. ,(2015) Relationships between biomass composition and liquid products formed via pyrolysis. Frontiers in Energy Research, 1–37
  7. Zhu, X., Nie, L.*, Lobban, L., Mallinson, R. & Resasco, D. (2014). Efficient Conversion of m-Cresol to Aromatics on a Bifunctional Pt/HBeta Catalyst. Energy & Fuels, 28, 4104-4111.
  8. Zhu, X., Hoang, T., Lobban, L. & Mallinson, R. (2014). Partial oxidation of ethanol using a non-equilibrium plasma. Int. J Hydrogen Energy, 39, 9047-9056.
  9. Wan, S., Pham, T., Zhang, S., Lobban, L., Resasco, D., & Mallinson, R. (2013). Direct catalytic upgrading of biomass pyrolysis vapors by a dual function Ru/TiO2 catalyst. AIChE J 59, 2275-2285.
  10. Trung Q Hoang, Xinli Zhu, Lance L Lobban and Richard G Mallinson, “Effects of gap and elevated pressure on ethanol reforming in a non-thermal plasma reactor, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 44 (2011) 274003
  11. Xinli Zhu, Trung Hoang, Lance L Lobban and Richard G Mallinson, “Plasma steam reforming of E85 for hydrogen rich gas production,” J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 44 (2011) 274002
  12. M. Chiappero, P.T. Do, S. Crossley, L. Lobban, D. Resasco, “Direct conversion of triglycerides to olefins and paraffins over noble metal supported catalysts,” Fuel, 90 (2011) p. 1155-1165.
  13. Xinli Zhu, Lance L. Lobban, Richard G. Mallinson, Daniel E. Resasco, “Bifunctional hydrodeoxygenationof phenolic model compound over Pt/HBeta catalyst,” Journal of Catalysis 281 (1) p. 21-29 (2011).
  14. Zhu, X., T. Hoang, L.L. Lobban and R.G. Mallinson, "Low CO content hydrogen production from bio-ethanol using a combined plasma reforming-catalytic water gas shift reactor," Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 94 (2010) p. 311-317
  15. Trung T. Pham, Steven. P. Crossley, Tawan Sooknoi Lance L. Lobban, Daniel E. Resasco, and Richard G. Mallinson, “Etherification of 2-methyl-pentanal on supported palladium catalysts,” Appl. Catal. A: General, 379 (2010) 135–140
  16. Trung Q Hoang, Xinli Zhu, Tanate Danuthai, Lance L Lobban, Daniel E Resasco, Richard G Mallinson, “Conversion of Glycerol to Alkyl-aromatics over Zeolites,” Energy and Fuels,  vol. 24 pp. 3804-3809, 2010.
  17. Trung Q Hoang, Xinli Zhu, Lance L Lobban, Daniel E Resasco, Richard G Mallinson, “Effects of HZSM-5 crystallite size on stability and alkyl-aromatics product distribution from conversion of propanal.” Catal Commun. vol. 11 (11) pp. 977-981, 2010
  18. Trung T. Pham, Steven. P. Crossley, Tawan Sooknoi Lance L. Lobban, Daniel E. Resasco, and Richard G. Mallinson, “Etherification of 2-methyl-pentanal on supported palladium catalysts,” Applied Catalysis A: 379, 135-140, 2010
  19. Zhu, Xinli, Lance L. Lobban, Daniel E. Resasco, Richard G. Mallinson, “Tailoring the Mesopore Structure of HZSM-5 to Control Product Distribution in the Conversion of Propanal,”Xinli Journal of Catalysis, 271, 88-98, 2010
Sustainable Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering
Sarkeys Energy Center, Room T-301
100 E. Boyd St.
Norman, OK 73019-1004
Phone: (405) 325-5811

Updated 7/19/2023 by Sustainable Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering: kkelly@ou.edu