I.    About

    The College of Chemical Engineering datesback to 1929. Its origin was the Forest Chemistry Lab prepared in Zhejiang University and founded in the former Central University by Mr. Liang Xi, an outstanding Chinese forestry scientist, educator, social activist and the first Minister of Forestry and Land Reclamation of the People’s Republic of China. In the nationwide adjustments to colleges and departments in 1952, the Department of Forestry of the former Central University and the Department of Forestry of the former University of Nanking merged into a new college, the former Nanjing Forestry College (the current Nanjing Forestry University), which established the Program on Chemical Processing Engineering of Forest Products based on the former Central University’s Forest Chemistry Lab. In 1956, China’s first undergraduate program in chemical processing engineering of forest products began to recruit students. In 1957, the Master’s Program on Chemical Processing Engineering of Forest Products began to recruit students. In May 1959, the Department of Chemical Processing Engineering of Forest Products was established. In 1993, it was renamed the College of Chemical Engineering. 

    Our college’s characteristic preponderant mainstay discipline is Chemical Processing Engineering of Forest Products. In 1981, this discipline was approved as one of the first doctoral disciplines in China. In 1989, it was rated as a national key discipline. Our university’s primary discipline Forestry Engineering supported by this discipline was chosen for the National Program of First-Rate Universities and First-Rate Disciplines in 2017. The College of Chemical Engineering became the mainstay in our university’s construction of first-rate disciplines.

    The College of Chemical Engineering is a core part of the “International Innovation Highland for Chemistry and Materials of Forest Products” jointly constructed by Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government and the State Administration of Forestry and Grassland, and the Jiangsu Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources. Our college has the Key Open Laboratory for Chemical Processing of Forest Products approved and named by the former State Administration of Forestry (the current State Administration of Forestry and Grassland), Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory for Biomass Green Fuel and Chemicals, Jiangsu Provincial University Base for Incubating the State Key Laboratory for Agroforestry Biomass Chemistry and Utilization. We have a Postdoctoral Research Station for Forestry Engineering, two doctoral programs respectively on Chemical Processing Engineering of Forest Products and the Science and Technology of Biomass Energy, a primary master’s program on Chemical Engineering and Technology, secondary academic master’s programs on Chemical Processing Engineering of Forest Products, Biochemical Engineering, Chemical Technology, Chemical Engineering, Science and Technology of Biomass Energy, Applied Chemistry, and professional master’s programs on Materials and Chemical Engineering, Biology and Medicine.

    Our college consists of the Department of Chemical Processing Engineering of Forest Products, the Department of Bioengineering, the Department of Fine Chemical Engineering, the Department of Chemical Engineering, the Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and the Department of Applied Chemistry. There are four undergraduate programs, i.e. Chemical Processing Engineering of Forest Products, Chemical Engineering and Technology, Bioengineering, Biological Pharmacy. The Chemical Processing Engineering of Forest Products Program is a national characteristic program, a characteristic and brand program of Jiangsu Province, a pilot program for the comprehensive reform of Undergraduate Programs in Institutions of Higher Learning approved by the Ministry of Education.

    Our college now has 101 faculty members, including 35 professors, 27 associate professors, 29 doctoral supervisors and 26 master supervisors. We have more than 10 faculty members who are talents in The Recruitment Program for Young Professionals, the National Special Support Program for High-Level Talents: Leading Talents in Scientific and Technological Innovation, Jiangsu Province’s "Project 333" Level 2, and distinguished professors of Jiangsu Province. We also have Jiangsu Province’s first top-notch team of talents in the Recruitment Program for Top-Notch Talents and Teams. At present, our college has more than 60-plus doctoral students, 270-plus postgraduate students and 1,200-plus undergraduates. In the past five years, our college has undertaken more than 150 important research projects (tasks) including projects in the National Key Research and Development Program, Program 973, Program 863, National Science and Technology Support Program, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and has won seven national science and technology awards, such as the first and second prizes of the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award and the second prize in the State Technological Invention Awards, with more than 200 SCI papers published and more than 50 invention patents granted annually.

II.  Degree Programs

Undergraduate Programs

1.    Chemical Processing Engineering of Forest Products

Chemical Processing Engineering of Forest Products is a program that focuses on the talent training needs of traditional forestry chemical industry, chemical and pharmaceutical-related industries, and strategic emerging industries such as new energy, new materials and new medicine. The aim is to cultivate high-level professionals with theoretical knowledge and expertise in the chemical composition, properties, chemical and biochemical conversion and use of trees and forest products, and the processing and equipment of biomass chemical products. Graduates of the program can engage in the product technology development and management, engineering design, and product sales in enterprises, institutions and research institutes in the fields of forestry chemicals, fine chemicals, chemicals and materials, pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetics, plant extracts, environmental protection and other fields of work with technical services.

2. Chemical Engineering and Technology

The Chemical Engineering and Technology Program trains people with knowledge in chemical engineering and chemical technology, who can engage in engineering design, technology development, production technology management, and science in the chemical, oil refining, metallurgy, energy, light industry, pharmaceutical, environmental protection, and military industries. This program has two major characteristics. First, it has significant engineering characteristics of integrating knowledge of chemical reactions, chemical unit operations, chemical process and equipment, as well as simulation and optimization of process system, which empowers students to be capable of design, optimization, and management. Second, it is a widely applied major that has broad coverage. Students' ability to engage in scientific research and product development will make them more capable of development and application in fine chemicals, coatings and adhesives, polymer chemical and technology.

3. Bioengineering

    Bioengineering is the use of biological, chemical and engineering techniques to utilize, modify, and design the structure and functions of living organisms according to human needs, so as to produce all kinds of products economically, efficiently and at scale. It is an engineering discipline that has the basic task of industrialization with the aid of engineering technology based on the research results of biotechnology. This program is to train interdisciplinary, application-oriented talents characterized by forestry resources with global vision, the basic knowledge of biological and engineering, natural sciences and humanities, who can engage in scientific research, engineering design, technology development, system analysis in bio-engineering, biochemical engineering, biological pharmacy and other related fields.

4. Biological Pharmacy

    This program serves the pharmaceutical industry and the big health industry. Targeting the demand for modern biopharmaceutical technology and talents, characterized by the development and use of biological and botanical medicine, the program is committed to training application-oriented high-level specialists who have all-round development in morality, intelligence, physique and aesthetics, with solid theoretical knowledge and practical skills in biotechnology and pharmacy, full of scientific literacy, humanistic feelings and innovative spirit. This program has established good relationships with many well-known pharmaceutical enterprises inside and outside the province, and has built many internship and practice bases. The graduates can engage in scientific research, technology development, process design, product quality control, business management and pharmaceutical marketing in the fields of biological pharmacy, natural medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, big health and bio-engineering.

     Master’s Programs

1.    Chemical Engineering

    The Chemical Engineering Program mainly satisfies the demand for talent training in such fields as petrochemical engineering, fine chemical engineering and biomass chemical engineering. The main research areas are chemical reaction and chemical separation process, chemical engineering equipment design and process optimization, new cleaner production technology and new equipment development for chemical engineering, including (1) carbon materials and natural clay-based adsorption, catalytic materials and adsorption process equipment; (2) membrane science and separation engineering; (3) extraction and separation of natural products and the equipment.

2.    Biochemical Engineering

    The Master’s Biochemical Engineering Program builds on the area of research called Biological Processing of Forest Products (established in 1987) in the national key discipline called Chemical Processing Engineering of Forest Products. It mainly involves research of the basic theories and application development of biomass resource degradation and conversion. The main research areas include: (1) biomass bio-refining: basic and applied research of the preparation of biomass energy, bio-based chemicals and bio-based materials from biomass by modern biotechnology; (2) bio-catalysis and bioconversion: basic, applied and technical process research of the use of microorganisms or enzymes to manufacture fine chemicals, pharmaceutical intermediates and other high-value-added products; (3) sugar bio-engineering: technical research of the bio-fabrication of functional polysaccharides, oligosaccharides and rare sugars from biomass polysaccharides; (4) biomass nanofiber: technical research of the bio-fabrication of nanofiber materials from biomass polysaccharides and application. The program has 23 full-time faculty members, including 16 master supervisors and 8 doctoral supervisors. Ninety percent of the faculty members have doctoral degrees. 70% of doctoral degree holders have more than a year of overseas experience. There is one staff person selected for the New Century Talents Project, one Young and Middle-Aged Leading Talent in Scientific and Technological Innovation selected by the Ministry of Science and Technology, two selected for the New Century Excellent Talent Support Program by the Ministry of Education, one for Jiangsu Provincial Outstanding Youth, and three for Jiangsu Provincial Distinguished Professors.

    In recent years, it has undertaken more than 70 ministerial/provincial projects in the National Key Research and Development Program, Program 973, Program 863, Climbing Program, High-Tech Demonstration Projects of the former State Planning Commission, the Program for Introduction of Advanced Agricultural Technology and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Many scientific research achievements have been made. Some of the achievements have reached a leading or advanced level in the world. A number of research findings have realized industrial application, producing significant economic and social benefits.

3.    Chemical Processing Engineering of Forest Products

    Chemical Processing Engineering of Forest Products is a program that caters to the demand for talent training in such traditional industries as chemical engineering of forest products, chemical engineering and pharmaceutical engineering, as well as such emerging industries as new energy, new materials and new pharmaceutical engineering. The Master’s Program mainly trains high-level specialists in chemical process engineering of forest products with all-round development in morality, intelligence and physique in the service of socialist modernization. The research areas include: (1) chemistry and use of extracts: the basic and applied research and development of forest-plant resources and chemical constituents of various plants and animals in nature that have high application value; the use of chemical and biochemical methods and techniques to study the extraction, separation, purification and structural identification of various physiological active ingredients; the use of modern analytical techniques to test their physiological activity and physical and chemical properties, to provide theoretical basis and experimental basis for industrial application; (2) chemistry and use of terpenes: the basic and applied research of the separation, purification, composition analysis, chemical modification and synthesis of terpenoids from natural products, and the development of new products and technologies; research of the synthesis of fine chemicals and functional materials with high value in use and can be widely used in medicine, health care, chemical engineering, environmental protection and other fields from rosin, turpentine and various natural essential oils through chemical conversion or molecular modification; (3) biomass thermochemical conversion and carbon materials: the research and development of thermal conversion chemistry in biomass thermochemical process, carbonization, gasification and liquefaction technologies for thermal conversion and their application in the preparation of energy, chemicals and materials, and a variety of carbon materials prepared from biomass; research of the preparation, structure, properties and application of biological carbon materials such as activated carbon in the fields of industry, medicine, electronics and energy, thermal conversion catalyzed by biomass, the principle and technology of preparation and application of highly purified syngas, the production and quality improvement of pyrolysis oil; (4) fine chemicals from forest products: research of the principles, methods and techniques of synthesizing a variety of fine chemicals applicable to chemical engineering, light industry, food and pharmaceutical industries such as auxiliaries and additives from such primary forest products as natural resin, tannin extracts, cellulose, woody oils and natural essential oils through chemical or biochemical processing; (5) bio-based chemicals and materials: research of the preparation and synthesis of various chemicals and functional polymer materials from cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and starch in natural plant materials through chemical or biochemical methods; (6) biochemical processing of forest resources: basic theoretical research of the biodegradation and bioconversion of plant fiber resources, theoretical and technical research of microbial genetic modification, pretreatment of plant fiber raw materials, separation and purification of biological products, research of the preparation of bio-based fuel alcohol, protein feed, functional oligosaccharides, bio-pharmaceuticals and other high-value-added products.

4. Science and Technology of Biomass Energy

    The Master’s Program on Science and Technology of Biomass Energy trains high-level specialists in biomass energy science and technology with all-round development of morality, intelligence and physique in the service of socialist modernization. The research areas include: (1) biomass energy technology: research of the thermochemical, chemical and biochemical conversion of biomass energy; (2) chemistry and use of biomass resources: research of the biosynthesis mechanism of chemical components of biomass resources, extraction, separation, identification and application of plant extracts, algae resources and bioactive substances, methods and techniques for the hydrolysis of plant fibers, techniques for the preparation of biomass chemicals; (3) biomass energy and carbon materials: research of the technology, properties and new application of special activated carbon and carbon materials; (4) biodegradation and bioconversion of biomass: research of the technology of biomass biodegradation and conversion for the preparation of liquid fuels and chemicals.

5. Chemical Technology

    This program trains high-level science and technology talents who meet the needs of building socialism with Chinese characteristics and have all-round development in morality, intelligence and physique. Students who graduate with the master’s degree should have solid basic theoretical and systematic expertise and comprehensive experimental skills in chemistry and chemical engineering, can skillfully use computers, be familiar with the developments and trends in one’s own research area, and have the ability to engage in scientific research in this discipline, master a foreign language, have the ability to read and write science and technology materials and books in a foreign language, can independently undertake teaching, research, design and technical management in institutions of higher learning, research and design institutes, enterprises and other institutions. The research areas include: (1) synthesis and technology of fine organic chemicals: research of new products, processes and methods in the synthesis of fine organic chemicals such as spices, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, chemical intermediates, plastic and rubber auxiliaries, food additives, dyes, pigments and surfactants; (2) chemistry and technology of fine chemicals: research of the extraction, separation, purification, identification and structure determination of organic compounds from natural resources, the development of natural perfume, pigments, food additives, pesticides, medicine and other fine chemical products; (3) coatings, adhesives and papermaking chemicals: research of the chemistry and production conditions in the production and application of coatings, adhesives and papermaking chemicals, the development of high-performance, low-cost, environment-friendly and market-fit new coatings, adhesives and papermaking chemicals; (4) functional materials: research of the design, synthesis, structure, performance and application of new photoelectric functional materials, biological functional materials, information functional materials, catalytic functional materials, chiral functional materials, environmental functional materials and energy functional materials based on organic or inorganic-organic hybrid matters.

6. Applied Chemistry

    This program trains high-level specialists in applied chemistry with all-round development in morality, intelligence and physique in the service of socialist modernization. Students who graduate with the master’s degree should master solid basic theoretical and systematic expertise in applied chemistry, be familiar with the frontier dynamics in this field, grasp good expertise and experimental skills in applied chemistry, and have the ability to independently engage in scientific research, teaching or engineering technology and engineering management professions, master a foreign language, can proficiently read professional materials and write papers in a foreign language, be proficient in computer skills and related software application skills, can independently undertake teaching, research, design and technical management in institutions of higher learning, research and design institutes, enterprises and other institutions. The research areas include: (1) chemistry and application of functional materials: research of the design and preparation, material characterization and theoretical calculation of functional polymer materials, intelligent materials, inorganic materials, carbon materials, nano-oxides and organo-inorganic composites; research of the application of functional materials in high-tech fields such as optics, electricity, magnetism, stimulus response, catalysis, flame retardants, biocompatibility, energy conversion and storage; (2) applied electrochemistry: basic and applied research of physical and chemical processes, interface control of devices, chemical basis for molecular design of materials, optimal design of electronic structures and microscopic dynamic processes concerning photoelectric conversion, electroluminescence, electrochromism, electrocatalysis, electrochemical synthesis, efficient environment-friendly chemical power supply and environmental electrochemistry.

 Doctoral Programs

1.    Chemical Processing Engineering of Forest Products

    This program mainly trains high-level specialists in chemical process engineering of forest products with all-round development in morality, intelligence and physique catering to China’s economic and social needs in the new era. Upon finishing this program, students who graduate with the doctorate should master solid extensive basic theories and systematic in-depth expertise in the field, be familiar with the research status and frontier trends in this field at home and abroad, have the ability to carry out scientific research independently, climb the heights in the discipline, explore new areas and produce innovative results. The research areas include: (1) chemistry and use of extracts: the basic and applied research and development of forest-plant resources and chemical constituents of various plants and animals in nature that have high application value; the use of chemical and biochemical methods and techniques to study the extraction, separation, purification and structural identification of various physiological active ingredients; the use of modern analytical techniques to test their physiological activity and physical and chemical properties, to provide theoretical basis and experimental basis for industrial application; (2) chemistry and use of terpenes: the basic and applied research of the separation, purification, composition analysis, chemical modification and synthesis of terpenoids from natural products, and the development of new products and technologies; research of the synthesis of fine chemicals and functional materials with high value in use and can be widely used in medicine, health care, chemical engineering, environmental protection and other fields from rosin, turpentine and various natural essential oils through chemical conversion or molecular modification; (3) biomass thermochemical conversion and carbon materials: the research and development of thermal conversion chemistry in biomass thermochemical process, carbonization, gasification and liquefaction technologies for thermal conversion and their application in the preparation of energy, chemicals and materials, and a variety of carbon materials prepared from biomass; research of the preparation, structure, properties and application of biological carbon materials such as activated carbon in the fields of industry, medicine, electronics and energy, thermal conversion catalyzed by biomass, the principle and technology of preparation and application of highly purified syngas, the production and quality improvement of pyrolysis oil; (4) fine chemicals from forest products: research of the principles, methods and techniques of synthesizing a variety of fine chemicals applicable to chemical engineering, light industry, food and pharmaceutical industries such as auxiliaries and additives from such primary forest products as natural resin, tannin extracts, cellulose, woody oils and natural essential oils through chemical or biochemical processing; (5) bio-based chemicals and materials: research of the preparation and synthesis of various chemicals and functional polymer materials from cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and starch in natural plant materials through chemical or biochemical methods; (6) biochemical processing of forest resources: basic theoretical research of the biodegradation and bioconversion of plant fiber resources, theoretical and technical research of microbial genetic modification, pretreatment of plant fiber raw materials, separation and purification of biological products, research of the preparation of bio-based fuel alcohol, protein feed, functional oligosaccharides, bio-pharmaceuticals and other high-value-added products.

2. Science and Technology of Biomass Energy

    This program aims to train high-level specialists in science and technology of biomass energy with all-round development in morality, intelligence and physique catering to China’s social needs in the new era. Upon finishing this program, students who graduate with the doctorate should master solid extensive basic theories and systematic in-depth expertise in the field, be familiar with the research status and frontier trends in this field at home and abroad, have the ability to carry out scientific research independently, climb the heights in the discipline, explore new areas and produce innovative results. The research areas include: (1) theory and technology of biomass liquid fuel preparation: research of the theories, methods and techniques of pretreatment of biomass, preparation of lignocellulosic hydrolytic enzymes and enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass sugars, the application of gene process in liquid fuel technology research; research of composition, properties and application characteristics of bio-oil, catalytic liquefaction and thermochemical liquefaction of bio-oil and other preparation mechanisms, methods and techniques, the theories, methods and techniques for bio-oil quality improvement; research of the theories, methods and techniques for the preparation of biodiesel by chemical or biological processes; (2) theory and technology of biomass gas fuel preparation: research of the theories, principles, methods and techniques of preparing various gaseous biomass fuel such as biomass gasification gas, syngas, methane, hydrogen from agricultural and forestry wood fiber through thermochemical conversion and biochemistry, and the application of gas fuel; (3) theory and technology of biomass solid fuel preparation: research of the theories, methods, techniques and application involved in the conversion of crop straw and wood fiber into efficient solid fuel.

Post-doctoral

    The Postdoctoral Research Station for Forestry Engineering was established in Nov. 1998. Forestry Engineering covers three secondary disciplines, i.e. Wood Science and Technology, Chemical Processing Engineering of Forest Products, Forest Engineering. In 1989, it was approved as a national key discipline. In 2002 and 2007 respectively, it was approved as a national key discipline again after passing the assessment by the Ministry of Education. In 2017, the primary discipline Forestry Engineering was selected as a First-Rate Discipline for the National Program of First-Rate Universities and First-Rate Disciplines. In the Ranking of Undergraduate Engineering Programs in Chinese Universities in 2018 directed by Wu Shulian, our program on Chemical Processing Engineering of Forest Products was the only A++ undergraduate program among all programs on chemical process engineering of forest products in China. This program has access to Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory for Biomass Green Fuel and Chemicals, Jiangsu Provincial University Base for Incubating the State Key Laboratory for Agroforestry Biomass Chemistry and Utilization, and the Key Open Laboratory for Chemical Processing of Forest Products approved and named by the former State Administration of Forestry (the current State Administration of Forestry and Grassland). This program recruits postdoctoral students under 35, who have got a doctoral degree for no more than 3 years, great potential for development and who are excellent in character and learning, healthy in body and mind, devoted to teaching career, with good comprehensive quality, good team spirit, a good knowledge of research basis and creativity. The research areas include chemistry and use of extracts, biomass thermochemical conversion and carbon materials, bio-based chemicals and materials, biochemical processing of forest resources.

III.  International Exchange and Collaboration

    In order to further improve the internationalization of our college, support and encourage our undergraduate students to go abroad for exchanges and study, and promote our college’s innovation and entrepreneurship, every year our college selects outstanding students to participate in our college’s Training Program for International Innovative Talents in Chemistry, to have short-term study and exchanges at world-renowned universities such as the University of California, San Diego, Boston University, and Tufts University in the USA.

    In Jan. 2017, our college selected 16 students to participate in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship - Overseas Class Program at the University of California, San Diego. The three-week innovation and entrepreneurship program included classroom lectures, guest speeches, and field visits to enterprises. In July 2017, our college selected 15 outstanding undergraduate students to participate in Nanjing Forestry University’s STEM Overseas Exchange Program for Science and Engineering Talents, to have four weeks of study and exchanges at the famous Boston University in the USA. The program included academic preparation for STEM learning and research, training in communication skills, workshops and a visit to Boston University's STEM Lab. In Jan. 2019, our college sent 19 students to Tufts University in Boston for a one-month exchange program, which included Green Chemistry courses, chemical engineering lectures and visits to famous universities in Boston. Through these exchange programs, our students have not only learned the latest innovative and entrepreneurial ideas abroad, American universities’ teaching methods and requirements for science and engineering courses, but also deeply felt the differences in education, ideas, life and culture, which brought profound impacts on their minds.

    At present, our college is carrying out “3+1+1” joint training cooperation programs with the University of Strathclyde in the UK, training outstanding student representatives to study in the UK and further strengthen exchanges and cooperation.

IV.   Contact

Name: Yan Qi

Tel: 025-85427648

Email: qiyan@njfu.edu.cn

Address: Room 2411, Building of College of Chemical Engineering