Bob Baldwin has extensive experience in catalysis, reaction engineering, biomass gasification, biomass liquefaction, upgrading of bio-oil, and advanced biofuels.

Research Interests

Catalytic fast pyrolysis and bio-oil co-processing

Partnership development

Education

Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines

M.S., Chemical Engineering, Iowa State University

B.S., Chemical Engineering, Iowa State University

Professional Experience

Principal Scientist—Thermochemical Process R&D and Biorefinery Analysis, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (2008–present)

Professor—Chemical Engineering Program (on secondment from NREL) , Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (2011–2013)

Professor and Saudi ARAMCO Chair—Chemical Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (2007–2008)

Professor and Program Director—Chemical Engineering Program, The Petroleum Institute in Abu Dhabi (2003–2007)

Professor of Chemical Engineering and Project Director, Colorado School of Mines, Petroleum Institute in Abu Dhabi (2000–2004)

Professor and Head—Chemical Engineering and Petroleum Refining Department, Colorado School of Mines (1990–2000)

Professor and Associate Dean of Engineering, Colorado School of Mines (1988–1989)

Professor—Chemical Engineering and Petroleum Refining Department, Colorado School of Mines (1985–1990)

Associate Professor—Chemical Engineering and Petroleum Refining Department, Colorado School of Mines (1980–1985)

Assistant Professor—Chemical Engineering and Petroleum Refining Department, Colorado School of Mines (1979–1980)

Faculty—Institute of Government and Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Energy Fossil Energy Program (1978–1979)

Assistant Professor—Chemical Engineering and Petroleum Refining Department, Colorado School of Mines (1976–1978)

Instructor—Chemical Engineering and Petroleum Refining Department, Colorado School of Mines (1975–1976)

Featured Work

Improving Biomass Pyrolysis Economics by Integrating Vapor and Liquid Phase Upgrading, Green Chemistry (2018)

Commercialization of Pyrolysis Oil in Existing Refineries, Part 2, Hydrocarbon Processing (2017)

Commercialization of Pyrolysis Oil in Existing Refineries, Part 1, Hydrocarbon Processing (2017)

Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis of Biomass: The Reactions of Water and Aromatic Intermediates Produces Phenols, Green Chemistry (2015)

Upgrading Biomass Pyrolysis Vapors over β-Zeolites: Role of Silica-to-Alumina Ratio, Green Chemistry (2014)

A Perspective on Oxygenated Species in the Renery Integration of Pyrolysis Oil, Green Chemistry (2014)

Lignin Depolymerisation by Nickel-Supported Layered-Double Hydroxide Catalysts, Green Chemistry (2014)

Chemical Characterization and Hydrothermal Pretreatment of Salicornia bigelovii Straw for Enhanced Enzymatic Hydrolysis and Bioethanol Potential, Bioresource Technology (2014)

Bio-Oil Stabilization and Upgrading by Hot Gas Filtration, Energy & Fuels (2013)

Current Research on Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass at National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental (2012)

Mild Hydrotreating of Bio-Oil: Effect of Reaction Severity and Fate of Oxygenated Species, Energy & Fuels (2010)

Catalysts and Sorbents for Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass to Renewable Biofuels-Material Development Needs, Materials Challenges in Alternative and Renewable Energy: Ceramic Transactions (2011)

Mild Hydrotreating of Biomass Pyrolysis Oils to Produce a Suitable Refinery Feedstock, Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy (2010)

View all NREL Publications for Robert Baldwin.

Patents

Beneficiation of Shale Kerogen and its Conversion into Shale Oil, U.S. Patent No. 4,576,708 (1986)