Research

Dr. Emma Brace’s background in biochemical engineering has prepared her to lead research in bioprocessing, downstream separations and recovery of biomolecules and bioproducts, and quantitative sustainable design [including techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA)] of biorefineries.

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In the lab, we can validate our separations simulations using techniques ranging from simple to complex.

Molecular modeling allows us to design solvent systems to separate and isolate molecules of interest.

We use process simulators and tools to perform techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment (environmental impacts) to scale-up what we can do in the lab, design biorefineries, and evaluate their potential.

Peer-Reviewed Publications

[6] E.C. Brace, A.S. Engelberth. (2022) Estimating a target price to regenerate bio-oils post hydrogen sulfide removal. Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining, 16 (6), 1781-1793. https://doi.org/10.1002/bbb.2431

[5] C. Mishra, C.A. Riley, I.O. Okekeogbu, G.V. Smith, E.C. Brace, E.A. Kerstiens, L.E. Novak, K.L. Clase. (2022) Continuous Improvement of a Bioengineering CURE: Preparing Students for a Changing World. Biochem Mol Biol Educ, 50 (5), 510–518, https://doi.org/10.1002/bmb.21656

[4] S.S. Bhagwat, Y. Li, Y.R. Cortés-Peña, E.C. Brace, T.A. Martin, H. Zhao, J.S. Guest. (2021) Sustainable Production of Acrylic Acid via 3-Hydroxypropionic Acid from Lignocellulosic Biomass. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 9 (49), 16659-16669. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c05441

[3] E.C. Brace, A.S. Engelberth. (2020). Assessing Viability of Soybean Oils to Remove Hydrogen Sulfide from Natural Gas. ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng., 8 (25), 9377-9384. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.0c01991

[2] E.C. Brace, A.S. Engelberth. (2017). Enhancing Silymarin Fractionation Using the Conductor-like Screening Model for Real Solvents. J. Chromatogr. A, 1487, 187–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2017.01.058

[1] H. Zhang, E.C. Brace, A.S. Engelberth. (2016). Selection of a Non-Aqueous Two-Phase Solvent System for Fractionation of Xylooligosaccharides Prebiotics Using the Conductor-like Screening Model for Real Solvents. J. Liq. Chromatogr. Relat. Technol., 39 (6), 666-673. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826076.2016.1230552

Conference Proceedings

[1] E. C. Brace, A. S. Engelberth. (2019). Soybean oil as a bio-solvent to sweeten sour natural gas. AIChE Annual Meeting.

Selected Presentations
*indicates presenting author
†indicates undergraduate author

  1. I.C. Doyle*†, B.A.O. Lewis*†, G.I. Mohr*†, W.P. Rice*†, C.E. Richter*†, E.C. Brace. (2024) Sustainable production of xylitol from lignocellulosic biomass. Poster, Symposium on Biomaterials, Fuels, and Chemicals (SBFC), Alexandria, VA.
  2. I.C. Doyle†, B.A.O. Lewis†, G.I. Mohr†, W.P. Rice*†, C.E. Richter†, E.C. Brace. (2024) Sustainable production of xylitol from lignocellulosic biomass. Invited “Rapid Fire” Oral Presentation, Symposium on Biomaterials, Fuels, and Chemicals (SBFC), Alexandria, VA.
  3. E.C. Brace*, X. Zhang, Y.R. Cortés-Peña, S. Bhagwat, Y. Li, J.S. Guest. (2022) Harmonizing Assumptions Between TEA and LCA of Bioproducts. Poster, American Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) Annual Research and Education Conference, St. Louis, MO.
  4. E.C. Brace*, A.S. Engelberth. (2019). Soybean Oil as a Bio-Solvent to Sweeten Sour Natural Gas. Oral presentation, Integrated Process Engineering and Economic Analysis Session, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL.
  5. E.C. Brace*. (2019). Integrating Molecular Modeling with Experimental Work to Propel a Bioproducts Pipeline. Poster presentation, Meet the Faculty Candidate Poster Session, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL.
  6. E.C. Brace*, A.S. Engelberth. (2019). Using Soybean Oil to Sweeten Sour Gas. Poster presentation, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Bioenergy Sustainability Conference, Nashville, TN.
  7. E.C. Brace, A.S. Engelberth*. (2018). A Molecular Modeling Approach for Solvent Screening: Extracting Hydrogen Sulfide with Soybean Oil. Oral presentation, Frontiers in Biorefining, St. Simons, GA.
  8. I. Yoon, J.B. Friesen*, E.C. Brace, A.S. Engelberth, Y. Liu, C. Simmler, J.B. McAlpine, G.F. Pauli, S.N. Chen. (2018). Large K Values to Achieve Separation of Target Compounds in Humulus lupulus. Poster presentation, International Conference on Countercurrent Chromatography (CCC), Braunschweig, Germany.
  9. E. C. Brace*, A. S. Engelberth (2018). Using High-Oleic Soybean Oil to Remove H2S from Sour Gas. Invited Rapid Fire Oral presentation, Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels & Chemicals (SBFC), Clearwater, FL.
  10. E. C. Brace*, A. S. Engelberth (2018). A Molecular Modeling Approach to Using High-Oleic Soybean Oil to Remove H2S from Sour Gas. Poster presentation, Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels & Chemicals (SBFC), Clearwater, FL.
  11. E. C. Brace*. (2018). Molecular Modeling Approaches to Challenges in Bioseparations. Invited Guest Seminar, Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering and Building Future Faculty Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
  12. E. C. Brace*, A. S. Engelberth. (2017). Molecular Modeling of High Oleic Soybean Oil as a Universal Solvent for Extracting Hydrogen Sulfide from Natural Gas. Poster presentation, Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels & Chemicals (SBFC), San Francisco, CA.
  13. E. C. Brace*, A. S. Engelberth. (2016). Enhancing Silymarin Fractionation using the Conductor-like Screening Model for Real Solvents. Invited 3-Minute Flash Oral presentation, 9th International Countercurrent Chromatography Conference (CCC), Chicago, IL.
  14. E. C. Brace*, A. S. Engelberth. (2016). Enhancing Silymarin Fractionation using the Conductor-like Screening Model for Real Solvents. Poster presentation, 9th International Countercurrent Chromatography Conference (CCC), Chicago, IL.