Research Expertise

• Computer-aided molecular design of solvents for reactions and separations
  
• Mixed-integer programming for integrated molecular and process design
• Multiscale process simulation, modeling, and optimization
• Estimation of fluid-phase (physical and thermodynamic) properties
  

Current Interests

• Computer-aided material (catalyst, adsorbent, etc.) design
• Integrated material and process design
• Big data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning

Education

• 2005-2009  BEng in Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Uni. of Technology
• 2009-2012  MSc in Chemical Engineering, East China Uni. of Sci. and Tech.
• 2012-2016  PhD in Process Systems Engineering, Otto-von-Guericke Uni. Magdeburg (Grade: Summa Cum Laude)

Scientific Career

• Since 2018   Team Leader, Process Systems Eng. (PSE) Department, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems (MPI-DCTS)
• 2017-2018   Postdoc. Research Associate, PSE Department, MPI-DCTS
• 2017               Visiting Scientist, TU Denmark (Prof. Rafiqul Gani)
• 2012-2016   Research Assistant, PSE Department, MPI-DCTS

Lectures

• 2018-             Process Systems Engineering (lecture)
• 2014-2017   Advanced Process Systems Engineering (exercises)

Awards

• 2017   Chinese-German Chemical Association Young Researchers Award
• 2016   Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Students Abroad
• 2015   Elsevier Outstanding Reviewer
• 2014   CAST Directors’ Award, American Institute of Chemical Engineers
  
• 2013   Shanghai Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award
• 2012   Best Paper Award, East China University of Science and Technology

Publications

• Song Z, Hu X, Zhou Y, Zhou T, Qi Z, Sundmacher K. Rational design of double salt ionic liquids as extraction solvents: Separation of thiophene/n-octane as example. AIChE Journal (under review)
• Zhou T, Song Z, Sundmacher K. Big data creates new opportunities for materials research: A review on methods and applications of machine learning for materials design. Engineering (under review)
• Zhou T, Song Z, Zhang X, Gani R, Sundmacher K. Optimal solvent design for extractive distillation processes: A multi-objective optimization based hierarchical framework. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research (under review)
• Song Z, Li X, Chao H, Mo F, Zhou T, Cheng H, Chen L, Qi Z. Computer-aided ionic liquid design for alkane/cycloalkane extractive distillation process. Green Energy & Environment  doi.org/10.1016/j.gee.2018.12.001.
• Liu X, Zhou T, Zhang X, Zhang S, Liang X, Gani R, Kontogeorgis G. Application of COSMO-RS and UNIFAC for ionic liquids based gas separation. Chemical Engineering Science 2018, 192, 816−828.
• Song Z, Zhang C, Qi Z, Zhou T, Sundmacher K. Computer-aided design of ionic liquids as solvents for extractive desulfurization. AIChE Journal 2018, 64, 1013−1025.
• Zhang X, Song Z, Zhou T. Rigorous design of reaction-separation processes using disjunctive programming models. Computers & Chemical Engineering 2018, 111, 16−26.
• Zhou T, Jhamb S, Liang X, Sundmacher K, Gani R. Prediction of acid dissociation constants of organic compounds using group contribution methods. Chemical Engineering Science 2018, 183, 95–105.
• Bechtel S, Song Z, Zhou T, Vidakovic-Koch T, Sundmacher K. Integrated process and ionic liquid design by combining flowsheet simulation with quantum-chemical solvent screening. Computer Aided Chemical Engineering 2018, 44, 2167–2172.
• Zhou T, Zhou Y, Sundmacher K. A hybrid stochastic-deterministic optimization approach for integrated solvent and process design. Chemical Engineering Science 2017, 159, 207−216.
• Song Z, Zhou T, Qi Z, Sundmacher K. Systematic method for screening ionic liquids as extraction solvents exemplified by an extractive desulfurization process. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 2017, 5, 3382−3389.
• Zhang J, Peng D, Song Z, Zhou T, Cheng H, Chen L, Qi Z. COSMO-descriptor based computer-aided ionic liquid design for separation processes. Part I: Modified group contribution methodology for predicting surface charge density profile of ionic liquids. Chemical Engineering Science 2017, 162, 355−363.
• Zhang J, Qin L, Peng D, Zhou T, Cheng H, Chen L, Qi Z. COSMO-descriptor based computer-aided ionic liquid design for separation processes. Part II: Task-specific design for extraction processes. Chemical Engineering Science 2017, 162, 364−374.
• Zhou T, Wang J, McBride K, Sundmacher K. Optimal design of solvents for extractive reaction processes. AIChE Journal 2016, 62, 3238−3249.
• Zhou T, Lyu Z, Qi Z, Sundmacher K. Robust design of optimal solvents for chemical reactions−A combined experimental and computational strategy. Chemical Engineering Science 2015, 137, 613−625.
• Zhou T, McBride K, Zhang X, Qi Z, Sundmacher K. Integrated solvent and process design exemplified for a Diels-Alder reaction. AIChE Journal 2015, 61, 147−158.
• Song Z, Zhou T, Zhang J, Cheng H, Chen L, Qi Z. Screening of ionic liquids for solvent-sensitive extraction − with deep desulfurization as an example. Chemical Engineering Science 2015, 129, 69−77.
• Zhou T, Qi Z, Sundmacher K. Model-based method for the screening of solvents for chemical reactions. Chemical Engineering Science 2014, 115, 177−185.
• Lyu Z, Zhou T, Chen L, Ye Y, Sundmacher K, Qi Z. Simulation based ionic liquid screening for benzene-cyclohexane extractive separation. Chemical Engineering Science 2014, 113, 45−53.
• Zhou T, Chen L, Ye Y, Chen L, Qi Z, Freund H, Sundmacher K. An overview of mutual solubility of ionic liquids and water predicted by COSMO-RS. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 2012, 51, 6256−6264.
• Zhou T, Wang Z, Ye Y, Chen L, Xu J, Qi Z. Deep separation of benzene from cyclohexane by liquid extraction using ionic liquids as the solvent. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 2012, 51, 5559−5564.
• Zhou T, Wang Z, Chen L, Ye Y, Qi Z, Freund H, Sundmacher K. Evaluation of the ionic liquids 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate as a solvent for the extraction of benzene from cyclohexane: (Liquid + liquid) equilibria. Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics 2012, 48, 145−149.
• Chen L, Zhou T, Chen L, Ye Y, Qi Z, Freund H, Sundmacher K. Selective oxidation of cyclohexanol to cyclohexanone in the ionic liquid 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. Chemical Communications 2011, 47, 9354−9356.