Bioindustrial Manufacturing & Biorefinery Laboratory

About

Cristiano Reis, PhD

Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering  |  Howard University (2024–present)

My lab is focused on three directions: methane mitigation via methanotrophic bioprocesses; bioprocess development for biomass and waste valorization, integrated with TEA/LCA; and engineering education research, including sustainability and green chemistry integration in chemical engineering curricula through the Engineering for One Planet (EOP) framework. I joined Howard in 2024.

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Metrics as of May 2026. Verify on Google Scholar →

News

To be developed.

Research

• Methane mitigation and valorization: methanotrophic bioprocesses for low-concentration methane streams, reactor design, gas–liquid mass transfer, and process modeling.
• Bioprocess development and TEA/LCA: microbial and enzymatic processes for biomass and waste valorization, integrated with techno-economic analysis and life-cycle assessment to evaluate scalability and environmental impact.
• Engineering education research: sustainability and green chemistry integration in chemical engineering design courses, guided by the Engineering for One Planet (EOP) framework developed with ASEE.

Teaching

• CHEG 401 — Separations and Mass Transfer: fundamentals of mass transfer, equilibrium stages, and unit operations including distillation, absorption, extraction, and membrane separations.
• CHEG 407 — Process Design I: process synthesis, material and energy balances, preliminary economics, process safety, and sustainability-informed decision-making.
• CHEG 414 — Process Design II / Capstone: team-based capstone design using process simulation, equipment sizing, economics, safety, and engineering recommendations for real-world technologies.
  • Spring 2025: HEFA process for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production
  • Spring 2026: Blue hydrogen production at scale

Publications

Journal articles and book chapters, sorted by year. Conference proceedings excluded. Links open Google Scholar. Full list on Google Scholar →

• Perspectives towards biomass valorization in integrated circular biorefineries: Insights from sorghum residue-based value chains in Sub-Saharan Africa
  DC Makepa, RK Padi, CER Reis, A Chimphango — Biomass and Bioenergy, 212, 109335
• Methanotrophic Technologies for Low-Concentration Methane: Reactor Designs and Performance
  AA Moss, I Thompson, J Tharakan, CER Reis — Processes, 14(6), 969
• Customized Bioreactors Development for Enhanced Fuels Production from Microalgal Feedstock Book chapter
  MHA de Lima Cardozo, CER Reis, G Lamas-Samanamud et al. — Biorefineries in Circular Bioeconomy: Reactor Configurations Analysis, pp. 211–228
• Lipases in the modification of oils and fats in the food industry Book chapter
  RN Vilas-Bôas, HBS Bento, CER Reis, MF Mendes — Lipases, pp. 265–290

• Native and tailor-made microbial cell factories for economic production of bio-renewables: A paradigm shift in industrial biotechnology
  TS Milessi, CE Reis, MDN Ramos, AKF Carvalho, T Aminabhavi et al. — Biomass and Bioenergy, 201, 108097
  4 citations
• Low temperature production of FAMEs from waste cooking oil with ball-milling synthesized mixed lithium salts derived from spent bleaching clay
  W Cong, CER Reis, J Zhang, J Zhang, X Luo — Fuel, 388, 134492
  2 citations

• Utilization of co-products from corn ethanol industry in a biorefinery context: a review on the biotechnological potential of thin stillage
  VP Shibukawa, CER Reis, JC dos Santos, PCM Da Rós — Brazilian Journal of Chemical Engineering, 41(4), 1091–1107
  9 citations
• Key takeaways on the cost-effective production of cellulosic sugars at large scale
  R Arora, CER Reis, AK Chandel — Processes, 12(7), 1496
  13 citations
• A Dynamic Tool to Describe Lamb Growth and Its Use as a Decision Support System
  RM Amaral, MT Rodrigues, EB Schultz, CER Reis — Animals, 14(15), 2246
  2 citations
• Comparison of the Waterlogging Tolerance and Morphological Responses of Five Urochloa spp. Grasses
  RM Amaral, LAC Sarango, CER Reis et al. — Stresses, 4(2), 320–329
  2 citations
• Economic, social, and organizational challenges in biorefineries Book chapter
  HBS Bento, Í Tessaro, JM Theodoro, W de Souza Matias Reis, CER Reis et al. — Clean Energy Transition via Biomass Resource Utilization, Book chapter
  4 citations

• Lignocellulosic biomass-based glycoconjugates for diverse biotechnological applications
  CER Reis, TS Milessi, MDN Ramos, AK Singh, G Mohanakrishna et al. — Biotechnology Advances, 68, 108209
  23 citations
• Agricultural residues as raw materials for pulp and paper production: overview and applications on membrane fabrication
  LA Worku, A Bachheti, RK Bachheti, CE Rodrigues Reis, AK Chandel — Membranes, 13(2), 228
  155 citations
• Process strategies to reduce cellulase enzyme loading for renewable sugar production in biorefineries
  CER Reis, NL Junior, HBS Bento, AKF de Carvalho et al. — Chemical Engineering Journal, 451, 138690
  102 citations

• Esterification of enzymatically treated macaw palm oil catalyzed by heteropolyacid supported onto Nb2O5
  SA Machado, CE Rodrigues Reis, HBS Bento, AKF Carvalho et al. — Biofuels, 13(8), 1021–1029
  1 citation
• Continuous Synthesis of Biodiesel from Outstanding Kernel Oil in a Packed Bed Reactor Using Burkholderia cepacia Lipase Immobilized on Magnetic Nanosupport
  HBS Bento, CER Reis, PA Pinto, DV Cortez, RN Vilas Boas et al. — Catalysis Letters, 152(8), 2434–2444
  15 citations
• Highly Wet Chlorella minutissima Biomass for In Situ Biodiesel Production and Residual Biomass Rich in Labile Carbohydrates
  GA Pedro, MS Amaral, FM Pereira, DL Flumignan, PCM Da Rós, CER Reis et al. — BioEnergy Research, 15(1), 154–165
  4 citations
• Volumetric scale-up of a packed-bed ion-exchange system to extract phytate from thin stillage
  CE Rodrigues Reis, B Hu — Membranes, 12(2), 230
  6 citations
• Biolubricant production from stearic acid and residual secondary alcohols: system and reaction design for lipase-catalyzed batch and continuous processes
  R de Lima, HBS Bento, CER Reis, RNV Bôas, L de Freitas, AKF Carvalho et al. — Catalysis Letters, 152(2), 547–558
  17 citations
• Lowering the Toxicity of Cd to Theobroma cacao Using Soil Amendments Based on Commercial Charcoal and Lime
  CC Calva Jiménez, LV Pinedo Fernández, CE Rodrigues Reis — Toxics, 10(1), 15
  5 citations
• Production, commercial status, and role in the bioeconomy of biogas: opportunities and challenges of Latin America Book chapter
  CER Reis, LEG Brenes — Production of Top 12 Biochemicals Selected by USDOE from Renewable Resources, Book chapter
  2 citations

• Virtualizing project-based learning: an abrupt adaptation of active learning in the first days of the COVID-19 pandemic, with promising outcomes
  MAC Pereira, LMNC Ignácio, CE Rodrigues Reis — Sustainability, 14(1), 363
  11 citations
• One-pot fungal biomass-to-biodiesel process: Influence of the molar ratio and the concentration of acid heterogenous catalyst on reaction yield and costs
  HBS Bento, CER Reis, PG Cunha, AKF Carvalho, HF De Castro — Fuel, 300, 120968
  16 citations

• In situ transesterification of marine microalgae biomass via heterogeneous acid catalysis
  SMFE Zorn, CER Reis, HBS Bento, AKF De Carvalho, MB Silva et al. — BioEnergy Research, 13(4), 1260–1268
  16 citations
• Lowering the inhibition of sugarcane vinasse as a culture medium for oleaginous fungi through oxidative pre-treatment aiming at the degradation of toxic compounds
  CE Rodrigues Reis, AKF Carvalho, HBS Bento, TM Alves, HF de Castro — Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology, 95(11), 2943–2950
  3 citations
• Sugarcane by-products within the biodiesel production chain: Vinasse and molasses as feedstock for oleaginous fungi and conversion to ethyl esters
  CER Reis, GF Valle, HBS Bento, AKF Carvalho, TM Alves, HF de Castro — Fuel, 277, 118064
  41 citations
• Production of value-added microbial metabolites: oleaginous fungus as a tool for valorization of dairy by-products
  CA Braz, AKF Carvalho, HBS Bento, CER Reis, HF De Castro — BioEnergy Research, 13(3), 963–973
  17 citations
• An unconventional two-stage cultivation strategy to increase the lipid content and enhance the fatty acid profile on Chlorella minutissima biomass cultivated in a novel photobioreactor
  MS Amaral, CCA Loures, GA Pedro, CER Reis, HF De Castro, FL Naves et al. — Renewable Energy, 156, 591–601
  24 citations
• Consortium growth of filamentous fungi and microalgae: evaluation of different cultivation strategies to optimize cell harvesting and lipid accumulation
  SMFE Zorn, CER Reis, MB Silva, B Hu, HF De Castro — Energies, 13(14), 3648
  27 citations
• Coating and incorporation of iron oxides into a magnetic-polymer composite to be used as lipase support for ester syntheses
  PD Mijone, RNV Bôas, HBS Bento, CER Reis, HF de Castro — Renewable Energy, 149, 1167–1173
  20 citations
• Single cell oil production and modification for fuel and food applications: Assessing the potential of sugarcane molasses as culture medium for filamentous fungus
  HBS Bento, AKF Carvalho, CER Reis, HF De Castro — Industrial Crops and Products, 145, 112141
  44 citations
• Endophytic Fungi for Biodiesel Production Book chapter
  CE Rodrigues Reis, HBS Bento, AKF Carvalho, Y Yang, HF de Castro et al. — Fungi in Fuel Biotechnology, pp. 105–121
  2 citations

• Integration of microbial biodiesel and bioethanol industries through utilization of vinasse as substrate for oleaginous fungi
  CER Reis, AKF Carvalho, HBS Bento, HF de Castro — Bioresource Technology Reports, 6, 46–53
  41 citations
• Critical applications of Mucor circinelloides within a biorefinery context
  CE Rodrigues Reis, HBS Bento, AKF Carvalho, A Rajendran, B Hu, HF De Castro — Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, 39(4), 555–570
  53 citations
• Sustainable enzymatic approaches in a fungal lipid biorefinery based in sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate as carbon source
  AKF Carvalho, HBS Bento, CER Reis, HF De Castro — Bioresource Technology, 276, 269–275
  33 citations
• Vinasse treatment within the sugarcane-ethanol industry using ozone combined with anaerobic and aerobic microbial processes
  CER Reis, HBS Bento, TM Alves, AKF Carvalho, HF De Castro — Environments, 6(1), 5
  58 citations
• Microbial biodiesel production: From sucrose-based carbon sources to alkyl esters via enzymatic transesterification
  HBS Bento, AKF Carvalho, CER Reis, HF De Castro — Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 121, 349–356
  18 citations
• Keggin-structure heteropolyacid supported on alumina to be used in trans/esterification of high-acid feedstocks
  LRV da Conceição, CER Reis, R de Lima, DV Cortez, HF de Castro — RSC Advances, 9(41), 23450–23458
  53 citations

• Evaluation of fatty acids production by Chlorella minutissima in batch bubble-column photobioreactor
  FM Pereira, CCA Loures, MS Amaral, FM Gomes, GA Pedro, CER Reis et al. — Fuel, 230, 155–162
  42 citations
• Co-culture of filamentous feed-grade fungi and microalgae as an alternative to increase feeding value of ethanol coproducts
  CE Rodrigues Reis, L Ogero D'Otaviano, A Rajendran, B Hu — Fermentation, 4(4), 86
  11 citations
• Effects of modified processes in dry-grind ethanol production on phosphorus distribution in coproducts
  CER Reis, Q He, PE Urriola, GC Shurson, B Hu — Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 57(44), 14861–14869
  10 citations
• The application of microbial consortia in a biorefinery context: Understanding the importance of artificial lichens Book chapter
  CE Rodrigues Reis, A Rajendran, MB Silva, B Hu, HF De Castro — Sustainable Biotechnology — Enzymatic Resources of Renewable Energy, pp. 423–437
  8 citations
• The realm of lipases in biodiesel production Book chapter
  DV Cortez, C Reis, VH Perez, HF De Castro — Sustainable Biotechnology — Enzymatic Resources of Renewable Energy, pp. 247–288
  13 citations

• Retrofit process development for phytate extraction from corn-ethanol coproducts using industrial anion-exchange resins
  CER Reis, Q He, A Rajendran, B Hu — Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 56(22), 6391–6400
  5 citations
• Vinasse from sugarcane ethanol production: better treatment or better utilization?
  CE Rodrigues Reis, B Hu — Frontiers in Energy Research, 5, 7
  207 citations
• New technologies in value addition to the thin stillage from corn-to-ethanol process
  CER Reis, A Rajendran, B Hu — Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology, 16(1), 175–206
  86 citations
• Phytate extraction from coproducts of the dry-grind corn ethanol process
  Q He, CER Reis, F Wang, B Hu — RSC Advances, 7(9), 5466–5472
  35 citations
• Chemometric methods for the optimization of the advanced oxidation processes for the treatment of drinking and wastewater Book chapter
  MB Silva, CER Reis, FM Gomes, BR Contesini, APBR de Freitas et al. — Applications of Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) in Drinking Water Treatment, Book chapter
  2 citations

• Microalgae assisted bioremediation of landfill leachate using a biocoil reactor: evaluation of operational conditions using Taguchi experimental design
  C Reis, C Loures, H Castro, P Da Rós, J Santos Filho — British Journal of Environment and Climate Change, 6, 299–308
  8 citations

• Evaluation of the cultivation conditions of marine microalgae Chlorella sp. to be used as feedstock in ultrasound-assisted ethanolysis
  MS Amaral, CC Loures, P Da Rós, SA Machado, CER Reis, HF De Castro et al. — Biofuel Research Journal, 2(3), 288–294
  19 citations
• Phosphorus removal and recovery from digestate after biogas production Book chapter
  H Lin, J Gan, A Rajendran, CER Reis, B Hu — Biofuels — Status and Perspective, Book chapter
  64 citations

• Lipid Accumulation by Pelletized Culture of Mucor circinelloides on Corn Stover Hydrolysate
  CER Reis, J Zhang, B Hu — Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 174(1), 411–423
  31 citations
• Microalgal feedstock for bioenergy: opportunities and challenges Book chapter
  CER Reis, M de Souza Amaral, CCA Loures, PCM Da Rós, B Hu et al. — Biofuels in Brazil: Fundamental Aspects, Recent Developments, and Future Perspectives, Book chapter
  11 citations

People

To be developed.

Funding & Support

To be developed.

Opportunities

There are no open positions in the Reis Lab at this time. Check back for future opportunities.

Contact

Cristiano Reis, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering
College of Engineering and Architecture
Howard University, Washington, DC 20059
cristiano.reis@howard.edu