Yuan Yao

Analyzing Co-Benefits and Rock Sourcing in Life Cycle and Techno-Economic Assessment of Enhanced Rock Weathering

Kroeger, J., Zhang, B., Planavsky, N., & Yao, Y. (2026, February 20). Environmental Science & Technology.

The role of biodegradable plastics in the global plastic future

Piao, Z., & Yao, Y. (2026, January 16). Nature Reviews Clean Technology.

A new approach to improve the economic and environmental attractiveness of biomethane from biomass gasification with redox-activated CO2 sorbents

Chemical Engineering Journal, 523, 167510.

Eco-design for the sustainable scale-up of flexible transparent conductive electrodes at the early-stage development

Piao, Z., Meza, L., Shukla, D., Venditti, R. A., Zhu, Y., Yao, Y., … Yao, Y. (2025, January 1). Green Chemistry.

Global land and carbon consequences of mass timber products

Lan, K., Favero, A., Yao, Y., Mendelsohn, R. O., & Wang, H. S.-H. (2025, May 26). Nature Communications, Vol. 16.

Innovative reforestation mosaics on marginal land in the globally important Mata Atlântica biome can create climate and economic co-benefits

Zhang, B., Lan, K., Yang, F., Xu, Y., Piotto, D., Ashton, M., & Yao, Y. (2025, May 1). One Earth, Vol. 8.

Life Cycle Assessment in the Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification of Land-Based Carbon Dioxide Removal: Gaps and Opportunities

Yao, Y., & Zhang, B. (2025, March 27). Environmental Science & Technology.

Machine learning-assisted global life cycle assessment for sustainable biochar design

Wang, H. S.-H., Ren, W., & Yao, Y. (2025, November 14).

Supply–demand strategies for near-term climate benefits from hydrogen in the United States

Xu, Y., Peng, W., & Yao, Y. (2025, October 6). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Sustainable aviation fuel pathways: Emissions, costs and uncertainty

Yang, F., & Yao, Y. (2025, January 14). Resources Conservation and Recycling.

A modeling framework to identify environmentally greener and lower-cost pathways of nanomaterials

Green Chemistry, 26(6), 3466–3478.

A woody biomass burial

Yao, Y. (2024, September 26). Science.

Confluence of Sustainability and Academic Conferencing: An Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of the 2022 AEESP Conference

Aronson, J. N., Giammar, D. E., Yao, Y., & Lee, T. (2024, June 5). Environmental Engineering Science.

Critical material requirements and recycling opportunities for US wind and solar power generation

Lee, T., Yao, Y., Graedel, T. E., & Miatto, A. (2024, March 27). Journal of Industrial Ecology.

Environmental impacts of biodegradable microplastics

Piao, Z., Boakye, A. A. A., & Yao, Y. (2024, September 27). Nature Chemical Engineering.

Global spatiotemporal characterization factors for freshwater eutrophication under climate change scenarios

Vasilakou, K., Nimmegeers, P., Yao, Y., Billen, P., & Passel, S. V. (2024, December 31). The Science of The Total Environment.

Life Cycle Inventory Availability: Status and Prospects for Leveraging New Technologies

Wright, M. M., Tan, E. C. D., Tu, Q., Martins, A., Parvatker, A. G., Yao, Y., … Smith, R. L. (2024, August 15). ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.

Life cycle sustainability assessment for sustainable development goals

Yao, Y., Schaubroeck, T., Feng, H., Arodudu, O., & Gloria, T. P. (2024, March 25). Journal of Industrial Ecology.

Life-Cycle Assessment of Sustainable Aviation Fuel Derived from Paper Sludge

Lan, K., Cruz, D., Li, J., Boakye, A. A. A., Park, H., Tiller, P., … Yao, Y. (2024, April 26). ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Vol. 12, pp. 8379–8390.

Mitigating uncertainties enables more accurate greenhouse gas accounting for petrochemicals

Yao, Y. (2024, April 4). Nature Chemical Engineering.

Models for Decarbonization in the Chemical Industry

Yao, Y., Lan, K., Graedel, T. E., & Rao, N. D. (2024, January 25). Annual Review of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

Soil organic carbon change can reduce the climate benefits of biofuel produced from forest residues

Lan, K., Zhang, B., Lee, T., & Yao, Y. (2024, January 19). Joule.

Climate-smart forestry through innovative wood products and commercial afforestation and reforestation on marginal land

Zhang, B., Lan, K., Harris, T. B., Ashton, M. S., & Yao, Y. (2023, May 30). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Correction to “Techno-Economic and Life Cycle Assessment of Enhanced Rock Weathering: A Case Study from the Midwestern United States”

Zhang, B., Kroeger, J., Planavsky, N., & Yao, Y. (2023, December 4). Correction to “Techno-Economic and Life Cycle Assessment of Enhanced Rock Weathering: A Case Study from the Midwestern United States.” Environmental Science & Technology.

Environmental impacts of cotton and opportunities for improvement

Zhang, Z., Huang, J., Yao, Y., Peters, G., Macdonald, B., Rosa, A. D. L., … Scherer, L. (2023, September 5). Nature Reviews Earth & Environment.

Machine learning for sustainable development and applications of biomass and biomass-derived carbonaceous materials in water and agricultural systems: A review

Wang, H. S.-H., & Yao, Y. (2023, January 5). Resources Conservation and Recycling.

Techno-Economic and Life Cycle Assessment of Enhanced Rock Weathering: A Case Study from the Midwestern United States

Zhang, B., Kroeger, J., Planavsky, N., & Yao, Y. (2023, September 6). Environmental Science & Technology.

A review of inventory modeling methods for missing data in life cycle assessment

Zargar, S., Yao, Y., & Tu, Q. (2022, August 1). Journal of Industrial Ecology.

An integrated techno-economic and environmental assessment for carbon capture in hydrogen production by biomass gasification

Wu, N., Lan, K., & Yao, Y. (2022, October 7). Resources Conservation and Recycling, Vol. 188, p. 106693.

Carbon Footprint of Bleached Softwood Fluff Pulp: Detailed Process Simulation and Environmental Life Cycle Assessment to Understand Carbon Emissions

ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 10(28), 9029–9040.

Circular utilization of urban tree waste contributes to the mitigation of climate change and eutrophication

Lan, K., Zhang, B., & Yao, Y. (2022, August 1). One Earth, Vol. 5, pp. 944–957.

Emerging Engineered Wood for Building Applications

Ding, Y., Pang, Z., Lan, K., Yao, Y., Panzarasa, G., Xu, L., … Hu, L. (2022, October 19). Chemical Reviews, Vol. 123, pp. 1843–1888.

Feasibility of gasifying mixed plastic waste for hydrogen production and carbon capture and storage

Lan, K., & Yao, Y. (2022, November 29). Communications Earth & Environment, Vol. 3.

How does COVID-19 affect the life cycle environmental impacts of U.S. household energy and food consumption?

Yao, Y. (2022, February 8). Environmental Research Letters, Vol. 2.

Process Simulation-Based Life Cycle Assessment of Dissolving Pulps

Environmental Science & Technology, 56(7), 4578–4586.

A general Life Cycle Assessment framework for sustainable bleaching: A case study of peracetic acid bleaching of wood pulp

Journal of Cleaner Production, 290, 125854.

A strong, biodegradable and recyclable lignocellulosic bioplastic

Xia, Q., Chen, C., Yao, Y., Li, J., He, S., Zhou, Y., … Hu, L. (2021, March 25). Nature Sustainability.

An integrated techno-sustainability assessment (TSA) framework for emerging technologies

Green Chemistry, 23(4), 1700–1715.

Applications of artificial intelligence‐based modeling for bioenergy systems: A review

Liao, M., & Yao, Y. (2021, February 18). GCB Bioenergy.

Author Correction: A strong, biodegradable and recyclable lignocellulosic bioplastic

Xia, Q., Chen, C., Yao, Y., Li, J., He, S., Zhou, Y., … Hu, L. (2021, August 20). Nature Sustainability.

Dynamic Life Cycle Assessment of Energy Technologies under Different Greenhouse Gas Concentration Pathways

Lan, K., & Yao, Y. (2021, December 6). Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 12.

Dynamic life-cycle carbon analysis for fast pyrolysis biofuel produced from pine residues: implications of carbon temporal effects

Lan, K., Ou, L., Park, S., Kelley, S. S., Nepal, P., Kwon, H., … Yao, Y. (2021, September 29). Biotechnology for Biofuels, Vol. 14.

Equally green? Understanding the distribution of urban green infrastructure across student demographics in four public school districts in North Carolina, USA

Zhang, Z., Martin, K. L., Stevenson, K. T., & Yao, Y. (2021, November 28). Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, Vol. 67, p. 127434.

Lightweight, strong, moldable wood via cell wall engineering as a sustainable structural material

Xiao, S., Chen, C., Xia, Q., Liu, Y., Yao, Y., Chen, Q., … Hu, L. (2021, October 22). Science, Vol. 374, pp. 465–471.

Sustainability implications of artificial intelligence in the chemical industry: A conceptual framework

Liao, M., Lan, K., & Yao, Y. (2021, November 13). Journal of Industrial Ecology, Vol. 26, pp. 164–182.

Sustainable high-strength macrofibres extracted from natural bamboo

Li, Z., Chen, C., Xie, H., Yao, Y., Zhang, X., Brozena, A., … Hu, L. (2021, December 16). Nature Sustainability.

Techno-Economic Analysis of decentralized preprocessing systems for fast pyrolysis biorefineries with blended feedstocks in the southeastern United States

Lan, K., Ou, L., Park, S., Kelley, S. S., English, B. C., Yu, T. E., … Yao, Y. (2021, March 7). Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 143, p. 110881.

Dynamic life cycle carbon and energy analysis for cross-laminated timber in the Southeastern United States

Lan, K., Kelley, S. S., Nepal, P., & Yao, Y. (2020, October 29). Environmental Research Letters, Vol. 15, p. 124036.

Impacts of uncertain feedstock quality on the economic feasibility of fast pyrolysis biorefineries with blended feedstocks and decentralized preprocessing sites in the Southeastern United States

Lan, K., Park, S., Kelley, S. S., English, B. C., Yu, T. H. E., Larson, J., & Yao, Y. (2020, September 25). GCB Bioenergy, Vol. 12, pp. 1014–1029.

Life Cycle Carbon Footprint Analysis of Pulp and Paper Grades in the United States Using Production-line-based Data and Integration

BioResources. https://ojs.cnr.ncsu.edu/index.php/BioRes/article/view/BioRes_15_2_3899_Tomberlin_Life_Cycle_Carbon_Footprint

Life cycle carbon footprint analysis of pulp and paper grades in the United States using production-line-based data and integration

Tomberlin, K. E., Venditti, R., & Yao, Y. (2020, April 7). BioResources, Vol. 15, pp. 3899–3914.

A Parametric Life Cycle Modeling Framework for Identifying Research Development Priorities of Emerging Technologies: A Case Study of Additive Manufacturing

Yao, Y., & Huang, R. (2019, January 1). Procedia CIRP, Vol. 80, pp. 370–375.

Artificial neural network based modeling for the prediction of yield and surface area of activated carbon from biomass

Liao, M., Kelley, S. S., & Yao, Y. (2019, March 18). Biofuels Bioproducts and Biorefining, Vol. 13, pp. 1015–1027.

Generating Energy and Greenhouse Gas Inventory Data of Activated Carbon Production Using Machine Learning and Kinetic Based Process Simulation

Liao, M., Kelley, S., & Yao, Y. (2019, December 17). ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Vol. 8, pp. 1252–1261.

Integrating Life Cycle Assessment and Agent-Based Modeling: A Dynamic Modeling Framework for Sustainable Agricultural Systems

Lan, K., & Yao, Y. (2019, August 1). Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 238.

Key issue, challenges, and status quo of models for biofuel supply chain design

Biofuels for a More Sustainable Future: Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment and Multi-Criteria Decision Making, 273–315.

Life Cycle Analysis of Decentralized Preprocessing Systems for Fast Pyrolysis Biorefineries with Blended Feedstocks in the Southeastern United States

Energy Technology, 9(11), 1900850.

Using a Data-Driven Approach to Unveil Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensities of Different Pulp and Paper Products

Procedia CIRP, 80, 689–692.

Quantifying carbon capture potential and cost of carbon capture technology application in the U.S. refining industry

Yao, Y., Marano, J., Morrow, W. R., & Masanet, E. (2018, May 3). International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Vol. 74, pp. 87–98.

A life cycle assessment of torrefaction biomass to displace the coal in the electricity generation

International Bioenergy and Bioproducts Conference, IBBC 2017, 2017-November, 11–13. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85051798023&partnerID=MN8TOARS

A life cycle assessment of torrefaction biomass to displace the coal in the electricity generation

International Bioenergy and Bioproducts Conference, IBBC 2017, 2017-November, 285. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85051765869&partnerID=MN8TOARS

Environmental implications of the methanol economy in China: well-to-wheel comparison of energy and environmental emissions for different methanol fuel production pathways

Yao, Y., Chang, Y., Huang, R., Zhang, L., & Masanet, E. (2017, October 26). Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 172, pp. 1381–1390.

Life-cycle modeling framework for generating energy and greenhouse gas emissions inventory of emerging technologies in the chemical industry

Yao, Y., & Masanet, E. (2017, October 12). Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 172, pp. 768–777.

Models for Sustainability

Yao, Y. (2016, November 2). BioResources, Vol. 12, pp. 1–3.

Quantifying the Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Current Status and Trends

Chang, Y., Li, G., Yao, Y., Zhang, L., & Yu, C. (2016, January 22). Energies, Vol. 9, p. 65.

Accelerating the development of green technologies for chemical production through multiscale life-cycle technology assessment

Education Division 2015 - Core Programming Area at the 2015 AIChE Annual Meeting, 205. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84968732939&partnerID=MN8TOARS

Prospective Energy Analysis of Emerging Technology Options for the United States Ethylene Industry

Yao, Y., Graziano, D. J., Riddle, M., Cresko, J., & Masanet, E. (2015, December 8). Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol. 55, pp. 3493–3505.

Understanding Variability To Reduce the Energy and GHG Footprints of U.S. Ethylene Production

Yao, Y., Graziano, D. J., Riddle, M., Cresko, J., & Masanet, E. (2015, November 2). Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 49, pp. 14704–14716.

A hybrid life-cycle inventory for multi-crystalline silicon PV module manufacturing in China

Yao, Y., Chang, Y., & Masanet, E. (2014, November 1). Environmental Research Letters, Vol. 9, p. 114001.

Greener pathways for energy-intensive commodity chemicals: opportunities and challenges

Yao, Y., Graziano, D., Riddle, M., Cresko, J., & Masanet, E. (2014, November 1). Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering, Vol. 6, pp. 90–98.

Reflections on a massive open online life cycle assessment course

Masanet, E., Chang, Y., Yao, Y., Briam, R., & Huang, R. (2014, September 19). The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, Vol. 19, pp. 1901–1907.

Hybrid life cycle assessment model of silicon photovoltaics

Sustainable Engineering Forum 2013 - Core Programming Area at the 2013 AIChE Annual Meeting: Global Challenges for Engineering a Sustainable Future, 268–269. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84911914052&partnerID=MN8TOARS

Hybrid techno-economic modeling tool for greener chemicals supply chains

Sustainable Engineering Forum 2013 - Core Programming Area at the 2013 AIChE Annual Meeting: Global Challenges for Engineering a Sustainable Future, 424. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84911912530&partnerID=MN8TOARS

Life Cycle Energy, Environmental and Economic Comparative Analysis of CdTe Thin-film Photovoltaics Domestic and Overseas Manufacturing Scenarios

Yao, Y., & You, F. (2013, January 1). Computer-Aided Chemical Engineering/Computer Aided Chemical Engineering, Vol. 32, pp. 733–738.

Design under uncertainty of hydrocarbon biorefinery supply chains: Multiobjective stochastic programming models, decomposition algorithm, and a Comparison between CVaR and downside risk

Gebreslassie, B. H., Yao, Y., & You, F. (2012, May 14). AIChE Journal, Vol. 58, pp. 2155–2179.

Multiobjective optimization of hydrocarbon biorefinery supply chain designs under uncertainty

Gebreslassie, B. H., Yao, Y., & You, F. (2012, December 1). 2012 IEEE 51st IEEE Conference on Decision and Control (CDC), pp. 5560–5565.