Sébastien LEVENEUR
Welcome!
The research group is located at INSA Rouen Normandie. A part of the research is also done at ÅBO AKADEMI UNIVERSITY in Finland.
Our aim is to develop safe and intensified processes for the valorization of biomass.
In 2023, José Delgado successfully defended his doctoral thesis on producing gamma-valerolactone, thanks to the jury.

In 2022, our work was recognized by I&EC Research as one of the 2022 Class of Influential Researchers (2022 Class of Influential Researchers – Europe, Middle East, and Africa (acs.org))

MUST project is on the cover feature of ChemPhysChem, congratulations to Marcel Klinksiek et Sindi Baco for this work
Contact : sebastien.leveneur@insa-rouen.fr
Postdoctoral Research Associate
PhD Students
- Daniele DI MENNO DI BUCCHIANICO “Safety process for the valorization of Normandy’s biomass”
- Sindi BACO “MicroflUidics for Structure-reactivity relationships aided by Thermodynamics & kinetics”
- Alexandre CORDIER “Valorisation de la biomasse par microfluidique : approches théoriques et expérimentales”
- Wenel Naudy VASQUEZ SALCEDO “Bio Jet Fuels Production from Lignocellulosic Biomass”
- Yudong MENG “Structure & reactivity: application to biomass valorization”
- Erny ENCARNACION MUNOZ "Production of the renewable monomer"
-
Viktória Flóra CSENDES “Development of safe, intensified and sustainable pRocEss for the vAlorization of lignocellulosic bioMass (DREAM)”
Research engineer
- Jose Emilio DELGADO LIRIANO (RIN ARBRE)
- Jean-Pierre HEBERT (ANR MUST)
Master's thesis
- Kanugala Watthage Shakila DILLSHY PERERA “Production of a promising biofuels 5-(ethoxymethyl)furfural (EMF)”
Bachelor's thesis
- Justine HAFFEMAYER on the development of kinetic models for levulinic acid esterification
Our aim is to understand the reactivity of complex chemical systems: develop robust and reliable kinetic models in different thermal modes. We are using different calorimeters (RC1, C80, ARSST, etc), process intensification systems (micro-reactor, microwave irradiation) and statistical methods (Bayesian inferences, cross-validation, etc).
We have developed original approaches based on structure-reactivity and non-isothermal mode to develop robust and reliable kinetic models.
The following research activities are investigated:
• Risk assessment for the valorization of biomass processes
• Kinetic modeling of complex reaction system
• Microwave irradiation for the valorization of vegetable oil
• Microreactor for the valorization of 2nd generation biomass
• Structure-reactivity
In 2004, I got two master's theses: Chemical Engineering & Fine Chemistry (INSA Rouen) and Risk management of chemical hazards (University of Rouen). In 2005, I worked for nine months at Åbo Akademi University (Finland) on an industrial project (Kemira company). After this project, I started my doctoral thesis in joint degree between Åbo Akademi University and INSA Rouen on “Catalytic synthesis and decomposition of peroxycarboxylic acids” under the supervision of Prof. Tapio Salmi. In 2009, I got my Ph.D. degree with honors from both institutes and the European label. From 2009 to 2010, I continued as a junior researcher at Åbo Akademi University and focused my research on kinetic modeling on the continuous reactor.
I was appointed Assistant Professor at INSA Rouen in 2010 in the department “Risk management.” In 2015, I defended my Habillitation (University of Rouen) and became Associate-Professor. In 2015, I was also appointed Docent in chemical process technology, especially new concepts chemical in reaction engineering, modelling of chemical reactors and safety aspects at Åbo Akademi University. This position was renewed for life in 2020.
My research activities focus on developing kinetic models for complex chemical systems, the use of process intensification (microwave & microreactor) and risk analysis. These activities are devoted to biomass valorization.
BOOKS
I. Book “Process Synthesis and Process Intensification: Methodological Approaches”, de Gruyter, 2017, Coordinator: Ben-Guang Rong.
Book chapter: “Aspects on reaction intensification by microwave and ultrasound techniques in some chemical multiphase systems”, Contributors: T. Salmi, A.F. Aguilera, P. Tolvanen and S. Leveneur
PUBLICATIONS
2023
98. Wenel Naudy Vásquez Salcedo, Mélanie Mignot, Bruno Renou, Sébastien Leveneur, Assessment of kinetic models for the production of γ-valerolactone developed in isothermal, adiabatic and isoperibolic conditions, Fuel, Volume 350, 15 October 2023, 128792; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2023.128792
Open access: https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-04115376
97. Viktoria Flora Csendes, Attila Egedy, Sebastien Leveneur, Alex Kummer, Application of multi-software modelling in process system engineering: A review and a γ-valerolactone production case study, Processes, 2023, 11(5), 1503; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11051503
Open access: https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-04099597
96. S Leveneur, Kinetic modeling: Regression and validation stages, a compulsory tandem for kinetic model assessment, The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, doi: 10.1002/cjce.24956
Open access: https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-04103190
95. Daniele Di Menno Di Bucchianico, Mélanie Mignot, Jean-Christophe Buvat, Valeria Casson Moreno, Sébastien Leveneur, Production of butyl levulinate from the solvolysis of high-gravity fructose over heterogeneous catalyst: in-depth kinetic modeling, Chemical Engineering Journal, Volume 465, 1 June 2023, 142914, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2023.142914
Open access: https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-04066613
94. Yudong Meng, Nasreddine Kebir, Xiaoshuang Cai and Sebastien Leveneur, In-depth kinetic modeling and chemical analysis for the epox-idation of vegetable oils in a liquid-liquid-solid system, Catalysts 2023, 13, 274. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13020274
Open access: https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03957361
93. Jose Delgado, Wenel Naudy Vasquez Salcedo, Christine Devouge-Boyer, Jean-Pierre Hebert, Julien Legros, Bruno Renou, Christoph Held, Henrik Grenman, Sébastien Leveneur, Reaction enthalpies for the hydrogenation of alkyl levulinates and levulinic acid on Ru/C– influence of experimental conditions and alkyl chain length, Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 171, March 2023, Pages 289-298, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2023.01.025
Open access: https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03935524
92. Wenel Naudy Vásquez Salcedo, Bruno Renou, Sébastien Leveneur, Thermal Stability for the Continuous Production of γ-valerolactone from the hydrogenation of n-butyl levulinate in a CSTR, Processes, 2023, 11(1), 237, https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11010237
Open access: https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11010237
91. Alexandre Cordier, Marcel Klinksiek, Christoph Held, Julien Legros, Sébastien Leveneur, Biocatalyst and continuous microfluidic reactor for an intensified production of n-butyl levulinate: kinetic model assessment, Chemical Engineering Journal, Volume 451, Part 1, 1 January 2023, 138541, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.138541
Open access: https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03748632
2022
90. Katia Pérez, Sébastien Leveneur, Fabrice Burel, Julien Legros, Daniela Vuluga, Synthesis and Functionalization of Polymyrcene in a Flow Microreactor System, Reaction Chemistry & Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2RE00288D
89. Marcel Klinksiek, Sindi Baco, Sébastien Leveneur, Julien Legros, Christoph Held, Activity-based models to predict kinetics of levulinic acid esterification, ChemPhysChem, https://doi.org/10.1002/cphc.202200729
Open access: https://hal.science/hal-03825917
88. Suttiya Chiewudomrat, Sawitree Saengkaew, Gerard Grehan, Sébastien Leveneur, Lionel Estel, Evaluation of refractive index gradients in droplets by rainbow technique: application to CO2 capture by monoethanolamine aqueous spray, Experiments in Fluids (2022) 63:153, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-022-03495-6
87. Qiong Yu, Xiao-shuang Cai, Sébastien Leveneur, Xue-de Wang, Hua-min Liu, Chen-xia Zhang and Yu-xiang Ma, Kinetic modeling of the sesamin conversion into asarinin in the presence of citric acid loading on Hβ, Frontiers in Nutrition, https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.983843
Open access: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.983843/full
86. Sindi Baco; Marcel Klinksiek; Rashid Ismail Bedawi Zakaria; Elizabeth Antonia García Hernandez; Melanie Mignot; Julien Legros; Christoph Held; Valeria Casson Morena; Sebastien Leveneur, Solvent effect investigation on the acid-catalyzed esterification of levulinic acid by ethanol aided by a Linear Solvation Energy Relationship, Chemical Engineering Science, Volume 260, 12 October 2022, 117928, DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2022.117928
Open access: https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03735962
85. Daniele Di Menno Di Bucchianico, Antonella Cipolla, Jean-Christophe Buvat, Mélanie Mignot, Valeria Casson Moreno, Sébastien Leveneur, Kinetic Study and Model Assessment for n-Butyl Levulinate Production from Alcoholysis of 5-(Hydroxymethyl)furfural over Amberlite IR-120, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2022, 61, 30, 10818–10836, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.2c01640
Open access: https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03731262
84. Elizabeth Antonia Garcia-Hernandez, Moulay Elhassane Elmoukrie, Sébastien Leveneur, Bouchaib Gourich, Lamiae Vernieres-Hassimi, Global sensitivity analysis to identify influential model input on thermal risk parameters: to cottonseed oil epoxidation, Journal of loss prevention in the process industries, Volume 77, July 2022, 104795, DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlp.2022.104795.
83. Nicolas Dietrich, Gaëlle Lebrun, Kalyani Kentheswaran, Mathias Monnot, Patrick Loulergue, Carine Franklin, Florence Teddé-Zambelli, Chafiaa Djouadi, Sébastien Leveneur, Mallorie Tourbin, Yolaine Bessière, Carole Coufort-Saudejaud, Annabelle Couvert, Eric Schaer, Rebalancing the historical female under-representation in education,
Journal of Chemical Education, 2022, 99, 6, 2298–2309, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c01218
Open access https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03666841v1
82. Daniele Di Menno Di Bucchianico, Jean-Christophe Buvat, Mélanie Mignot, Valeria Casson Moreno and Sébastien Leveneur, Role of solvent the production of butyl levulinate from fructose, Fuel, Volume 318, 15 June 2022, 123703, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2022.123703.
Open access https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03598350
81. Tapio Salmi, Vincenzo Russo, Adriana Aguilera, Pasi Tolvanen, Johan Wärnå, Martino Di Serio, Riccardo Tesser, Tommaso Cogliano, Sebastien Leveneur, Kari Eränen, A new perspective on vegetable oil epoxidation modeling: reaction and mass transfer in a liquid-liquid-solid system, AICHE Journal, Volume 68, Issue5, May 2022, e17626 doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.17626 .
Open acces https://doi.org/10.22541/au.162603786.65718427/v1
80. Wander Perez-Sena, Kari Eränen, Narendra Kumar, Lionel Estel, Sébastien Leveneur, Tapio Salmi, New insights into the carbonation of epoxidized methyl oleate using single-component heterogeneous catalysts, Journal of CO2 Utilization, Volume 57, March 2022, 101879,
Open access https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcou.2021.101879.
79. Daniele Di Menno Di Bucchianico, Yanjun Wang, Jean-Christophe Buvat, Yong Pan, Valeria Casson Moreno, Sébastien Leveneur, Production of levulinic acid and alkyl levulinates: A process insight, Green Chemistry, 2022, 24, 614–646. https://doi.org/10.1039/D1GC02457D
Open access https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03498103
78. Tapio Salmi, Pasi Tolvanen, Kari Eränen, Johan Wärnå, Sebastien Leveneur, Heikki Haario, Determination of kinetic constants by using transient temperature data from continuous stirred tank reactors, Chemical Engineering Science, Volume 248, Part B, 2 February 2022, 117164,
Open access https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2021.117164
77. Jose Delgado, Wenel Naudy Vasquez Salcedo, Giulia Bronzetti, Valeria Casson Moreno, Mélanie Mignot, Julien Legros, Christoph Held, Henrik Grénman, Sébastien Leveneur, Kinetic model assessment for the synthesis of γ-valerolactone from n-butyl levulinate and levulinic acid hydrogenation over the synergy effect of dual catalysts Ru/C and Amberlite IR-120, Chemical Engineering Journal, Volume 430, Part 3, 15 February 2022, 133053, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2021.133053.
Open access https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03498093
76. Xiaojia Lu, Paula Junghans, Johan Wärnå, Gerd Hilpmann, Rüdiger Lange, Heather Trajano, Kari Eränen, Lionel Estel, Sebastien Leveneur, Henrik Grenman, Hydrolysis of semi-industrial aqueous extracted xylan from birch (betula pendula) employing commercial catalysts – kinetics and modelling, Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology, Volume 97, 2022, Issue1, Pages 130-139
Open access https://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.6918.
2021
75. Xiaojia Lu, Lucas Lagerquist, Kari Eränen, Jarl Hemming, Patrik Eklund, Lionel Estel, Sebastien Leveneur, Henrik Grenman, Reductive catalytic depolymerization of semi-industrial wood-based lignin, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2021, 60, 16827−16838
Open access https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.1c03154
74. Xiaojia Lu, Paula Junghans, Stephanie Weckesser, Johan Wärnå, Gerd Hilpmann, Rüdiger Lange, Heather Trajano, Kari Eränen, Lionel Estel, Sebastien Leveneur, Henrik Grénman, One flow through hydrolysis and hydrogenation of semi-industrial xylan from birch (betula pendula) in a continuous reactor– kinetics and modelling, Chemical Engineering and Processing - Process Intensification, 169 (2021) 108614
Open access https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cep.2021.108614
73. Daniele Di Menno Di Bucchianico, Wander Y. Perez-Sena, Valeria Casson Moreno, Tapio Salmi and Sébastien Leveneur, Model discrimination for hydrogen peroxide consumption to-wards γ-alumina in homogeneous liquid and heterogeneous liquid-liquid systems, Processes, 2021, 9, 1476.
Open access https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9081476
72. S. Capecci, Y. Wang, J. Delgado, V. Casson Moreno, M. Mignot, H. Grenman, D. Yu. Murzin, S. Leveneur, Bayesian statistics to elucidate the kinetics of γ-valerolactone from n-butyl levulinate hydrogenation over Ru/C, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2021, 60, 31, 11725–11736. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.1c02107
Open access https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03498097
71. Xiaoshuang Cai, Pasi Tolvanen, Pasi Virtanen, Kari Eränen, Jani Rahkila, Sébastien Leveneur, Tapio Salmi, Kinetic study of the carbonation of epoxidized fatty acid methyl ester catalyzed over heterogeneous catalyst HBimCl-NbCl5/HCMC, International Journal of Chemical Kinetics, 2021, 53, 1203-1219, 10.1002/kin.21526.
Open access https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03498076
70. Yudong Meng, Francesco Taddeo, Adriana Freites, Xiaoshuang Cai, Vincenzo Russo, Pasi Tolvanen, Sébastien Leveneur, The Lord of the Chemical Rings: catalytic synthesis of im-portant industrial epoxide compounds, Catalysts 2021, 11, 765.
Open access https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11070765
69. D. Lefebvre, S. Leveneur, Editorial Special Issue on “Thermal Safety of Chemical Processes”, Processes, 2021, 9(6), 1054.
Open access https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9061054
68. N. Zora, T. Rigaux, J.-C. Buvat, D. Lefebvre, S. Leveneur, Influence assessment of inlet parameters on thermal risk and productivity: application to the epoxidation of vegetable oils, Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, Volume 72, September 2021, 104551. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlp.2021.104551
Open access https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03498083
67. M. Errico, R. Stateva, S. Leveneur, Novel intensified alternatives for purification of levulinic acid, Processes, 9(3) (2021) 490.
Open access https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9030490
66. Luping Zhou, Shuqi Dai, Shuai Xu,Yuqi She, Yuliang Li, Sebastien Leveneur, Yanlin Qin, Piezoelectric effect synergistically enhances the performance of Ti32-oxo-cluster/BaTiO3/CuS p-n heterojunction photocatalytic degradation of pollutants, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 291 (2021) 120019, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2021.120019
65. S. Capecci, Y. Wang, V. Casson Moreno, C. Held, S. Leveneur, Solvent effect on the kinetics of the hydrogenation of n-butyl levulinate to γ-valerolactone, Chemical Engineering Science, 231 (2021) 116315 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2020.116315
Open access https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03144830
64. W. Y. Pérez-Sena, J. Wärnå, K. Eränen, P. Tolvanen, L. Estel, S. Leveneur, T. Salmi, Use of semibatch reactor technology for the investigation of reaction mechanism and kinetics: heterogeneously catalyzed epoxidation of fatty acid esters, Chemical Engineering Science, 230 (2021) 116206
Open access https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2020.116206
2020
63. A. Egedy, A. Kummer, S. Leveneur, T. Varga, T. Chován, CFD modelling of spatial inhomogeneities in a vegetable oil carbonation reactor, Processes, 8 (2020) 1356;
Open access https://doi.org/10.3390/pr8111356
62. Xiaojia Lu, Yanjun Wang, Lionel Estel, Narendra Kumar, Henrik Grénman, Sébastien Leveneur, Evolution of specific heat capacity with temperature for typical supports used for heterogeneous catalysts, Processes, 8(8) (2020) 911.
Open access https://doi.org/10.3390/pr8080911
61. Yanjun Wang, Igor Plazl, Lamiae Vernières-Hassimi, Sébastien Leveneur, From calorimetry to thermal risk assessment: γ-valerolactone production from the hydrogenation of alkyl levulinates, Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 144 (2020) 32-41 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2020.07.017
Open access https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03144825
60. Andrés Felipe Guzmán Agudelo, Wander Y. Pérez-Sena, Nasreddine Kebir, Tapio Salmi, Luis Alberto Ríos, Sébastien Leveneur, Influence of steric effects on the kinetics of cyclic-carbonate vegetable oils aminolysis, Chemical Engineering Science, 228 (2020) 115954 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2020.115954
Open access https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03515972
59. Vincenzo Russo, Riccardo Tesser, Carmelina Rossano, Tommaso Cogliano, Rosa Vitiello, Sébastien Leveneur, Martino Di Serio, Kinetic study of Amberlite IR120 catalyzed acid esterification of levulinic acid with ethanol: from batch to continuous operation, Chemical Engineering Journal, 401 (2020) 126126, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2020.126126
58. Adriana Freites Aguilera, Jani Rahkila, Jarl Hemming, Maristiina Nurmi, Gaetan Torres, Théophile Razat, Pasi Tolvanen, Kari Eränen, Sébastien Leveneur, Tapio Salmi, Epoxidation of tall oil catalyzed by an ion exchange resin under conventional heating and microwave irradiation, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 59 (22) (2020) 10397–10406.
Open access https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.0c01288
57. Houda Ariba, Yanjun Wang, Christine Devouge-Boyer, Roumiana Stateva, Sébastien Leveneur, Physicochemical properties for the reaction systems: levulinic acid, its esters and γ-valerolactone, Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data, 65 (6) (2020) 3008-3020 https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.jced.9b00965
Open access https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02904648v1
56. W. Y. Pérez-Sena, T. Salmi, L. Estel, S. Leveneur, Thermal risk assessment for the epoxidation of linseed oil by classical Prisleschajew epoxidation and by direct epoxidation by H2O2 on alumina, Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 140 (2020) 673–684.
DOI: 10.1007/s10973-019-08894-2.
Open access https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02435565
2019
55. Mohammad Yaghoub Abdollahzadeh Jamalabadi, Rezvan Alamian, Wei-Mon Yan, S. Leveneur, M. Safdari Shadloo, Effects of nanoparticle enhanced lubricant films in thermal design of plain journal bearings at high Reynolds numbers, Symmetry 11(11) (2019) 1353.
Open access https://doi.org/10.3390/sym11111353
54. E. A. Garcia-Hernandez, C. Ribeiro Souza, L. Vernières-Hassimi, S. Leveneur, Kinetic modeling using temperature as an on-line measurement: Application to the hydrolysis of acetic anhydride, a revisited kinetic model, Thermochimica Acta, 682 (2019) 178409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tca.2019.178409
Open access https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02435541v1
53. A. Dakkoune, L. Vernieres-Hassimi, S. Leveneur, D. Lefebvre, L. Estel, Analysis of thermal runaway events in French chemical industry, Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, 62 (2019) 103938. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlp.2019.103938
52. A. Freites Aguilera, P. Tolvanen, Johan Wärnå, S. Leveneur, T. Salmi, Kinetics and reactor modelling of fatty acid epoxidation in the presence of heterogeneous catalyst, Chemical Engineering Journal 375 (2019) 121936. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2019.121936
51. A. Freites Aguilera, P. Tolvanen, A. Oger, K. Eränen, S. Leveneur, J.-P. Mikkola, T. Salmi, Screening of ion exchange resin catalysts for epoxidation of oleic acid under the influence of conventional and microwave heating, Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology, 94(9) (2019) 3020-3031. https://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.6112
50. Y. Wang, M. Cipolletta, L. Vernières-Hassimi, V. Casson-Moreno S. Leveneur, Application of the concept of Linear Free Energy Relationships to the Hydrogenation of Levulinic acid and its corresponding esters, Chemical Engineering Journal, 374 (2019) 822–831. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2019.05.218
Open access https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02151602v1
49. A. Freites Aguilera, P. Tolvanen, K. Eränen, J. Wärnå, S. Leveneur, T. Marchant, T. Salmi, Kinetic modelling of Prileschajew epoxidation of oleic acid under conventional heating and microwave irradiation, Chemical Engineering Science, 199 (2019) 426-438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2019.01.035
48. X. Cai, M. Matos, S. Leveneur, Structure-reactivity: comparison between the carbonation of epoxidized vegetable oils and the corresponding epoxidized fatty acid methyl ester, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 58 (2019) 1548-1560. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.8b05510
Open access https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02151604v1
47. V. Casson-Moreno, A.-L. Garbetti, S. Leveneur, G. Antonioni, A consequences-based approach for the selection of relevant accident scenarios in emerging technologies, Safety Science, 112 (2019) 142–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2018.10.024
46. B. Belgacem, S. Leveneur, M. Chlendi, L. Estel, M. Bagane, The aid of calorimetry for kinetic and thermal study: application to the dissolution of tunisian natural phosphates, Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry,135 (2019) 1891-1898, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-018-7157-3
Open access https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02151606
2018
45. L. Vernieres-Hassimi, V. Casson-Moreno, M.-A. Abdelghani-Idrissi, S. Leveneur, Cooling configuration effect on the thermal risk of tubular reactor, Chemical Engineering Transactions, 67 (2018), DOI: 10.3303/CET1867008.
44. Y. Wang, L. Vernières-Hassimi, V. Casson-Moreno, J.-P. Hébert, S. Leveneur, Thermal risk assessment of levulinic acid hydrogenation to γ-valerolactone, Organic Process Research & Development, 22(9) (2018) 1092-1100. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.oprd.8b00122
Open access https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02435572
43. S. Leveneur, M. Pinchard, A. Rimbault, M. Safdari Shadloo, T. Meyer, Parameters affecting thermal risk through a kinetic model under adiabatic condition: Application to liquid-liquid reaction system, Thermochimica Acta, (2018) 10–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tca.2018.05.024
Open access https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02127857
42. X. Cai, J.-L. Zheng, A. Freites Aguilera, L. Vernières-Hassimi, P. Tolvanen, T. Salmi, S. Leveneur, Influence of ring opening reactions on the kinetics of bio-based cottonseed oil epoxidation, International Journal of Chemical Kinetics, 50(10) (2018) 726-741. https://doi.org/10.1002/kin.21208
41. W. Y. Pérez-Sena, X. Cai, N. Kebir, L. Vernières-Hassimi, C. Serra, T. Salmi, S. Leveneur, Aminolysis of cyclic-carbonate vegetable oils as a non-isocyanate route for the synthesis of polyurethane: a kinetic and thermal study, Chemical Engineering Journal, 346 (2018) 271-280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2018.04.028
Open access https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02298873
40. X. Cai, K. Ait Aissa, L. Estel, S. Leveneur, Investigation of the physicochemical properties for vegetable oils and their epoxidized and carbonated derivatives, Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data, 63(5) (2018) 1524-1533. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jced.7b01075
Open access https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02435575
39. A. Dakkoune, L. Vernieres-Hassimi, S. Leveneur, D. Lefebvre, L. Estel, Fault detection in the green chemical process: Application to an exothermic reaction, Chemical Engineering Transactions, 67 (2018), DOI: 10.3303/CET1867007.
38. A. Freites Aguilera, P. Tolvanen, S. Heredia, M. González Muñoz, T. Samson, A. Oger, A. Verove, K. Eränen, S. Leveneur, J.-P. Mikkola, T. Salmi, Epoxidation of fatty acids and vegetable oils assisted by microwaves catalysed by a cation exchange resin, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 57(11) (2018) 3876-3886.
37. A. Dakkoune, L. Vernières-Hassimi, S. Leveneur, D. Lefebvre, L. Estel, Risk assessment of french chemical industry, Safety Science, 105 (2018) 77-85.
36. J.-L. Zheng, P. Tolvanen, B. Taouk, K. Eränen, S. Leveneur, T. Salmi, Synthesis of carbonated vegetable oils: investigation of microwave effect in a pressurized continuous-flow recycle batch reactor, Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 132 (2018) 9-18.
Open access https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02138614
35. M.A. Abdelghani-Idrissi, S. Khalfallaoui, D. Seguin, L. Vernières-Hassimi, S. Leveneur. Solar Tracker for Enhancement of the Thermal Efficiency of Solar Water Heating System, Renewable Energy, 119 (2018) 79-94.
2017
34. L. Vernières-Hassimi, A. Dakkoune, L. Abdelouahed, L. Estel, S. Leveneur, Zero-order versus intrinsic kinetics for the determination of TMRad: Application to the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 56 (2017) 13040-13049.
Open access https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02435634
33. O. Jogunola, T. Salmi, S. Leveneur, J.-P. Mikkola, Complexation equilibria studies of alkyl formate hydrolysis in the presence of 1-butylimidazole, Thermochimica Acta, 652 (2017) 62-68.
32. S. Leveneur, Thermal safety assessment through the concept of structure-reactivity: application to vegetable oils valorization, Organic Process Research & Development, 21(4) (2017) 543-550.
Open access https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03144820
31. L. Abdelouahed, S. Leveneur, L. Vernieres-Hassimi, L. Balland, B. Taouk, Comparative investigation for the determination of kinetic parameters for biomass pyrolysis by thermogravimetric analysis, Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 129 (2017) 1201–1213.
30. X. Cai, J.-L. Zheng, J. Wärnå, T. Salmi, B. Taouk, S. Leveneur, Influence of gas-liquid mass transfer on kinetic modeling: Carbonation of epoxidized vegetable oils, Chemical Engineering Journal, 313 (2017) 1168-1183.
2016
29. S. Leveneur, L. Vernières-Hassimi, T. Salmi, Mass & energy balances coupling in chemical reactors for a better understanding of thermal safety, Education for Chemical Engineers, 16 (2016) 17-28.
Open access https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02435639
28. H. Rakotondramaro, J. Wärnå, L. Estel, T. Salmi, S. Leveneur, Cooling and stirring failure for semi-batch reactor: application to exothermic reactions in multiphase reactor, Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, 43 (2016) 147-157.
Open access https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02435638
27. K. Ait aissa, J.L. Zheng, L. Estel, S. Leveneur, Thermal stability of epoxidized and carbonated vegetable oils, Organic Process Research & Development, 20(5) (2016) 948-953.
Open access https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02435640
26. A. Freites Aguilera, P. Tolvanen, K. Eränen, S. Leveneur, T. Salmi, Epoxidation of oleic acid under conventional heating and microwave radiation, Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification, 102 (2016) 70–87.
25. F. Asherman, G. Cabot, C. Crua, L. Estel, C. Gagnepain, T. Lecerf, A. Ledoux, S. Leveneur, M. Lucereau, S. Maucorps, M. Ragot, J. Syrykh, M. Vige, Designing and demonstrating a master student project to explore carbon dioxide capture technology, Journal of Chemical Education, 93(4) (2016) 633-638.
Open access https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02328192
24. J.-L. Zheng, J. Wärnå, F. Burel, T. Salmi, B. Taouk, S. Leveneur, Kinetic modeling strategy for an exothermic multiphase reactor system: application to vegetable oils epoxidation by using Prileschajew method, AIChE Journal, 62(3) (2016) 726-741.
2015
23. L. Vernières-Hassimi, S. Leveneur, Alternative method to prevent thermal runaway in case of error on operating conditions in continuous reactor, Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 98 (2015) 365-373.
22. J.-L. Zheng, F. Burel, T. Salmi, B. Taouk, S. Leveneur, Carbonation of vegetable oils: influence of mass transfer on reaction kinetics, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 54(43) (2015) 10935-10944.
Open access https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02138621
21. S. Leveneur, L. Estel, C. Crua, Thermal risks assessment of vegetable oil epoxidation, Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 122 (2015) 795–804.
Open access https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02435644
20. B. Huang, S. Leveneur, T. Zamar, J.-P. Mikkola, B. Taouk, Towards production of γ-valerolactone via hydrogenation of aqueous levulinic acid, International Journal of Chemical Reactor Engineering, 13(1) (2015) 119–127.
2014
19. S. Leveneur, A. Ledoux, L. Estel, B. Taouk, T. Salmi, Epoxidation of vegetable oils under microwave irradiation, Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 92(8) (2014) 1495–1502.
18. S. Leveneur, F. Delannoy, Y. Levesqueau, J.-P. Hébert, L. Estel, B. Taouk, T. Salmi, The limit of DSC as a Preliminary Tool to Determine the Safety Parameters?, Chemical Engineering Transactions, 36,139-144 DOI: 10.3303/CET1436024
Open access https://www.cetjournal.it/index.php/cet/article/view/CET1436024
17. S. Leveneur, J. Zheng, B. Taouk, F. Burel, J. Wärnå, T. Salmi, Interaction of thermal and kinetic parameters for a liquid liquid reaction system: Application to vegetable oils epoxidation by peroxycarboxylic acid, Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers, 45 (2014) 1449–1458.
2013
16. C. Gu, S. Leveneur, L. Estel, A. Yassine, Industrial Symbiosis Optimization Control Model for the exchanges of the material/energy flows in an industrial production park, IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 46(9) (2013) 1015-1020.
15. C. Gu, S. Leveneur, L. Estel, A. Yassine, Modeling and optimization of material/energy flow exchanges in an industrial park, Energy Procedia, 36 (2013) 243-252.
14. C. Gu, L. Estel, A. Yassine, S. Leveneur, A multiobjective optimization model for designing and optimizing an ecological industrial park, 2013 Ninth International Conference on Natural Computation (ICNC), (2013) 595–600. doi:10.1109/ICNC.2013.6818046.
2012
13. S. Leveneur, M. Thones, J.-P. Hébert, B. Taouk, T. Salmi, From Kinetic study to thermal safety assessment: application to peroxyformic acid synthesis, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 51(43) (2012) 13999–14007.
12. S. Leveneur, C. A. de Araujo Filho, L. Estel, T. Salmi, Modeling of a liquid-liquid-solid heterogeneous reaction system: application to the synthesis of peroxy fatty acids, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 51(1) (2012) 189–201.
2011
11. P. Tolvanen, A. Sorokin, P. Mäki-Arvela, S. Leveneur, D. Yu. Murzin, T. Salmi, Batch and semi-batch partial oxidation of starch by hydrogen peroxide in the presence of iron tetrasulfophthalocyanine catalyst: the effect of ultrasound and catalyst addition policy, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 50 (2) (2011) 749-757. https://doi.org/10.1021/ie100868k
10. S. Leveneur, J. Wärnå, K. Eränen, T. Salmi, Green process technology for peroxycarboxylic acids: estimation of kinetic and dispersion parameters aided by RTD measurements: green synthesis of peroxycarboxylic acids, Chemical Engineering Science, 66 (2011) 1038–1050. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2010.12.005
9. O. Jogunola, T. Salmi, J. Warna, S. Leveneur, J.P. Mikkola, Modelling of Simultaneous Reaction and Diffusion in Chemical Reactors with Particle Size Distributions: Application of Ion-exchange Resins in Heterogeneous Catalysis, Chemical Engineering Transactions, 24 (2011) 139-144
Open access https://folk.ntnu.no/skoge/prost/proceedings/pres2011-and-icheap10/ICheaP10/7Jogunola.pdf
2010
8. H. Koskinen, S. Leveneur, A. Sundquist, N. Musakka, T.Salmi, I. Renvall Functionality of Poly(α-hydroxyacrylic acid) as H2O2 stabilizing agent, Oxidation Communication, Book 2 (2010) 258-274.
7. S. Leveneur, N. Kumar, D. Yu. Murzin, T. Salmi, Stability of hydrogen peroxide during perhydrolysis of carboxylic acids on acidic heterogeneous catalysts, Research on Chemical Intermediates, 36(4) (2010) 389-401. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-010-0149-y
6. S. Leveneur, J. Wärnå, T. Salmi, D. Yu. Murzin, A review: Catalytic synthesis and decomposition of peroxycarboxylic acids, Trends in chemical engineering, 13 (2010) 17-52.
2009
5. S. Leveneur, J. Wärnå, T. Salmi, D. Yu. Murzin, L. Estel, Interaction of Intrinsic Kinetics and Internal Mass Transfer in Porous Ion-Exchange Catalysts: Green Synthesis of Peroxycarboxylic Acids, Chemical Engineering Science, 64(19) (2009) 4104-4114.
4. S. Leveneur, D. Yu. Murzin, T. Salmi, J.-P. Mikkola, N. Kumar, K. Eränen, L. Estel, Synthesis of Peroxypropionic Acid from Propionic Acid and Hydrogen Peroxide using heterogenous Catalysts, Chemical Engineering Journal, 147 (2009) 323-329.
3. S. Leveneur, D. Yu. Murzin, T. Salmi, Application of Linear Free-Energy Relations to Perhydrolysis of Different Carboxylic Acids over Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Catalysts, Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical, 303 (2009) 148-155.
2008
2. S. Leveneur, T. Salmi, D. Yu. Murzin, L. Estel, J. Wärnå, N. Musakka, Kinetic Study and Modeling of Peroxypropionic Acid Synthesis from Propionic Acid and Hydrogen Peroxide using Homogeneous Catalysts, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 47(3) (2008) 656-664.
2007
1. S. Leveneur, T. Salmi, N. Musakka, J. Wärnå, Kinetic Study of Decomposition of Peroxypropionic acid in Liquid-Phase through Direct Analysis of Decomposition Products in Gas Phase, Chemical Engineering Science, 62 (18-20) (2007) 5007-5012.
- INSA Rouen Normandie
- Åbo Akademi University
- Région Normandie
- European Regional Development Fund
- Interreg
- ANR-DFG
- Academy of Finland
- Industry (KEMIRA, ARKEMA,…)
- Campus France
Postdoctoral Research Associate
- Keltouama AIT AÏSSA (2015)
- Pasi TOLVANEN (2014)
- Botao HUANG (2013)
PhD Students
- José Delgado (2020-2023) "Production of GVL, a green platform molecule"
Open access theses.fr – Jose Delgado Liriano, Production of y-valerolactone, a green platform molecule - Xiaojia LU (2017-2021) "Reductive catalytic depolymerization of industrial lignin and hemicellulose – process development and intensification"
Open access https://www.doria.fi/handle/10024/181798?locale=lfi - Wander Yamil PEREZ SENA (2017-2021) "Monomers from vegetable oil feedstock : kinetics, catalysis and thermal risk"
Open access https://www.doria.fi/handle/10024/181513 - Elizabeth GARCIA-HERNANDEZ (2017-2020) "Global sensitivity analysis applied to thermal risk evaluation"
Open access http://www.theses.fr/en/2020NORMIR10 - Yanjun WANG (2017-2020) "Production of γ-valerolactone from the hydrogenation of levulinic acid or alkyl levulinates : calorimetry and kinetic study"
Open access http://www.theses.fr/en/2020NORMIR02 - Adriana FREITES AGUILLERA (2016-2020) "Epoxidation of vegetable oils : process intensification for biomass conversion"
Open access https://www.doria.fi/handle/10024/175243 - Xiaoshuang CAI (2016-2019) "Production of carbonated vegetable oils from a kinetic modeling to a structure-reactivity approach"
Open access http://www.theses.fr/2019NORMIR05 - Suttiya CHIEWUDOMRAT (2015-2018) "Optical characterization of gradient in droplets : application to CO2 capture by MEA spray"
- Jun Liu ZHENG (2013-2016) "Development of a process for the epoxidation and carbonation vegetable oils : application to cottonseed oil"
Open access http://www.theses.fr/en/2016ISAM0006 - Chao GU (2011-2014) "Creating an inductive model of growing industrial clusters with optimized flows, to reduce their impact on the environment"
Visiting researchers
- Viktoria Flora CSENDES (University of Pannonia, Hungary, 2021)
- Daniel Datch MEFOUET ABESSOLO (Ecole Normale Supérieure de Libreville, Gabon, 2020)
- Andrés Felipe GUZMÁN AGUDELO (University of Antioquia, Colombia, 2019)
- Valeria CASSON MORENO (University of Bologna, Italy, 2017)
- Balsam BELGACEM (University of Gabès, Tunisia, 2014)
Master Students
- Laura BERNACCHIONI (2023)
- Erny Encarnacion MUNOZ (2022)
- Antonella CIPOLLA (2021)
- Rashid Ismail BEDAWI ZAKARIA (2021)
- Wenel Naudy VASQUEZ SALCEDO (2021)
- Sindi BACCO (2020)
- Giulia BRONZETTI (2020)
- Daniele DI MENNO DI BUCCHIANICO (2019)
- Sarah CAPECCI (2019)
- Houda ARIBA (2019)
- Mariasole CIPOLLETTA (2018)
- Masoud KHALILPOURSHIRAZ (2018)
- Anna Laura GAREBETTI (2017)
- Wander Y. PÉREZ-SENA (2017)
- Helisoa RAKOTONDRAMARO (2014)
- Adriana FREITES AGUILLERA (2014)
- Tamara ZAMAR (2012)
- Federico SAFATLE (2012)
- Claire LEBLAY (2012)
- P. G. MENDONÇA MILEO (2011)
- Jun Liu ZHENG (2011)
- C. A. DE ARAUJO FILHO (2010)
February 2022-February 2025: Rouen’s project PROMETEE (Processes to valoRize nOrman bioMass from renEwable energies: ciTizen sciencE and process safEty)
Consortium: Aoues’s team (INSA Rouen) for the mechanical and civil engineering part, Liano’s team (Rouen university) for the citizen science part and Leveneur’s team for process safety.
Total budget : 120 k€.
Climate emergency and citizen distrust push us to re-think (re-design) the different models of environmental transition. Nowadays, interdisciplinary collaboration between engineering and social sciences is mandatory to find alternative and acceptable solutions.
Valorization of lignocellulosic biomass by renewable energy such as green hydrogen will sustain our chemical industries and contribute to the mix energy. Such processes could lead to new industrial risks that must be identified and evaluated by new methods.
Researchers from Rouen University and INSA Rouen Normandy concluded that industrial projects involving these processes must be evaluated on the innovative tetraptic Society-Industrial Risk-Environmental impact-Cost evaluation.
Lignocellulosic biomass from agricultural waste can be valorized into different chemicals, fuels and materials. These different options can affect the cost evaluation, environment or industrial risk assessment differently. Citizens will also evaluate these options by using/testing/developing different protocols.
Principal investigators: Sébastien Leveneur (INSA Rouen Normandie) & Michalis Lianos (Rouen University).
SCIENTIFIC RESULTS
NEWSPAPER
1. Paris-Normandie, 24th of September 2022: "À Rouen, des chercheurs lancent un appel aux volontaires pour construire une science citoyenne"
PUBLICATIONS
1.
Wenel Naudy Vásquez Salcedo, Bruno Renou, Sébastien Leveneur, Thermal Stability for the Continuous Production of γ-valerolactone from the hydrogenation of n-butyl levulinate in a CSTR, Processes, https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11010237
Open access: https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11010237
CONFERENCES
1. Wenel Naudy Vasquez Salcedo, Bruno Renou, Sebastien Leveneur, Gamma-valerolactone production from butyl levulinate: advance kinetic modeling and thermal risk assessment.
Oral presentation at Calorimetry and Thermal analysis JCAT52, June 15-17, 2022, Colmar, France
2. S. Leveneur, “Valorisation of vegetable oils: from thermal risk assessment to kinetic modelling”
Keynote lecture at 26th International Congress of Chemical and Process Engineering CHISA, 21st-25th, August 2022, Prague, Czech Republic
January 2022-November 2022: French embassy project with Indonesia POTION (Production sûr de biOcarburant aviatTION : une approche expérimentale et théorique Safe production of aviation biofuel: experimental and theoretical approaches).

Principal investigator (Leveneur) of POTION, which is in collaboration with Dr. Mohammad Kemal Agusta CMD-QE Bandung Institute of Technology for DFT calculation. The objective of this project is to have a better understanding of the production of aviation fuel from lignocellulosic biomass.
SCIENTIFIC RESULTS
CONFERENCES
1. Wenel Naudy Vasquez Salcedo, Jose Delgado, Henrik Grenman, Mohammad Kemal Agusta, Bruno Renou, Sebastien Leveneur, Gamma-valerolactone: promissing intermediate for bio jet fuel.
Oral presentation for WasteEng22, 9th International Conference on Engineering for Waste and Biomass Valorisation, June 27-30 2022, Copenhagen, Denmark
February 2021-April 2024: ANR-DFG project MUST: MicroflUidics for Structure-reactivity relationships aided by Thermodynamics & kinetics.
Researchers: Sébastien Leveneur (Coordinator, INSA Rouen Normandie), Julien Legros (COBRA, Université de Rouen) and Christoph Held (Dortmund TU, Germany).
Ph.D. students: Sindi Baco, Alexandre Cordier and Marcel Klinksiek
Total budget: 600k€ including 3 Ph.D. salaries.
ANR-20-CE92-0002 & Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 446436621

The relationships between the structure of chemicals (reactants or products) and their reactivity (kinetics and thermodynamics) is a research area that crosslinks thermodynamics, kinetics, organic chemistry and chemical engineering. This project will investigate this research area by German and French specialists. The concept of Linear Free Energy Relationships (LFER), including the Taft equation, is a powerful structure-reactivity tool that accounts for steric, polar and resonance effects on a series of chemical reactions. Taft equation shows that there is a relationship between the structure of reactants (i.e., the substituent near to the reaction center) and their reactivities within a reaction series. It is state-of-the-art to apply this to chemical reactions (e.g. esterification), and it is claimed that the developed parameters are valid independent of the reaction conditions. However, mainly esterification and hydrolysis reactions were used in one kind of solvent, which in principle limits the general validity of the relationships. Thus, generalizing LFER concepts to vast number of solvents or solvent mixtures and even to multiphase reaction systems requires intrinsic kinetic profiles in the absence of concentration and temperature gradients, expressed in terms of thermodynamic activities. This will be developed in this project.
The redeveloped Taft-based method will be mainly applied to three chemical reaction systems that involve lignocellulosic-derived platform molecules: 1) glucose solvolysis to levulinate ester using different alcohol solvents, 2) esterification-hydrolysis of levulinic acid-levulinate ester and
3) hydrogenation of levulinic acid or levulinate ester to gamma-valerolactone by H2 and solid catalyst. We will vary the reactants for these systems, i.e., different alcohols for 1) and 2), and different levulinate esters for 3). System 2) will prove the validity of the LFER concept to enzyme catalysis. The goal is to use the redeveloped method to study and predict the -R substituent effect in the reactant and the solvent effect on kinetic profiles.
Reaching the goal requires different research expertise. The use of microfluidic technologies will allow performing kinetic experiments avoiding transport limitations. Activities of the reactants and products will be predicted based on the experimental kinetic profiles and the equation of state ‘ePC-SAFT’. This will ultimately allow predicting reaction properties (standard enthalpies, standard Gibbs energies) as well as intrinsic activity-based reaction kinetic constants. Furthermore, ePC SAFT will be used to predict the required phase behavior of the reaction systems (e.g. H2 solubility in reaction medium); all predictions (phase behavior and reaction characteristics) will be validated by experiments.
The association of both methods –LFER & ePC-SAFT– will mean a significant new understanding and a new dimension in designing chemical syntheses.
Another short movie on MUST (in French)
MASTER THESIS DEFENCE
1. July 2021, Wenel Naudy VASQUEZ SALCEDO “Calorimetry study of the hydrogenation of alky levulinates”
2. July 2022, Erny ENCARNACION MUNOZ “Structure-reactivity for the production of alkyl levulinates from fructose”
1. Jose Delgado, Wenel Naudy Vasquez Salcedo, Giulia Bronzetti, Valeria Casson Moreno, Mélanie Mignot, Julien Legros, Christoph Held, Henrik Grénman, Sébastien Leveneur, Synergy effect of dual catalysts for the synthesis of γ-valerolactone from n-butyl levulinate hydrogenation over Ru/C and Amberlite IR-120, Chemical Engineering Journal, Volume 430, Part 3, 15 February 2022, 133053, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2021.133053.
Open access https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03498093
2. Sindi Baco; Marcel Klinksiek; Rashid Ismail Bedawi Zakaria; Elizabeth Antonia García Hernandez; Melanie Mignot; Julien Legros; Christoph Held; Valeria Casson Morena; sebastien leveneur, Chemical Engineering Science, Volume 260, 12 October 2022, 117928, DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2022.117928
Open access: https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03735962
3. Alexandre Cordier, Marcel Klinksiek, Christoph Held, Julien Legros, Sébastien Leveneur, Biocatalyst and continuous microfluidic reactor for an intensified production of n-butyl levulinate: kinetic model assessment, Chemical Engineering Journal, Volume 451, Part 1, 1 January 2023, 138541, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.138541
Open access: https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03748632
4. Marcel Klinksiek, Sindi Baco, Sébastien Leveneur, Julien Legros, Christoph Held, Activity-based models to predict kinetics of levulinic acid esterification, ChemPhysChem, https://doi.org/10.1002/cphc.202200729
Open access: https://hal.science/hal-03825917
5. Jose Delgado, Wenel Naudy Vasquez Salcedo, Christine Devouge-Boyer, Jean-Pierre Hebert, Julien Legros, Bruno Renou, Christoph Held, Henrik Grenman, Sébastien Leveneur, Reaction enthalpies for the hydrogenation of alkyl levulinates and levulinic acid on Ru/C– influence of experimental conditions and alkyl chain length, Process Safety and Environmental Protection, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2023.01.025
Open access: https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03935524
CONFERENCES
1. Oral communication for The International Symposium on Green Chemistry (ISGC2022), May 16TH - 20TH, 2022, La Rochelle, France.
Jose Delgado, Wenel Naudy Vasquez Salcedo, Christoph Held, Henrik Grénman, Sébastien Leveneur, Adiabatic hydrogenation of Alkyl Levulinates to Gamma-valerolactone.
2. Oral communication for The International Symposium on Green Chemistry (ISGC2022), May 16TH - 20TH, 2022, La Rochelle, France.
Alexandre Cordier, Christoph Held, Julien Legros, Sebastien Leveneur, Enzymatic catalysis of butyl levulinate synthesis in continuous microfluidic system: kinetic model assessment.
3. Sindi Baco, Alexandre Cordier, Christoph Held, Julien Legros, Sebastien Leveneur, Enzymatic esterification of levulinic acid in continuous microfluidic system.
Oral presentation for WasteEng22, 9th International Conference on Engineering for Waste and Biomass Valorisation, June 27-30 2022, Copenhagen, Denmark
4. S. Baco, M. Klinksiek, R. I. B. Zakaria, E. A. Garcia Hernandez, M. Mignot, J. Legros, C. Held, V. Casson Moreno, S. Leveneur, Solvent effect investigation on the acid esterification of levulinic acid by ethanol throughout a kinetic and thermodynamic combined approach.
Oral presentation for 26th International Congress of Chemical and Process Engineering CHISA, 21st-25th, August 2022, Prague, Czech Republic
December 2021-December 2024: Normandy’s region project ARBRE (Risk Analysis to processes valorizing 2nd generation biomass and using Renewable energies.
Consortium: Aoues’s team (INSA Rouen) for the mechanical and civil engineering part, Diarrassouba’s team (Le Havre university) for the logistic study (biomass transportation), Lefebvre’s team (Le Havre university) for the prognostic and detection study, Maugé’s team (CNRS Caen) for the catalyst development, Aubert’s team (Rouen university) for the ecology impact and Leveneur’s team for chemical process.
Coordinator: S Leveneur.
Total budget: 574 k€
Scientific presentation
The ARBRE project aims to develop a process for the valorization of Normandy's lignocellulosic biomass (e.g. dedicated cultivation such as beech or agricultural waste such as flax shives) by using green hydrogen obtained from wind energy. The chemical process studied will be the Reductive Catalytic Fractionation (RCF) process of lignocellulosic biomass.
This project ultimately aims to make an economic and risk assessment of this industry. Indeed, such chemical plants can present new risks.
RISK -Evaluate the risks of dust explosion (lignocellulosic biomass) and thermal runaway -Establish a method for assessing technological and natural risks based on a probabilistic approach -Establish safety barriers and integrate these risks during the design phase (early-conception approach).
SAFETY -Develop decision-making tools for prevention by detection and early diagnosis -Use artificial intelligence approaches for fault diagnosis
LOGISTICS -Mathematical model (s) to optimize flow exchanges between biomass (production, harvest, transport and considering the seasonality of biomass), hydrogen ("seasonality" of wind power production) and RCF process.
ECOLOGICAL Evaluate the impact of dedicated crops on soils
PROCESS ENGINEERING & CATALYSIS -Develop kinetic and thermodynamic models -Synthesize and characterize heterogeneous catalysts for the RCF process -Develop a Process Flow Diagram associated with lignocellulosic biomass valuation processes -Perform an economic evaluation in strong interaction with the logistics objectives (including security barriers)
SEMINAR IN OCTOBER 2022

SCIENTIFIC RESULTS
1.Daniele Di Menno Di Bucchianico, Yanjun Wang, Jean-Christophe Buvat, Yong Pan, Valeria Casson Moreno, Sébastien Leveneur, Production of levulinic acid and alkyl levulinates: A process insight, Green Chemistry, 2022, 24, 614–646. https://doi.org/10.1039/D1GC02457D
Open access https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03498103
2.Daniele Di Menno Di Bucchianico, Jean-Christophe Buvat, Mélanie Mignot, Valeria Casson Moreno and Sébastien Leveneur, Role of solvent the production of butyl levulinate from fructose, Fuel, Volume 318, 15 June 2022, 123703, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2022.123703.
Open access https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-0359835c0
3. Daniele Di Menno Di Bucchianico, Antonella Cipolla, Jean-Christophe Buvat, Mélanie Mignot, Valeria Casson Moreno, Sébastien Leveneur, Kinetic Study and Model Assessment for n-Butyl Levulinate Production from Alcoholysis of 5-(Hydroxymethyl)furfural over Amberlite IR-120, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2022, 61, 30, 10818–10836, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.2c01640
Open access: https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03731262
4. Yudong Meng, Nasreddine Kebir, Xiaoshuang Cai and Sebastien Leveneur, In-depth kinetic modeling and chemical analysis for the epox-idation of vegetable oils in a liquid-liquid-solid system, Catalysts 2023, 13, 274. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13020274
Open access: https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03957361
5. Daniele Di Menno Di Bucchianico, Mélanie Mignot, Jean-Christophe Buvat, Valeria Casson Moreno, Sébastien Leveneur, Production of butyl levulinate from the solvolysis of high-gravity fructose over heterogeneous catalyst: in-depth kinetic modeling, Chemical Engineering Journal, Volume 465, 1 June 2023, 142914, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2023.142914
Open access: https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-04066613
6. Wenel Naudy Vásquez Salcedo, Mélanie Mignot, Bruno Renou, Sébastien Leveneur, Assessment of kinetic models for the production of γ-valerolactone developed in isothermal, adiabatic and isoperibolic conditions, Fuel, Volume 350, 15 October 2023, 128792; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2023.128792
Open access: https://hal-normandie-univ.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-04115376
CONFERENCES
1.Oral communication for The International Symposium on Green Chemistry (ISGC2022), May 16TH - 20TH, 2022, La Rochelle, France.
D. Di Menno Di Bucchianico, J.C. Buvat, V. Casson Moreno, S. Leveneur, Inside the mechanism for transforming cellulose into biofuels: kinetic and calorimetry investigation of 5-hmf alcoholysis to n-butyl levulinate over solid catalyst.
2. D. Di Menno Di Bucchianico, J.C. Buvat, V. Casson-Moreno, S. Leveneur, Kinetic modeling of fructose solvolysis to n-butyl levulinate in gamma-valerolactone as co-solvent.
Oral presentation for WasteEng22, 9th International Conference on Engineering for Waste and Biomass Valorisation, June 27-30 2022, Copenhagen, Denmark