Prof. Carol Lin received her Bachelor’s degree in Chemical and Materials Engineering with 1st class honours from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. She was awarded with PhD in 2008 in the research field of Biochemical Engineering at the School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science at the University of Manchester, England. After one year as a postdoctoral researcher in the research group of Professor Wim Soetaert at the Centre of Expertise – Industrial Biotechnology and Biocatalysis at the Ghent University in Belgium, she returned to Hong Kong and joined the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology as a Visiting Assistant Professor. In July 2011, she began her academic career in School of Energy and Environment at City University of Hong Kong, and she was promoted to Full Professor in July 2024.
EDUCATION
PhD, Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Manchester (formerly UMIST), England.
Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical and Materials Engineering, First Class Honours, The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Waste Management and Disposal, Biotechnology, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Environmental Chemistry
279
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Evaluating the role of PET in fungal cellulase induction: Chemical signal or physical growth substrate? Etini Etuk, Ali Nawaz, Ziyao Liu, Carol Sze Ki Lin, Chenyu Du New Biotechnology, 2026 The rapid expansion of synthetic textile production, particularly polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibres, has intensified concerns over microplastic generation and the management of mixed-fibre textile waste. Fungal cellulases offer a low-impact route for biological upcycling of such materials; however, it remains unclear whether PET actively induces cellulase production or functions only as a physical support. This study explicitly tests the hypothesis that PET contributes to cellulase secretion through physical rather than biochemical mechanisms. Cellulase production by Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma reesei was evaluated using textile-derived substrates (100% cotton, 100% PET, and cotton-PET blends) and inert materials (glass, ceramic beads, sponge, and plastic flakes) under submerged (SmF) and solid-state fermentation (SSF). The highest enzyme titres were obtained on cotton-rich blends, with a 60% cotton/40% PET fabric yielding 0.546 ± 0.04 U mL⁻¹ by A. niger after 3 days, directly supporting the hypothesis that cellulase induction is governed by cellulose availability rather than PET chemistry. Pure PET did not stimulate cellulase synthesis, whereas PET-containing blends and inert supports enabled measurable enzyme release. Across non-cellulosic substrates, cellulase output increased systematically with available surface area (4-10 mm), reaching 0.415 ± 0.04 U mL⁻¹ on 10 mm ceramic beads, providing direct evidence that enzyme secretion under non-inducing conditions is driven by physical attachment rather than chemical signalling. By decoupling biochemical induction from surface-mediated effects, this work establishes PET as a structural scaffold rather than a biochemical inducer and highlights the scalability of surface-engineered, low-energy fungal fermentation strategies for valorising realistic blended textile waste streams.
Environmental potential of food waste-derived bioplastics Zi-Hao Qin, Di Wu, Anda Fridrihsone, Mikelis Kirpluks, Carol Sze Ki Lin Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 2026 The rapid growth of plastics manufacturing has intensified climate, ecosystem, and human health pressures, urging for sustainable solutions. Bioplastics have emerged as a prominent mitigation measure, particularly sourced from food waste (FW). Conceptually, FW-derived bioplastics are considered environmentally benign, but their environmental performance is highly context-dependent. This review summarizes recent advances in life cycle assessments (LCA) of relevant bioplastics. While FW as feedstocks is environmentally beneficial, the obtained bioplastics are frequently constrained by energy- and chemical-intensive conversions and by uncertainties during downstream handling. Also, the environmental benefits are non-uniform across impact categories and may involve trade-offs, particularly when background energy systems, purification intensity, and end-of-life assumptions are not aligned with the intended circularity strategy. Future research should prioritize cradle-to-grave, scenario-based LCA. Integrating scale-up, utility recovery, regional waste systems, and harmonized reporting will credibly guide policy and technology toward genuinely circular, low-impact bioplastic systems.
Enhanced Antibiotic Dissipation in Swine Wastewater Facilitated by Heavy Metals through a Transcriptionally Upregulated Microalgal Metallohydrolase Si-Fen Liu, Jin-Hua Mou, Bin Lin, Yi-Fan Zhan, Yu-Cheng Yang, Peizeng Yang, Wei-Dong Yang, Hong-Ye Li, Carol Sze Ki Lin, Xiang Wang Environmental Science and Technology, 2026 Swine wastewater represents a complex pollution matrix laden with antibiotics, heavy metals, and ammonia, demanding integrated remediation strategies. While microalgae offer a sustainable solution, their efficacy is often limited by low stress tolerance and degradation capacity. Here, we applied adaptive evolution to Chlorella sorokiniana, yielding an evolved strain with significantly enhanced simultaneous removal of ammonia, Cu2+, Zn2+, and antibiotics from real swine wastewater. The evolved strain maintained stable performance across multiple treatment cycles under both microbe-rich and sterile conditions, accompanied by reproducible enrichment of specific bacterial taxa. Transcriptomic analysis identified a novel and highly upregulated metallohydrolase (MHO), which was functionally validated as a key mediator of coremediation through overexpression and mutagenesis. Structural modeling and docking revealed that Cu2+/Zn2+ jointly stabilize the active conformation of MHO, enabling metal-dependent degradation of enrofloxacin and sulfadiazine into less toxic derivatives. The enzyme and the evolved strain exhibited broad pH and temperature tolerance, along with broad-spectrum degradation ability toward multiple fluoroquinolones and sulfonamides. This study unveils a previously unrecognized microalgal detoxification mechanism and demonstrates adaptive evolution as a powerful tool for engineering robust strains for complex wastewater bioremediation.
d-Threitol alleviates symptoms of diabetes in db/db mice by reducing hepatic ceramide levels Qing Li, Shuo Xu, Tong Li, Sze Ki Carol Lin, Hairong Cheng Journal of Functional Foods, 2026 Hepatic manifestations of type 2 diabetes, including steatosis, represent a major complication driven by hepatic lipotoxicity and ceramide accumulation, yet few targeted interventions are available. This study investigated whether dietary intake of d -threitol, a naturally occurring four‑carbon sugar alcohol, could alleviate metabolic disorders by modulating hepatic sphingolipid metabolism. An 8-week d -threitol intervention improved systemic metabolism in db/db mice, indicated by stabilised body weight, enhanced insulin sensitivity, and reduced hepatic steatosis. Untargeted serum metabolomics revealed systemic lipid remodelling and enriched glycerophospholipid metabolism. Crucially, quantitative hepatic lipidomics identified ceramides as the most strongly downregulated lipid class. Through transcriptomics and qRT-PCR analyses, d -threitol was confirmed to downregulate the expression of genes associated with de novo ceramide synthesis while upregulating those associated with ceramide degradation and conversion. Integration of multi-omics data indicated the coordinated regulation of pathways related to sphingolipid metabolism, AGE–RAGE signalling, and diabetic complications. In summary, the finding that dietary d -threitol can alleviate hepatic lipotoxicity by regulating ceramide metabolism identifies it as a novel bioactive dietary regulator and a promising functional sugar alternative for diabetes-related complications. • First study showing d -threitol ameliorates diabetes in db/db mice. • Hepatic ceramide reduction identified as the core mechanism. • d -threitol inhibits ceramide synthesis and promotes its degradation. • Multi-omics integration reveals coordinated sphingolipid pathway regulation. • Positions d -threitol as a novel dietary regulator for metabolic health.
Streamlined assessment and optimization of sustainable aviation fuels via few-shot learning and tailored genetic algorithm Xinrui Ren, Huixin Yang, Molly Meng-Jung Li, Shao-Yuan Leu, Carol Sze Ki Lin, Xiaoge Zhang, Chih-yung Wen, Christopher Yu Hang Chao, Song Cheng Applications in Energy and Combustion Science, 2026 • An innovative framework is developed for streamlined assessment and optimization of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). • A multi-scheme semi-supervised few-shot learning framework is proposed that reconstructs a limited jet fuel database with respect to the information on ASTM-specified jet fuel properties. • An accurate and reliable reciprocating mapping between jet fuel compositions and 14 ASTM-specified jet fuel properties is established. • A genetic algorithm-based optimization framework is developed to maximize the performance of SAFs. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is considered the primary technological pathway to decarbonize the global civil aviation in the short to medium term. However, the scale-up of SAFs has been hampered by the high risk and high cost associated with assessing SAFs. Therefore, this study aims to develop an innovative framework to enable streamlined assessment and optimization of SAFs. A multi-scheme semi-supervised few-shot learning (MSSFSL) framework is first proposed and demonstrated to reconstruct a limited jet fuel database with respect to the information on ASTM-specified jet fuel properties. The database is further expanded via a novel synthetic data generation framework, where the database is enriched from only 48 jet fuel samples to over 2000 jet fuel samples. With the reconstructed and enriched database in conjunction with stacking ensemble learning, an accurate and reliable reciprocating mapping between jet fuel compositions and 14 ASTM-specified jet fuel properties (including density, derived cetane number, six distillation temperatures, flash point, freezing point, heat of combustion, surface tension, and viscosities) is established, based on which excellent prediction accuracy is achieved for practical petroleum-derived jet fuels, SAFs and their blends, with R 2 values above 0.8 achieved for all properties and relative prediction error reduced by approximately 2 orders of magnitude. Correlation analysis between jet fuel properties and compositions is subsequently conducted using a case study of ATJ, which further reveals the commendable contribution of iso-paraffins and di-cycloparaffins to the performance of SAFs (e.g., heat of combustion and freezing point). A genetic algorithm-based optimization framework is further developed and demonstrated through a case study where the 14 ASTM-specified jet fuel properties of three SAF candidates (i.e., one 100 % SAF and two 50 %/50 % SAF/Jet A blends) are optimized to fall within the ASTM tolerance and the respective property ranges of Jet A and Jet A-1. The proposed framework enables real-time, risk-lean and cost-effective SAF assessment and fine-tuning at lab-scale based on jet fuel standards and feedback from end-users before platform scale-up, which is expected to facilitate SAF development considerably. The developed model is released as a module of the SAFRA_Master_1.0 software package, hosted free of charge at the UHPC laboratory website ( https://uhpc-lab.org/downloads/ ).
Recent advances in analytical methods for plastic thermochemical conversion: from feedstocks to products Zhiliang Wu, Yanshan Yin, Nai Shi, Shihao Lv, Ruiqi Wang, Md Maksudur Rahman, Hongqi Wang, Zehua Wang, Wenran Gao, Carol Sze Ki Lin, Zhenyao Wang, Ao Xia, Bing Song Trac Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 2026 The rising accumulation of plastic waste poses a global challenge, highlighting the need for efficient recycling and valorization. Thermochemical conversion offers a promising route for transforming plastics into value-added products, but its optimization relies on robust analytical methods capable of accurately identifying feedstocks and characterizing reaction products. This review summarizes recent advances in analytical methods across the entire thermochemical conversion chain. For feedstock identification, conventional sorting manual and density-based sorting have evolved toward advanced spectroscopic techniques like Fourier-transform infrared and Raman, enabling rapid and non-destructive polymer detection. For product characterization, chromatographic, thermal, spectroscopic, and microscopic tools are essential for analyzing gaseous, liquid, and solid products and for uncovering reaction pathways. Emerging integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning is also highlighted for enhancing real-time analysis and process decision-making. Therefore, this review offers guidance for selecting and applying analytical tools to improve the environmental and economic feasibility of thermochemical plastic recycling. • Analytic methodologies covering the full plastic thermochemical conversion chain; • Key spectroscopic, chromatographic, thermal, and microscopic techniques summarized; • Advances from conventional sorting to advanced spectroscopic identification highlighted; • Advanced analytics elucidating reaction mechanisms and product evolution emphasized; • Emerging artificial-intelligence-assisted methods and future research directions examined.
Unlocking new quality productive forces from biowaste valorization through the 5B initiative Zengwei Yuan, Mingjin Cheng, Eman Alaaeldin Abdelfattah, Vinay Kumar, Lu Lu, Dang Mao Nguyen, Carol Sze Ki Lin, J.Pieter H. van Wyk, Olawale Olayide, Xinmin Zhan, Ravindran Balasubramani, Antoni Sánchez, Prajal Pradhan, Deepak Sharma, Ekaterina Kravchenko Resources Environment and Sustainability, 2026
Recycling traditional Chinese medicine residues: a review Xiaowei Wu, Dai Dai, Na Li, Haixin Zheng, Cuixia Wang, Weixiong Lin, Liaoyuan Liu, Zheng Zhang, Jörg Rinklebe, Carol Sze Ki Lin, Wen Rui, Chong Li Environmental Chemistry Letters, 2025
Sustainable management and valorization of antibiotic waste Md Ariful Haque, Lindsay Rogerson, Nirmalendu Deb Nath, Samuel Haruna, Jaehyun Ahn, Tony V. Johnston, Carol Sze Ki Lin, Li Chong, Li Na, Min Ji Jang, Seockmo Ku Chemical Engineering Journal, 2024
Valorisation of Woody Biomass Md Khairul Islam, Chengyu Dong, Hsien‐Yi Hsu, Carol Sze Ki Lin, Shao‐Yuan Leu Waste Valorisation Waste Streams in A Circular Economy, 2020
CircularWaste-Based Biorefinery Development Raffel Dharma Patria, Xiaotong Li, Huaimin Wang, Chenyu Du, Carol Sze Ki Lin, Guneet Kaur Waste Valorisation Waste Streams in A Circular Economy, 2020
Food waste and manure Carol Sze Ki Lin, Muthupandian Ashokkumar, Guneet Kaur, Chong Li, Xiaotong Li, Khai Lun Ong, Daniel Pleissner Handbook on Characterization of Biomass Biowaste and Related by Products, 2020
Bioplastics From Solid Waste C.P. Rivero, Y. Hu, T.H. Kwan, C. Webb, C. Theodoropoulos, W. Daoud, C.S.K. Lin Current Developments in Biotechnology and Bioengineering Solid Waste Management, 2017
Handbook of Biofuels Production: Processes and Technologies: Second Edition Handbook of Biofuels Production Processes and Technologies Second Edition, 2016
Advances on Waste Valorization: New Horizons for a More Sustainable Society Solid Waste Management Policy and Planning for A Sustainable Society, 2016
Biochemical production of bioalcohols M. Melikoglu, V. Singh, S.-Y. Leu, C. Webb, C.S.K. Lin Handbook of Biofuels Production Processes and Technologies Second Edition, 2016
Enzymes in valorization of food and beverage wastes Fleuri, Luciana Francisco, Delgado, Clarissa Hamaio Okino, Novelli, Paula Kern, Pivetta, Mayara Rodrigues, Do Prado, Débora Zanoni, et al. Enzymes in Food and Beverage Processing, 2015
Polyhydroxyalkanoates and their potential in controlled-release drug delivery systems: Biomedical applications and factors affecting the drug release Polyhydroxyalkanoates Phas Biosynthesis Industrial Production and Applications in Medicine, 2014
Natural porous agar materials from macroalgae Matteo Francavilla, Antonio Pineda, Carol S.K. Lin, Massimo Franchi, Pasquale Trotta, Antonio A. Romero, Rafael Luque Carbohydrate Polymers, 2013
Development of cereal-based biorefineries for the production of biodegradable plastics and platform chemicals Aiche Annual Meeting Conference Proceedings, 2006
