Rate My Professor J.J. Leahy

Professor J.J. Leahy is Full Professor and Head of the Department of Chemical Sciences in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Limerick. He also serves as Professor in the Bernal Institute and the Dairy Processing Technology Centre (DPTC). Leahy heads a research group of chemists and chemical engineers focused on chemical technologies for biofuels and biorefining from wastes. His research identifies optimum thermochemical routes such as gasification and pyrolysis, alongside chemical hydrolysis, for producing chemicals and second-generation transport fuels from biomass and waste. Activities include laboratory and pilot-scale process optimization for product yields from specific feedstocks, catalyst and chemical process development for bio-oil production and upgrading, pre-treatment processes for lignocellulosic carbohydrate hydrolysis, and demonstration of bio-syngas feasibility with catalysts for alcohol or diesel fuels. He maintains an extensive background in applied biofuels research, with strong national industry links.

With over 30 years of experience, Leahy's projects encompass converting peat extract into tarmac, waste cooking oils into biofuels, topical skincare products from willow, and disposal and reuse of chicken waste on farms. He delivered his inaugural lecture, 'My Journey to Biocircularity from the Old Bog Road,' on May 1, 2025, reviewing these efforts. Leahy has produced 243 research outputs, including 175 articles, 44 papers, 8 reviews, and 6 chapters. Recent publications include 'Corrigendum to Hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis of dairy processing sludge' (2026), 'Bimetallic Fe(OH)x@Co0.8Fe0.2-MOF/NF composites as effective electrocatalysts' (2025), 'Bio-Resource Availability in Ireland' (2025), 'Comparison of salicin and fibre contents in willow clones' (2025), and 'Construction of iron-nickel metal-organic framework' (2025). His research attracts funding from industry, national agencies, and major EU projects, and has spawned two biofuels start-up companies in the mid-west region.