My research is focused on the following four areas:

(1) Advanced bioenergy production technologies. This includes (a) Characterisation of bio-oil/char slurry produced from biomass pyrolysis, (b) Production of syngas from biomass gasification, and (c) Co-combustion of biomass, biochar, or bio-oil/char slurry with coal under air and oxy-fuel combustion conditions.

(2) Ash-related issues during combustion and gasification of solid fuels, including fine inorganic particulate matter formation/emission and ash deposition from solid fuels combustion and gasification.

(3) Production, characterisation, and field application of biochar for carbon sequestration.

(4) Life Cycle Assessment and Techno-economic Analysis of the production of sustainable transport fuels.

S Yani, X. Gao, H Wu, Emission of Inorganic PM10 from the Combustiuon of Torrefied Biomass under Pulverized-Fuel Conditions. Energy Fuels, 2015, 29, 800-807 C Wen, X Gao, Y Yu, J Wu, M Xu, H Wu, Emission of Inorganic PM10 from Included Mineral Matter during the Combustion of Pulverized Coals of Various Ranks, 2015, Fuel, 2015, 140, 526-530 MU Rahim, X Gao, H Wu, Release of Chlorine from the Slow Pyrolysis of NaCl-loaded Cellulose at Low Temperaturess. Proc. Combust. Inst., 2015, 35, 2891-2896 X. Gao, S Yani, H Wu, Pyrolysis of Spent Biomass from Mallee Leaf Steam Distillation: Biochar Properties and Recycling of Inherent Inorganic Nutrients. Energy Fuels, 2014, 28, 4642-4649 X Gong, Y Yu, X Gao, Y Qiao, M Xu, H Wu, Formation of Anhydro-sugars in the Primary Volatiles and Solid Reisdues from Cellulose Fast Pyrolysis in a Wire-Mesh Reactor. Energy Fuels, 2014, 28, 5204-5211 X Gao, H Wu, Aerodynamic Properties of Biochar Particles: Effect of Grinding and Implications. Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett., 2014, 1, 60-64 X Gao, MU Rahim, X Chen, H Wu, Significant Contribution of Organically-bound Mg, Ca, and Fe to Inorganic PM10 Emission during the Combustion of Pulverized Victorian Brown Coal. Fuel, 2014, 117, 825-832 MU Rahim, X Gao, H Wu, Determination of Chlorine in Solid Fuels Using an Improved Eschka Method. Fuel, 2014, 129, 314-317 S Yani, X Gao, P Grayling, H Wu. Steam Distillation of Mallee Leaf: Extraction of 1,8-Cineole and Changes in the Fuel Properties of Spent Biomass. Fuel, 2014, 133, 341-349 Z Kong, SB Liaw, X Gao, Y Yu, H Wu, Leaching Characteristics of Inherent Inorganic Nutrients in Biochars from the Slow and Fast Pyrolysis of Mallee Biomass. Fuel, 2014, 128, 433-441 MU Rahim, X Gao, H Wu, A Method for the Quantification of Chlorine in Low-Rank Solid Fuels. Energy Fuels, 2013, 27, 6992-6999 M Zhang, X Gao, H Wu, A Method for the Quantification of Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metallic Species in Bioslurry Fuels. Energy Fuels, 2013, 27, 6823-6830 X Gao, Y Yu, H Wu, Life Cycle Energy and Carbon Footprints of Microalgal Biodiesel Production in Western Australia: A Comparison of Byproducts Utilization Strategies. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 2013, 1, 1371-1380 Y Li, X Gao, H Wu, Ash Cenosphere from Solid Fuels Combustion. Part 2: Significant Role of Ash Cenosphere Fragmentation in Ash and Particulate Matter Formation. Energy Fuels, 2013, 27, 822-829 Y Li, X Gao, H Wu, Further Investigation into the Formation Mechanism of Ash Cenospheres from an Australian Coal-Fired Power Station. Energy Fuels, 2013, 27, 811-815 X Gao, Y Li, M Garcia-Perez, H Wu, Roles of Inherent Fine Included Mineral Particles in the Emission of PM10 during Pulverized Coal Combustion. Energy Fuels, 2012, 26, 6783-6791 MU Rahim, X Gao, M Garcia-Perez, Y Li, H Wu, Release of Chlorine during Mallee Bark Pyrolysis. Energy Fuels, 2012, 27, 310-317 X Gao, H Wu, Combustion of Volatiles Produced in Situ from the Fast Pyrolysis of Woody Biomass: Direct Evidence on Its Substantial Contribution to Sub-micrometer Particle (PM1) Emission. Energy Fuels, 2011, 25, 4172–4181 X Gao, H Wu, Biochar as a Fuel: 4. Emission Behavior and Characteristics of PM1 and PM10 from the Combustion of Pulverized Biochar in a Drop-tube Furnace. Energy Fuels, 2011, 25, 2702-2710 H Wu, K Yip, Z Kong, C-Z Li, D Liu, Y Yu, X Gao, Removal and Recycling of Inherent Inorganic Nutrient Species in Mallee Biomass and Derived Biochars by Water Leaching. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 2011, 50, 12143–12151