Yiqi Yang

Yiqi Yang

Contact Information:

East Campus (Lincoln)
221 GNHS Building
yyang2@unl.edu

Charles Bessey Professor
Professor of Textiles
Professor of Biological Systems Engineering

Academic Degrees

  • Ph.D., Textile Science, Purdue University
  • M.E., Textile Chemical Engineering, Donghua University

Appointment

  • 60% Research (BSE 15%; TMFD 45%)
  • 30% Teaching
  • 10% Service

Areas of Research and Professional Interest

  • Biobased Materials
  • Polymers and Fibers
  • Green Processes for Fibers and Soft Materials

Research Profiles:

In the News

Inventions/Patents

  • Yang, Yiqi, Xu, Helan, Song, Kaili. Effective hair styling compositions and processes. US Patent 10,828,246. November 10, 2020.
  • Yang, Yiqi, and Reddy, Narendra. Method for making natural cellulosic fiber bundles from cellulosic sources. US Patent 7,887,672, Feb. 15, 2011.
  • Fan, Qinguo, Yang, Yiqi, Ugbolue, Samuel C., and Wilson, Alton R. Methods of enhancing dyeability of polymers. US Patent 6,646,026, November 11, 2003.
  • Berkstresser, IV, G.A., Dunbar, R.A., McLellan, G.R., Plischke, L.M.W., and Yang, Y.Q. Removing color from Ionically Dyed Recyclable Polymeric Materials. US Patent 6,083,283, July 4, 2000.
  • Yang, Y.Q., Plischke, L.M.W., McLellan, G.R., and Dickerson, J.L. Process for Separating Polyamide from Colorant in Recycling of Colored Polyamide Materials, Especially Carpets. US Patent 6,036,726, March 14, 2000.
  • Ladisch, M.R., Kohlman, K.L., Westgate, P.L., Weil, J.R., and Yang, Y.Q.  Processes for Treating Cellulosic Material. US Patent 5,846,787, December 8, 1998. 
  • Yang, Y.Q., and Li, S. A Process for Increasing the Crease Resistance of Silk Textiles and a Resulting Crease Resistant Textile. US Patent 5,296,269, March 22, 1994.

Selected Publications

Selected Refereed Journal Articles

(Complete list: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=ljwP&user=ljwP-_kAAAAJ)

  1. Mu, B.N., Yu, X.Q. and Yang*, Y.Q. Continuously spun biocomposite fibers from feather keratin and chitin with better toughness than wool via enhanced protein unfolding and conformation organization. Chemical Engineering Journal. 482, 148850. 8 pgs. (January 2024).   
  2. Mu, B.N. and Yang*, Y.Q. Densely crosslinked protein bioplastics with superior stretchability and desirable wet stability via non-destructive protein extraction and quality protein restoration. Food Packaging and Shelf Life.  40. 101225. 8 pgs. December 2023
  3. Mu, B.N., Yu, X.Q., Shao, Y.Y., McBride, L., Hidalgo, H., and Yang*, Y.Q. Complete recycling of polymers and dyes from polyester/cotton blended textiles via cost-effective and destruction-minimized dissolution, swelling, precipitation, and separation. Resources, Conservation & Recycling. 199. 107275. 10 pgs. December 2023.
  4. Mu, B.N., Yu, X.Q., Shao, Y.Y., McBride, L., Hidalgo, H., and Yang*, Y.Q. Profitable and environmentally responsible recycling of fibers and reactive dyes from afterlife cotton textiles via controlled dye hydrolysis, fiber swelling and dissolution. Chemical Engineering Journal. 475, 146150. 9 pgs. (November, 2023).   
  5. Mu, B.N., Yu, X.Q. and Yang*, Y.Q. Sustainable and green process for recycling waste wool textiles into high-quality protein fibers on a pilot scale. Resources, Conservation & Recycling. 198. 107190. 10 pgs. November 2023.
  6. Mu, B.N., Shao, Y.Y., McBride, L., Hidalgo, H. and Yang*, Y.Q. Rapid fiber-to-fiber recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and its disperse dye from waste textiles without damaging their chemical structures. Resources, Conservation & Recycling. 197. 107102. 8 pgs. October 2023.
  7. Mu, B.N., Xu, L., and Yang*, Y.Q. Rational fabrication of completely amorphous chitosan-formyl-sucrose sorbents with excellent durability and regenerability for high-throughput dye removal. Chemical Engineering Journal. 461, 142134. 10 pgs. (April, 2023).   
  8. Mu, B.N., Hassan, F., Wu, Q.M. and Yang*, Y.Q. Pilot-scale spinning and sucrose-tetra-aldehydes-crosslinking of feather-derived protein fibers with improved mechanical properties and water resistance. Sustainable Materials and Technologies. 31. e00367. 8 pgs. (April 2022).
  9. Mu, B.N. and Yang*, Y.Q. Complete separation of colorants from polymeric materials for cost-effective recycling of waste textiles. Chemical Engineering Journal. 427. 131570 (11 pgs) (2022).
  10. Mu, B.N., Wu, Q.M., Xu, L. and Yang*, Y.Q. A sustainable approach to synchronous improvement of wet-stability and toughness of chitosan films. Food Hydrocolloids. 123. 107138 (8 pgs) (2022).
  11. Mu, B.N., Hassan, F., and Yang*, Y.Q.  Controlled assembly of secondary keratin structures for continuous and scalable production of tough fibers from chicken feathers. Green Chemistry. 22(5), 1726-1734 (2020).
  12. Mu, B.N., Hassan, F., Wu, Q.M. and Yang*, Y.Q.  Ductile keratin/deacetylated chitin composites with nanoparticle-induced formation of ordered and entangled structures. Composites Science and Technology. 200. 108462 (7 pages) (2020).      
  13. Mu, B.N., Xu, H.L., Li, W., Xu, L. and Yang*, Y.Q. Spinnability and Rheological Properties of Globular Soy Protein Solution. Food Hydrocolloids. 90. 443-451(2019).
  14. Zhu, X.Y., Hou*, X.L., Ma, B.M., Xu, H.L., and Yang*, Y.Q. Chitosan/Gallnut tannins Composite Fiber with Improved Tensile, Antibacterial and Fluorescence properties. Carbohydrate Polymers. 226. 115311 (8 pages) (2019).
  15. Mi, X., Chang, Y., Xu*, H.L. and Yang*, Y.Q. Valorization of keratin from food wastes via crosslinking using non-toxic oligosaccharide derivatives. Food Chemistry. 300. 125181 (7 pages) (2019).
  16. Li, W., Mu, B.N., and Yang*, Y.Q. Feasibility of industrial-scale treatment of dye wastewater via bio-adsorption technology. Bioresource Technology. 277, 157-170 (2019).
  17. Mu, B.N., Xu, H.L., Li, W. and Yang*, Y.Q. Quantitation of fast hydrolysis of cellulose catalyzed by its substituents for potential biomass conversion. Bioresource Technology. 273, 305-312(2019).
  18. Mu, B.N., Li, W., Xu, H.L., Xu, L. and Yang*, Y.Q. Freeze-Extrusion for Controllable Assembly of 3-Dimensional Ultra-Fine and Amorphous Fibrous Matrices: Potential Applications in Sorption. Journal of Materials Chemistry A. Materials for Energy and Sustainability. 6(22). 10320-10330(2018).
  19. Pan, G.W., Xu*, H.L., Mu, B.N., Ma, B.M., Yang, J., and Yang*, Y.Q. Complete stereo-complexation of enantiomeric polylactides for scalable continuous production. Chemical Engineering Journal.  328. 759-767 (2017).
  20. Song, K.L., Xu, H.L., Xu, L., Xie, K.L., and Yang*, Y.Q. Preparation of cellulose nanocrystal-reinforced keratin bioadsorbent for effective removal of dyes from aqueous solution. Bioresource Technology. 232. 254-262 (2017).
  21. Liu, P.C., Xu, H.L., Zhao, Y. and Yang*, Y.Q. Rheological properties of soy protein isolate solution for fibers and films. Food Hydrocolloids. 64. 149-156 (2017).
  22. Pan, G.W., Zhao, Y., Xu, H.L., Ma, B.M. and Yang*, Y.Q. Acoustical and Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Composites from Discarded Carpets. Composites Part B-Engineering99. 98-105 (2016).
  23. Xu, S.X., Chen, J.G., Wang, B.J. and Yang*, Y.Q. Molecular Surface Area Based Predictive Models for the Adsorption and Diffusion of Disperse Dyes in Polylactic Acid Matrix. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. 458, 22-31 (2015).
  24. Mu, B.N., Xu, H.L., and Yang*, Y.Q. Accelerated hydrolysis of substituted cellulose for potential biofuel production: kinetic study and modeling. Bioresource Technology. 196, 332-338(2015).
  25. Ma, Z.Z., Pan, G.W., Xu, H.L., Huang, Y.L., Yang*, Y.Q. Cellulosic fibers with high aspect ratio from cornhusks via controlled swelling and alkaline penetration. Carbohydrate Polymers. 124. 50-56 (2015).
  26. Zhao, Y., Zhao, Y.Z., Xu, H.L., and Yang*, Y.Q.  A Sustainable Slashing Industry Using Biodegradable Sizes from Modified Soy Proteins to Replace Petro-Based Poly(vinyl alcohol). Environmental Science & Technology. 49(4). 2391-2397(2015).
  27. Ye, T., Wang, B.J., Liu, J., Chen, J.G., Yang*, Y.Q.  Quantitative Analysis of Citric Acid/Sodium Hypophosphite Modified Cotton by HPLC and Conductometric Titration. Carbohydrate Polymers. 121. 92-98 (2015).
  28. Chen, L.H., Reddy, N., and Yang*, Y.Q.  Remediation of Environmental Pollution by Substituting Poly(vinyl alcohol) with Biodegradable Warp Size from Wheat Gluten. Environmental Science & Technology. 47(9) 4505-4511(2013).
  29. Ma, H., Xu, H.L., Qu, J., Bian W., Zhong, Y. Reddy, N., Yang, Y.Q.,  and Mao*, Z. Self-assembly of covalently bonded nano-silicates with controllable modulus and thermal stability. Composites Science and Technology. 87 118-125 (2013).
  30. Huda, S., Reddy, N. and Yang*, Y.Q. Ultra-Light-Weight Composites from Bamboo Strips and Polypropylene Web with Exceptional Flexural Properties. Composites Part B-Engineering. 43(3)1658-1664 (2012).
  31. Xu, H.L. Jiang, Q.R., Reddy, N., and Yang*, Y.Q.  Hollow Nanoparticles from Zein for Potential Medical Applications. Journal of Materials Chemistry. 21(45)18227-18235(2011) .
  32. Reddy, N. and Yang*, Y.Q. Potential of Plant Proteins for Medical Applications, Trends in Biotechnology.  29(10)490-498(2011).
  33. Reddy, N., Hu, C.Y., Yan, K., and Yang*, Y.Q. Acetylation of Corn Distillers Dried Grains. Applied Energy. 88(5) 1664-1670(2011).
  34. Zou, Y., Reddy, N. and Yang*, Y.Q. Reusing Polyester/Cotton Blend Fabrics for Composites. Composites Part B-Engineering. 42(4) 763-770 (2011).
  35. Jiang, Q.R., Reddy, N., and Yang*, Y.Q.  Cytocompatible Crosslinking of Electrospun Zein Fibers for the Development of Water Stable Tissue Engineering Scaffolds. Acta Biomaterialia. 6(10) 4042-4051(2010).
  36. Zou, Y., Huda, S., and Yang*, Y.Q. Light-Weight Composites from Long Wheat Straw and Polypropylene Web. Bioresource Technology, 101(6) 2026-2033 (2010).
  37. Reddy, N. and Yang*, Y.Q. Citric Acid Crosslinking of Starch Films. Food Chemistry. 118(3) 702-711 (2010).  
  38. Reddy, N., and Yang*, Y.Q. Natural Cellulose Fibers from Soybean Straw. Bioresource Technology. 100(14), 3593-3598(2009).
  39. Reddy, N. and Yang*, Y.Q. Properties of Natural Cellulose Fibers from Hop Stems. Carbohydrate Polymers. 77(4), 898-902 (2009).
  40. Reddy, N., and Yang*, Y.Q. Properties and Potential Applications of Natural Cellulose Fibers from the Bark of Cotton Stalks. Bioresource Technology. 100(14), 3563-3569(2009).
  41. Xu, W.J., Reddy, N. and Yang*, Y.Q. Extraction, Characterization and Potential Applications of Cellulose in Corn Kernels and Distillers' Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS). Carbohydrate Polymers. 76(4), 521-527 (2009).
  42. Reddy, N. and Yang*, Y.Q. Characterizing natural cellulose fibers from velvet leaf (Abutilon theophrasti) stem. Bioresource Technology. 99(7), 2449-2454(2008).
  43. Huda, S. and Yang*, Y.Q. Composites from Ground Chicken Quill and Polypropylene. Composites Science and Technology. 68(3-4), 790-798 (2008).
  44. Karst, D, Nama, D. and Yang*, Y.Q. Effect of Disperse Dye Structure on Dye Sorption onto PLA Fiber. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. 310(1), 106-111 (2007).
  45. Reddy, N. and Yang*, Y.Q. Properties and potential applications of natural cellulose fibers from cornhusks. Green Chemistry, 7(4), 190 – 195 (2005). Cover Page Feature of the research.
  46. Reddy, N. and Yang*, Y.Q. Biofibers from agricultural byproducts for industrial applications. Trends in Biotechnology, 23(1) 22-27 (2005).

Books Authored and Edited

  1. Yang, Y.Q., Yu, J.Y., Xu, H.L., and Sun, B.Z. edited book. Porous Lightweight Composites Reinforced with Fibrous Structures. 368 p. 4 parts, 13 Chapters. 140 Figures and 39 Tebles. Published by Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, Germany.  (Heidelberger Platz 3, 14197 Berlin, Germany). ISBN 978-3-662-53802-9; ISBN 978-3-662-53804-3 (eBook). DOI 10.1007/978-3-662-53804-3. Library of Congress Control Number 2016962702. Copyright Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany 2017.
  2. Reddy, N., and Yang, Y.Q. authored book. Innovative Biofibers from Renewable Resources. 454 p. 10 parts, 75 Chapters and 210 illustrations. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, Germany. ISBN 978-3-662-45135-9; ISBN 978-3-662-45136-6 (eBook). DOI 10.1007/978-3-662-45136-6. Springer Heidelberg, New York, Dordrecht, London. Library of Congress Control Number 2014957175. Copyright Springer-Verlag Berlin Heigelberg. 2015.
  3. Yang, Y.Q., Xu, H.L. and Yu, X. edited book. Lightweight Materials from Biopolymers and Biofibers. ACS Symposium Series 1175. Copyright: American Chemical Society, Washington, DC. USA. October 21, 2014. 299pp. ISBN: 978-0-8412-2990-7; eISBN: 978-0-8412-2997-6; DOI: 10.1021/bk-2014-1175.