Lesley Snowden-Swan

(509) 375-2749
Send Email

Biography

Lesley Snowden-Swan joined PNNL in 1991. During her career she has contributed to the development of pollution prevention and waste minimization capabilities at the Laboratory. She has conducted, managed, and marketed projects regarding pollution prevention, waste minimization, environmental compliance and sustainability issues applied to process technology development and assessment. She is currently involved in projects supporting the DOE's Office of Biomass Programs, including techno-economic analysis and sustainability metrics development for biofuels. Ms. Snowden-Swan has authored or co-authored 18 publications, holds one patent, and one R&D 100 Award.

Research Interests

Sustainable Fuel Process Design
Life Cycle Analysis of Fuels and Energy
Sustainability Metrics for Renewable Fuels
Techno-economic Analysis

Education and Credentials

M.S. Chemical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Washington

PNNL Patents

U.S. Patent No. 11,279,882, March 22, 2022, "HYDROTHERMAL LIQUEFACTION SYSTEM (iEdison No. 0685901-19-0011)".

PNNL Publications

2022

Bartling A., P.T. Benavides, S.D. Phillips, T.R. Hawkins, A. Singh, M. Wiatrowski, and E. Tan, et al. 2022. "Environmental, Economic, and Scalability Considerations of Selected Bio-Derived Blendstocks for Mixing-Controlled Compression Ignition Engines." ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 10, no. 20:6699-6712. PNNL-SA-170232. doi:10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c00781
Grim G., D. Ravikumar, E. Tan, Z. Huang, J. Ferrell, M.G. Resch, and Z. Li, et al. 2022. "Electrifying the Production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel: The Risks, Economics, and Environmental Benefits of Emerging Pathways Including CO2." Energy & Environmental Science 15, no. 11:4798-4812. PNNL-SA-179359. doi:10.1039/D2EE02439J
Li S., E. Tan, A. Dutta, L.J. Snowden-Swan, M.R. Thorson, K. Kallupalayam Ramasamy, and A. Bartling, et al. 2022. "Techno-economic Analysis of Sustainable Biofuels for Marine Transportation." Environment Science and Technology 56, no. 23:17206-17214. PNNL-SA-173450. doi:10.1021/acs.est.2c03960
Liu J., J. Dempsey, S. Li, Y. Jiang, L.J. Snowden-Swan, W.L. Kubic, and E. Tan, et al. 2022. "Methodology for Assessing the Maximum Potential Impact of Separations Opportunities in Industrial Processes." Frontiers in Sustainability 3. PNNL-SA-178090. doi:10.3389/frsus.2022.1056580
Ou L., S. Li, L. Tao, S.D. Phillips, T.R. Hawkins, A. Singh, and L.J. Snowden-Swan, et al. 2022. "Techno-economic Analysis and Life-Cycle Analysis of Renewable Diesel Fuels Produced with Waste Feedstocks." ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 10, no. 1:382-393. PNNL-SA-164877. doi:10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c06561
Phillips S.D., S.B. Jones, P.A. Meyer, and L.J. Snowden-Swan. 2022. "Techno-economic Analysis of Cellulosic Ethanol Conversion to Fuel and Chemicals." Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining 16, no. 3:640-652. PNNL-SA-165430. doi:10.1002/bbb.2346
Snowden-Swan L.J., S. Li, M.R. Thorson, A.J. Schmidt, D.J. Cronin, Y. Zhu, and T.R. Hart, et al. 2022. Wet Waste Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Biocrude Upgrading to Hydrocarbon Fuels: 2022 State of Technology. PNNL-33622. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Wet Waste Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Biocrude Upgrading to Hydrocarbon Fuels: 2022 State of Technology
Snowden-Swan L.J., S. Li, Y. Jiang, M.R. Thorson, A.J. Schmidt, T.E. Seiple, and J.M. Billing, et al. 2022. Wet Waste Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Biocrude Upgrading to Hydrocarbon Fuels: 2021 State of Technology. PNNL-32731. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. doi:10.2172/1863608.Wet Waste Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Biocrude Upgrading to Hydrocarbon Fuels: 2021 State of Technology
Zhu Y., A.J. Schmidt, P.J. Valdez, L.J. Snowden-Swan, and S.J. Edmundson. 2022. Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Upgrading of Wastewater-Grown Microalgae: 2021 State of Technology. PNNL-32695. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Upgrading of Wastewater-Grown Microalgae: 2021 State of Technology

2021

Li S., Y. Jiang, L.J. Snowden-Swan, J.A. Askander, A.J. Schmidt, and J.M. Billing. 2021. "Techno-Economic Uncertainty Analysis of Wet Waste-to-Biocrude via Hydrothermal Liquefaction." Applied Energy 283. PNNL-SA-156267. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.116340
Snowden-Swan L.J., J.M. Billing, M.R. Thorson, A.J. Schmidt, Y. Jiang, D.M. Santosa, and T.E. Seiple, et al. 2021. Wet Waste Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Biocrude Upgrading to Hydrocarbon Fuels: 2020 State of Technology. PNNL-30982. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Wet Waste Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Biocrude Upgrading to Hydrocarbon Fuels: 2020 State of Technology
Zhu Y., S.B. Jones, A.J. Schmidt, H.M. Job, J.M. Billing, J.R. Collett, and K.R. Pomraning, et al. 2021. Microalgae Conversion to Biofuels and Biochemical via Sequential Hydrothermal Liquefaction (SEQHTL) and Bioprocessing: 2020 State of Technology. PNNL-30124. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Microalgae Conversion to Biofuels and Biochemical via Sequential Hydrothermal Liquefaction (SEQHTL) and Bioprocessing: 2020 State of Technology

2020

Knighton L., D.S. Wendt, L.J. Snowden-Swan, J. Jenks, S. Li, S.D. Phillips, and J.A. Askander. 2020. Techno-Economic Analysis of Synthetic Fuels Pathways Integrated with Light Water Reactors. PNNL-30533. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Techno-Economic Analysis of Synthetic Fuels Pathways Integrated with Light Water Reactors
Meyer P.A., L.J. Snowden-Swan, S.B. Jones, K.G. Rappe, and D.S. Hartley. 2020. "The Effect of Feedstock Composition on Fast Pyrolysis and Upgrading to Transportation Fuels: Techno-Economic Analysis and Greenhouse Gas Life Cycle Analysis." Fuel 259. PNNL-SA-141518. doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2019.116218
Snowden-Swan L.J., J.M. Billing, M.R. Thorson, A.J. Schmidt, D.M. Santosa, S.B. Jones, and R.T. Hallen. 2020. Wet Waste Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Biocrude Upgrading to Hydrocarbon Fuels: 2019 State of Technology. PNNL-29882. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Wet Waste Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Biocrude Upgrading to Hydrocarbon Fuels: 2019 State of Technology

2019

Jiang Y., S.B. Jones, Y. Zhu, L.J. Snowden-Swan, A.J. Schmidt, J.M. Billing, and D.B. Anderson. 2019. "Techno-Economic Uncertainty Quantification of Algal-derived Biocrude via Hydrothermal Liquefaction." Algal Research 39. PNNL-SA-138139. doi:10.1016/j.algal.2019.101450
Weber R.S., and L.J. Snowden-Swan. 2019. "The Economics of Numbering up a Chemical Process Enterprise." Journal of Advanced Manufacturing and Processing 1, no. 1-2:Article No. e10011. PNNL-SA-140580. doi:10.1002/amp2.10011

2018

Baddour F., L.J. Snowden-Swan, J.D. Super, and K.M. Van Allsburg. 2018. "Estimating Precommercial Heterogeneous Catalyst Price: A Simple Step-Based Method." Organic Process Research & Development 22, no. 12:1599-1605. PNNL-SA-138696. doi:10.1021/acs.oprd.8b00245
Weber R.S., J.E. Holladay, C. Jenks, E.A. Panisko, L.J. Snowden-Swan, M. Ramirez-Corresdores, and B. Baynes, et al. 2018. "Modularized production of fuels and other value-added products from distributed, wasted, or stranded feedstocks." Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment 7, no. 6:e308. PNNL-SA-131136. doi:10.1002/wene.308

2017

Snowden-Swan L.J., Y. Zhu, M.D. Bearden, T.E. Seiple, S.B. Jones, A.J. Schmidt, and J.M. Billing, et al. 2017. Conceptual Biorefinery Design and Research Targeted for 2022: Hydrothermal Liquefacation Processing of Wet Waste to Fuels. PNNL-27186. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Conceptual Biorefinery Design and Research Targeted for 2022: Hydrothermal Liquefacation Processing of Wet Waste to Fuels

2016

Jones S.B., L.J. Snowden-Swan, P.A. Meyer, A.H. Zacher, M.V. Olarte, H. Wang, and C. Drennan. 2016. Fast Pyrolysis and Hydrotreating: 2015 State of Technology R&D and Projections to 2017. PNNL-25312. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Fast Pyrolysis and Hydrotreating: 2015 State of Technology R&D and Projections to 2017
Meyer P.A., L.J. Snowden-Swan, K.G. Rappe, S.B. Jones, T. Westover, and K.G. Cafferty. 2016. "Field-to-Fuel Performance Testing of Lignocellulosic Feedstocks for Fast Pyrolysis and Upgrading: Techno-economic Analysis and Greenhouse Gas Life Cycle Analysis." Energy and Fuels 30, no. 11:9427-9439. PNNL-SA-116938. doi:10.1021/acs.energyfuels.6b01643
Snowden-Swan L.J., K.A. Spies, G.J. Lee, and Y. Zhu. 2016. "Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions analysis of catalysts for hydrotreating of fast pyrolysis bio-oil." Biomass & Bioenergy 86. PNNL-SA-110176. doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2016.01.019
Snowden-Swan L.J., Y. Zhu, S.B. Jones, D.C. Elliott, A.J. Schmidt, R.T. Hallen, and J.M. Billing, et al. 2016. Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Upgrading of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Sludge: A Preliminary Techno-Economic Analysis. PNNL-25464. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Upgrading of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Sludge: A Preliminary Techno-Economic Analysis
Snowden-Swan L.J., Y. Zhu, S.B. Jones, D.C. Elliott, A.J. Schmidt, R.T. Hallen, and J.M. Billing, et al. 2016. Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Upgrading of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Sludge: A Preliminary Techno-Economic Analysis Rev.1. PNNL-25464 Rev. 1. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Upgrading of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Sludge: A Preliminary Techno-Economic Analysis Rev.1
Tan E., L.J. Snowden-Swan, M. Talmadge, A. Dutta, S.B. Jones, K. Kallupalayam Ramasamy, and M.J. Gray, et al. 2016. "Comparative Techno-economic Analysis and Process Design for Indirect Liquefaction Pathways to Distillate-range Fuels via Biomass-derived Oxygenated Intermediates Upgrading." Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining 11, no. 1:41-66. PNNL-SA-120207. doi:10.1002/bbb.1710
Tan E., M. Talmadge, A. Dutta, J. Hensley, L.J. Snowden-Swan, D. Humbird, and J. Schaidle, et al. 2016. "Conceptual process design and economics for the production of high-octane gasoline blendstock via indirect liquefaction of biomass through methanol/dimethyl ether intermediates." Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining 10, no. 1:17-35. PNNL-SA-113776. doi:10.1002/bbb.1611

2015

Jones S.B., L.J. Snowden-Swan, P.A. Meyer, A.H. Zacher, M.V. Olarte, and C. Drennan. 2015. Fast Pyrolysis and Hydrotreating: 2014 State of Technology R&D and Projections to 2017. PNNL-24176. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Fast Pyrolysis and Hydrotreating: 2014 State of Technology R&D and Projections to 2017
Tan E., M. Talmadge, A. Dutta, J. Hensley, J. Schaidle, M.J. Biddy, and D. Humbird, et al. 2015. Process Design and Economics for the Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to High Octane Gasoline: Thermochemical Research Pathway with Indirect Gasification and Methanol Intermediate. PNNL-23822. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Process Design and Economics for the Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to High Octane Gasoline: Thermochemical Research Pathway with Indirect Gasification and Methanol Intermediate

2014

Boardman R.D., K.G. Cafferty, C. Nichol, E.M. Searcy, T. Westover, R. Wood, and M.D. Bearden, et al. 2014. Logistics, Costs, and GHG Impacts of Utility Scale Cofiring with 20% Biomass. PNNL-23492. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Logistics, Costs, and GHG Impacts of Utility Scale Cofiring with 20% Biomass
Dutta A., A.H. Sahir, E. Tan, D. Humbird, L.J. Snowden-Swan, P.A. Meyer, and J. Ross, et al. 2014. Process Design and Economics for the Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Hydrocarbon Fuels: Thermochemical Research Pathways with In Situ and Ex Situ Upgrading of Fast Pyrolysis Vapors. PNNL-23823. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Process Design and Economics for the Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Hydrocarbon Fuels: Thermochemical Research Pathways with In Situ and Ex Situ Upgrading of Fast Pyrolysis Vapors
Jones S.B., L.J. Snowden-Swan, P.A. Meyer, A.H. Zacher, M.V. Olarte, and C. Drennan. 2014. Fast Pyrolysis and Hydrotreating 2013 State of Technology R&D and Projections to 2017. PNNL-23294. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Fast Pyrolysis and Hydrotreating 2013 State of Technology R&D and Projections to 2017
Jones S.B., Y. Zhu, D.B. Anderson, R.T. Hallen, D.C. Elliott, A.J. Schmidt, and K.O. Albrecht, et al. 2014. Process Design and Economics for the Conversion of Algal Biomass to Hydrocarbons: Whole Algae Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Upgrading. PNNL-23227. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Process Design and Economics for the Conversion of Algal Biomass to Hydrocarbons: Whole Algae Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Upgrading
Jones S.B., Y. Zhu, L.J. Snowden-Swan, D. Anderson, R.T. Hallen, A.J. Schmidt, and K.O. Albrecht, et al. 2014. Whole Algae Hydrothermal Liquefaction: 2014 State of Technology. PNNL-23867. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Whole Algae Hydrothermal Liquefaction: 2014 State of Technology
Tews I.J., Y. Zhu, C. Drennan, D.C. Elliott, L.J. Snowden-Swan, K. Onarheim, and Y. Solantausta, et al. 2014. Biomass Direct Liquefaction Options: TechnoEconomic and Life Cycle Assessment. PNNL-23579. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Biomass Direct Liquefaction Options: TechnoEconomic and Life Cycle Assessment

2013

Jones S.B., and L.J. Snowden-Swan. 2013. Production of Gasoline and Diesel from Biomass via Fast Pyrolysis, Hydrotreating and Hydrocracking: 2012 State of Technology and Projections to 2017. PNNL-22684. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Production of Gasoline and Diesel from Biomass via Fast Pyrolysis, Hydrotreating and Hydrocracking: 2012 State of Technology and Projections to 2017
Jones S.B., P.A. Meyer, L.J. Snowden-Swan, A.B. Padmaperuma, E. Tan, A. Dutta, and J. Jacobson, et al. 2013. Process Design and Economics for the Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Hydrocarbon Fuels: Fast Pyrolysis and Hydrotreating Bio-Oil Pathway. PNNL-23053; NREL/TP-5100-61178. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Process Design and Economics for the Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Hydrocarbon Fuels: Fast Pyrolysis and Hydrotreating Bio-Oil Pathway
Tuenge J.R., B. Hollomon, H.E. Dillon, and L.J. Snowden-Swan. 2013. Life-Cycle Assessment of Energy and Environmental Impacts of LED Lighting Products, Part 3: LED Environmental Testing. PNNL-22346. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Life-Cycle Assessment of Energy and Environmental Impacts of LED Lighting Products, Part 3: LED Environmental Testing

2012

Snowden-Swan L.J., and J.L. Male. 2012. Summary of Fast Pyrolysis and Upgrading GHG Analyses. PNNL-22175. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Summary of Fast Pyrolysis and Upgrading GHG Analyses

2011

Zhu Y., S.A. Tjokro Rahardjo, C. Valkenburt, L.J. Snowden-Swan, S.B. Jones, and M.A. Machinal. 2011. Techno-economic Analysis for the Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass to Liquid Fuels. PNNL-19009. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Techno-economic Analysis for the Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass to Liquid Fuels

2010

Butner R.S., L.J. Snowden-Swan, and P.C. Ellis. 2010. Tethys: The Marine and Hydrokinetic Technology Environmental Impacts Knowledge Management System -- Requirements Specification -- Version 1.0. PNNL-19974. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Tethys: The Marine and Hydrokinetic Technology Environmental Impacts Knowledge Management System -- Requirements Specification -- Version 1.0
Roesijadi G., S.B. Jones, L.J. Snowden-Swan, and Y. Zhu. 2010. Macroalgae as a Biomass Feedstock: A Preliminary Analysis. PNNL-19944. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Macroalgae as a Biomass Feedstock: A Preliminary Analysis