Speakers

Biography: Professor Dr Ahmad Zuhairi Abdullah received his B. Tech (Hons), MSc, and PhD in 1995, 2000, and 2004, respectively. He was the Deputy Dean (Industry and Community Network) at the School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia between 2010-2012 and Deputy Dean (Research and Postgraduate Studies) between 2013-2018. He is also serving his deanship of the school in 2022-2024. He is registered as a Professional Technologist at Malaysian Board of Technologists (MBOT), a Fellow Member of Institut Kimia Malaysia (IKM) and a Life member of the Malaysian Oil Scientists and Technologists’ Association (MOSTA). He is regularly appointed as an MBOT accreditation auditor and as a program’s external examiner for many academic programs in several Malaysian universities. His research works mostly involve the use of ordered porous catalytic materials in oleochemical reactions, renewable energy, waste treatment, and waste valorization. He has nearly 300 refereed publications in journals and book/book chapters mainly as the main author, and also involves as a technical committee member of nearly 150 international scientific conferences. He is often invited to share his research experiences at various international conferences held in Malaysia, Laos, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Pakistan, The Philippines, and PR China. In addition, he is an evaluator for research proposals from different ministries/agencies locally as well as from several international scientific bodies in the EU, USA, Oman, Qatar, Kazakhstan, and Chile. He is also an expert panel of the Department of Environment Malaysia for the evaluation of Environmental Impact Assessment reports for various proposed commercial projects related to petrochemical complexes, paper mills, metal smelting, chemical, lead-acid battery recycling plants, etc. He is one of the recipients of the Top Research Scientists Malaysia (TRSM) award in 2014 and was listed in the List of World’s Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University in 2020-2022. His h-index (Scopus) currently stands at 59 with around 12,000 citations.

Talk titled: Oleochemical waste valorization: Glycerol conversion to value-added chemicals using heterogeneous catalytic processes for sustainable industries
Abstract: Glycerol, an overproduced by-product of the oleochemical and biodiesel industries, presents a growing waste issue, underscoring the need for green solutions. Its renewable nature and chemical properties offer significant potential for conversion into high-value products, contributing to more sustainable industrial practices. Innovative catalytic processes can transform glycerol into oxygenated biocomponents, eco-friendly alternatives to petroleum-based fuel additives. These additives improve octane ratings, reduce emissions, and lessen dependence on fossil fuels. The design of catalytic materials with active sites and suitable supports is essential for these green conversions.
Key transformations, such as catalytic etherification, acetylation, and acetalation, rely on catalysts with tailored properties and optimized conditions. Mesoporosity in catalysts enhances diffusion and access to active sites, crucial for efficient glycerol conversion. The catalytic etherification of glycerol to polyglycerols is particularly promising. Polyglycerols are biodegradable and biocompatible, offering greener alternatives to synthetic chemicals. Glycerol can also react with fatty acids to produce monoglycerides, widely used in food and pharmaceuticals, supporting sustainable practices.
In addition, glycerol can be converted to lactic acid through alkali-catalyzed reactions, serving as a foundation for future biobased chemicals. The catalytic deoxydehydration of glycerol to acrylic acid offers a greener route for producing polymeric materials. The challenge lies in developing stable, selective catalysts that enhance conversion efficiency while minimizing environmental impact. Research into heterogeneous catalytic systems is essential to improving process sustainability and reducing waste.
Glycerol exemplifies the potential of green technology to transform industries, particularly in major vegetable oil-producing countries like Malaysia. Advanced heterogeneous catalysts will be key to fostering a more sustainable and environmentally friendly industrial future. Glycerol exemplifies the transformative potential of green technology in building a more sustainable oleochemical industry, especially in major vegetable oil-producing countries like Malaysia. Developing advanced heterogeneous catalysts with tailored characteristics will be crucial for driving this shift toward an environmentally sustainable industrial future.

Biography: Dr. T.A. Kurniawan is a recognized global leader in tackling complex environmental problems that have significant societal relevance and positive impact in the world. His research interests are in the areas of wastewater treatment and solid waste management. To date, Kurniawan is the first author of 20% of the works with an h-index of 60 and citations of over 14,500 counts (Scopus), while being the corresponding author of one third of the same works. The scientific contributions are tangible manifestations of his competence and research impact in the discipline.

Talk titled: Recovering heavy metals from electroplating wastewater and their conversion into Zn2Cr-layered double hydroxide (LDH) for pyrophosphate removal from industrial wastewater
Abstract: This work incorporated technological values into Zn2Cr-layered double hydroxide (LDH), synthesized from unused resources, for removal of pyrophosphate (PP) in electroplating wastewater. To adopt a resource recovery for the remediation of the aquatic environment, the Zn2Cr-LDH was fabricated by co-precipitation from concentrated metals of plating waste that remained as industrial by-products from metal finishing processes. To examine its applicability for water treatment, batch experiments were conducted at optimum M2+/M3+, pH, reaction time, and temperature. To understand the adsorption mechanisms of the PP by the adsorbent, the Zn2Cr-LDH was characterized using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses before and after adsorption treatment. An almost complete PP removal was attained by the Zn2Cr-LDH at optimized conditions: 50 mg/L of PP, 1 g/L of adsorbent, pH 6, and 6 h of reaction. Ion exchange controlled the PP removal by the adsorbent at acidic conditions. The PP removal well fitted a pseudo-second-order kinetics and/or the Langmuir isotherm model with 79 mg/g of PP adsorption capacity. The spent Zn2Cr-LDH was regenerated with NaOH with 86% of efficiency for the first cycle. The treated effluents could comply with the discharge limit of <1 mg/L. Overall, the use of the Zn2Cr-LDH as a low-cost adsorbent for wastewater treatment has contributed to national policy that promotes a zero-waste approach for a circular economy (CE) through a resource recovery paradigm.