Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Abbas Ahmad Zaini
Research theme #1
Adsorption is a process whereby the solute is attracted to the surface of solid adsorbent. The process can be applied to treat water laden with organic pollutants, dyes, heavy metals, oil, and emulsion. The adsorbent is a unique material that can be prepared form a variety of natural resources, agricultural wastes, and other waste byproducts. The adsorptive characteristics are important to establish removal mechanisms.
Research theme #2
Activated carbon is a widely used adsorbent in water/wastewater treatment. Chemical activation is gaining popularity in the preparation of activated carbon from a variety of carbonaceous materials. Yet, the excessive use of activators/activating agents may lead to the inevitable pollution to the water bodies. So, what should we do about it?
Research theme #3
Microwave is a promising alternative over conventional heating in activated carbon preparation. The heating mechanism is known to be relatively fast, uniform and ‘green’. Yet, the behaviors and dielectric properties of materials subjected to microwave irradiation are not well understood, thus worth to be investigated. This shall assist in finding suitable operating conditions for effective microwave heating.
Research theme #4
CO2 is a green solvent at the supercritical region. CO2 is non-polar, and in supercritical extraction, it is favored towards non-polar compounds. Because of that, this extraction approach is believed to improve the oxidation stability of the material/oil being extracted.
Publications
