Dr Waheed Afzal

Biography

In the context of chemical and process engineering, my research covers a range of problems from the capture and utilization of carbon dioxide (CCU) to the conversion of waste plastics and from sustainability to safety.

Before joining the University of Aberdeen in 2015, I worked at Punjab University for over 10 years that I left as an associate professor in chemical engineering. I also completed my 3-year post-doctoral training at the University of California, Berkeley. I attended MINES ParisTech and the Technical University of Denmark for PhD in chemical and process engineering with Docteur de L’Union Européenne. I also attended the University of Aberdeen for PgCert in Higher Education.

I am the Guest Editor of a special issue of Molecules on "chemical recycling of waste plastics"; Molecules is an open-access journal the current Impact Factor of 4.927.    

If you are interested in pursuing PhD studies, please get in touch by sending me an email along with your academic interests and educational background. 

Prizes and Awards

European Doctorate (2010)

Research Overview

Low carbon cement and construction material; mineral Carbon capture and utilization; clean energy technologies; waste plastics

Current Research

Current PhDs: 

1. Muhammad Usman Azam (PhD Expected 2023), Sustainable technologies for the conversion of mixed waste plastics, (lead supervisor).

2. Bishnu Bhattarai (PhD Expected 2024), Management of industrial waste with xenobiotics, (lead supervisor)

3. Zahrah Zanna Ibrahim (PhD Expected 2022), Advances in EoR aided by ionic liquids, (co-supervisor)

4. Rukayat Salawu (PhD Expected 2025), Mineral carbon capture and conversion, (lead supervisor)

Successful PhDs: 

1. Lewis McDonald (2022), Precipitated Calcium Carbonate for Low-Carbon Portland Cements, (lead supervisor).

2. Wanawan "Nan" Pragot (2021), Mineral carbon capture and conversion into useful products: an experimental and ecological study (lead supervisor). University of Aberdeen

3. Mohamud Yassin (2021), Feasibility study of microwave-assisted swing adsorption for post-combustion carbon capture (co-supervisor).

4. Mohsin Ali Raza (2020): Thermodynamic and transport properties of biomass based chemicals (lead supervisor). University of Aberdeen

5. Geraldo AR Ramos (2018): Investigation of EOR techniques (co-supervisor). University of Aberdeen

6. Purnomo Sidi (2018): Investigating the suitability of Eichhomia crasspipes for use in drilling fluids (lead supervisor). University of Aberdeen

7. Muhammad S Akram (2018), Kinetic study and reactor simulation of methylcyclohexane dehydrogenation reaction for a mobile power plant (co-supervisor). Punjab University, Lahore

8. Dureem Munir (2018), Catalytic hydrocracking of waste plastics to liquid fuels (co-supervisor). Punjab University, Lahore

9. Shahzad Y Khawaja (2014): Factors influencing the extraction efficiency in a pulsed sieve-plate extraction column (co-supervisor). Punjab University, Lahore

Post-Doc: 

1. Dr Maria-Ara Carballo-Meilan (2018-19), Precipitated calcium Carbonate Products (OMYA RG 14551), University of Aberdeen

Past Research

Fluid-phase equilibria and thermophysical properties; conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to liquid fuels; applications of ionic liquids in chemical processes; Impact of sulphur species on oil and gas systems; gas hydrates

Collaborations

Prof. Christophe Coquelet, Director of Process Thermodynamics, Department of Energy and Processes, École des Mines de Paris (MINES ParisTech)

Prof. Georgios Kontogeorgis, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark

Prof. Paul Hallett, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen

Prof. John Prausnitz, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley

Funding and Grants

Current and Recent External Grants

Grant ‘Add Your Value Application’ to European Commission: Successful £47,179 (Co-I along with several other colleagues). 2019-21

Grant 'Integral Process Optimization for Sustainable Offshore-Structure Dismantling Yard Operation Application', Royal Academy of Engineering: £79,934- (Co-with three other colleagues). 2019-2021

Grant, 'Carbon utilization in high-value precipitated calcium carbonate under low solid conditions' £100,000 PI, 2018- 2019

Scottish Funding Council through the Northern Research Partnership, Sulphur species in fuel products and environment, £4000, PI, 2016-2017

Scottish Funding Council, Micro wind turbine with carbon capture module, £5000 PI, 2015-2016

Travel Grant: Santander Mobility Grant, Raman spectroscopy in carbon capture, Visit of Germany, December 2016

Travel Grant: British Council Researcher Links, Renewable energy technology: future, opportunity, and challenges for the UK and Turkey, Istanbul 4-7 April 2016

Travel Grant: UK Carbon Capture and Storage Research Centre, CCS in the UK - Moving Forward, Manchester Biannual, Manchester 13-14 April 2016

Teaching Responsibilities

Programme Design and Leadership

Programme Coordinator:

MSc Advanced Chemical Engineering

MSc Process Safety

Current Teaching

MSc: Separations & Product Purification (Coordinator and Contributor)

MSc: Safety & Risk Management (Contributor and Coordinator)

MSc: Human Factors Engineering (Contributor and Coordinator)

BEng/MEng: Biochemical Engineering (Contributor)

BEng/MEng: Chemical Engineering Design (Contributor)

MEng: Group Design Project in Chemical Engineering (Contributor)

BEng/MEng/MSc: individual Research Projects

Research Supervision 

Personal Tutor

Teaching in the Recent Past

Process Risk Identification & Management

Energy Conversion and Storage

Advanced Process Dynamics and Control-Theory

Process Dynamics and Control-Theory

Process Instrumentation and Control-Lab