Dr. Mohammad Rehan

Home » Researchers\Technicians » Dr. Mohammad Rehan


 

Dr.Mohammad Rehan

Associate Professor

Head of Solid Waste Management Group

Ranked in top 2% Scientists Worldwide (Stanford University study 2019, USA)

Associate Editor for Frontiers in Energy Research (IF 2.746)

Associate Editor for Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (IF 3.644)

Guest Editor for Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews (Elsevier, IF12.11)

Contact Details

Correspondence address: Center of Excellence in Environmental Studies (CEES)

King Abdulaziz University, P.O Box: 80216, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Email: dr.mohammad_rehan@yahoo.co.uk; mrehan@kau.edu.sa

Permanent address: Highbridge Terrace, Bradford, West Bowling, United Kingdom

Nationality: British/ Pakistani

 

            

   

Research Interests

  • Energy and Fuels
  • Waste to Energy  
  • Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems
  • Integrated Waste Management
  • Waste Biorefineries
  • Environmental Sustainability

Biography

Dr. Mohammad Rehan graduated with BEng (Hons) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Bradford, UK in 2003. He then served for a year at the UK Environment Agency. He completed his PhD at School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering, sponsored by EPSRC, University of Leeds, UK in 2012. Dr. Rehan then worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate for 2 years on several projects at University of Leeds, UK in collaboration with multinational industry including Procter & Gamble. He has extensive research, teaching and project management experience of more than 15 years. He has co-supervised several PhD and MSc students at Leeds University and King Abdulaziz University. Dr. Rehan is currently working as an Associate Professor and Head of Solid Waste Management Group at the Center of Excellence in Environmental Studies (CEES), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia since 2014. He has been Ranked in top 2% Scientists Worldwide in Energy and Environment by Stanford University study 2019, USA. Dr Rehan has a research funding portfolio (approved and funded) of more than 4.6 million SAR as a principle and co-investigator. He has played a leading role in establishing Energy and Fuels, and Solid Waste Management Laboratories and research team at CEES. He has published more than 125 papers, including 1 book and 7 book chapters on the topics of energy and fuels, biofuels, nanomaterials, catalysts, renewable and sustainable energy, environmental pollution, waste to energy technologies and waste biorefineries. He has more than 3500 citations, total impact factor > 350, h-index of 32 and i10-index of 60. Six of his papers have been listed as Highly Cited Papers (top 1%) on web of science. Dr Rehan has given several oral presentations in international conferences and workshops including invited talks. He is currently involved in several funded projects as PI/ Co-PI, focusing on energy and fuels, environmental research, and advanced materials including nano-catalysts. He is serving as an Associate Editor in Frontiers in Energy Research Journal, Biofuels Research Journal, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Current World Environment Journal and as Guest Editor in many journals. He is also serving as a Reviewer for many high impact Journals of Elsevier, ACS, RSC, SAGE and Frontiers and received the Publons Top Reviewer Awards for Engineering and Multidisciplinary Sciences for two consecutive years (2018 and 2019). Dr Rehan is currently editing 7 special issues as a Guest Editor including one in RSER (ISI, IF 12.11). Dr Rehan is also working as a Certified Publons Academy Mentor to train young researchers in peer reviewing process. Dr Rehan’s research group has established collaboration with more than 60 International Institutions and published joint articles. Dr Rehan research group’s (Solid Waste Management at CEES) pioneering research and achievements was selected as a role model by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and presented on their website for the ranking of King Abdulaziz University as No 1 in the Arab World in 2019. Below is how the Times Higher Education World University Rankings acknowledged the outstanding performance of Solid Waste Research Group at CEES. “KAU’s solid waste research group at the CEES is therefore trying to solve two problems at once by pioneering ways of turning waste into energy. The work harnesses the power of naturally abundant zeolites (minerals formed in volcanic rock and ash layers, and traditionally used in cement and building stones) in waste-to-energy technology applications, making them cost and energy effective. The group is also investigating the use of grass as a raw material for producing biofuels.”
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/hub/king-abdulaziz-university/p/environment

Education

  • PhD in Chemical Engineering-Nanotechnology: In Situ Hydrothermal Synthesis and Process Characterization of TiO2 Nanoparticles, University of Leeds, UK (2007 – 2012).
  • BEng. (Hons) in Chemical Engineering (2.1), University of Bradford, UK (2000 – 2003).

Employment

  • Assistant Professor,(Since July 2020).
  • Assistant Professor, Center of Excellence in Environmental Studies (CEES), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA (2014 - 2020).
    Leading the Solid Waste Management Group including Assistant Professors, Postgraduate students and technicians. Developed a research funding portfolio (approved and funded) of more than 4.6 million SAR as a principle and co-investigator. Working on multiple funded projects as PI and Co-PI and collaboration projects with many International Universities focused on research areas Energy and Fuels, Waste based Biorefinery, Environmental Sciences, Nanomaterials including catalysts. The research involved developing waste-based bioenergy and value-added products through various systems including anaerobic digestion (biogas), pyrolysis (fuel-oil), transesterification (biodiesel) and algae biofuel (biodiesel). Further, exploration and development of natural resources such as natural zeolite and other nano-catalysts. Pioneer in initiating and working on renewable energy waste to energy and waste biorefinery research areas in Saudi Arabia. Leading role in establishing and managing solid waste group laboratories. Co-supervised two PhD students on pyrolysis of plastic waste to fuel and value-added products and health and safety areas and two MSc students. Also actively involved in teaching, administration and community work activities.
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate, (2012 – 2014).
    School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Leeds, UK Worked on multiple projects funded by European Regional Development Fund, DGP Intelsius and Procter & Gamble. Projects focused on; 1) designing and development of semi-batch and continuous crystallization processes for ZnCO3 nanoparticles, 2) synthesis of ZnCO3 nanoparticles through novel microemulsion process, 3) development of nanoparticles-enhanced phase change materials (NEPCMs) for energy storage applications, 4) synthesis and characterization of metal oxide nanoparticles. Worked extensively on many state-of-the-art characterization techniques including XRD, SEM, TEM, DSC, TGA and Nanosizer. Responsible for managing consumables, chemicals and health and safety aspects of research group laboratories. Involved in teaching, lab demonstration, tutorials and supervision of four MSc and two PhD students on their research projects.
  • Postgraduate Researcher,  (2007 – 2012).
    School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering University of Leeds, UK (PhD Project). The project focused on in situ study of hydrothermal synthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles using synchrotron radiation ED-XRD. This revealed direct time-resolved information on particle formation, polymorphism, phase transformation, hydrothermal crystallization kinetics and mechanisms for process optimization. Characterization of synthesized nanoparticles by various techniques including XRD, SEM, TEM, DSC, TGA, AAS, Zetasizer, ICP-MS. Involved in teaching and supervision of research students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
  • Analyst/ Developer,  (2006 – 2007).
    UK Environment Agency, Leeds, UK Worked on River Restoration Projects across the Yorkshire area, UK, utilizing aerial photography and GIS package to identify river restoration opportunities. The work involved extensive use of GIS Package with numerous existing data sets, such as conservation designations, estates information and survey data. Also involved in other projects such as flood risk management and data analysis of pollution emissions for the chemical industry across UK.

Current Research Projects

  • Monitoring of air pollutants in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (Principle Investigator).
  • In situ synthesis and characterization of TiO2 nanoparticles (Principle Investigator).
  • Development of waste plastic to fuel oil system using innovative reforming catalyst (Co-Investigator).
  • Development of energy recovery technologies from municipal solid waste (Co-Investigator).

Professional Capabilities

  • Sol-gel hydrothermal synthesis of nanoparticles
  • Semi-batch & continuous crystallization processes of micro-nano sized particles.
  • Microemulsion process for synthesis of nanoparticles
  • Nanofluid formulation and characterization
  • XRD & ED-XRD (Synchrotron Radiation)
  • SEM & TEM
  • Thermal Analysis (TGA/DTA/DSC)
  • Matersizer & Zetasizer Nano
  • Nanomaterials characterization
  • GC, HPLC
  • FT-IR, ICP-MS, UV-Vis, AAS

Peer Reviewed Publications

  • Gardy, J., Hassanpour. A., Lai, X., Cunliffe, A. and Rehan, M., (2014). The influence of blending process on the quality of rapeseed oil-used cooking oil biodiesels. International scientific Journal, Journal of Environmental Science, (3) 233-240.
  • Li, M., Qiu, S., Lu, Y., Wang, K., Lai, X and Rehan, M., (2014). Investigation of the effect of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose on the phase transformation and release profiles of carbamazepine-nicotinamide cocrystal. Pharmaceutical Research, (DOI: 10.1007/s11095-014- 1326-2).
  • Rehan, M., Lai, X. and Kale, G. M., (2011). Hydrothermal synthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles studied employing in situ energy dispersive X-ray diffraction. CrystEngComm, 13(11), 3725 - 3732.
  • Rehan, M., Lai, X., Kale, G. M., (2008). In Situ investigation of hydrothermal synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles using synchrotron radiation x-ray diffraction. Published in Proceedings of 17th International Symposium on Industrial Crystallization, (1), 157-164.
  • Nizami, A. S., Rehan, M., Ismail. I. M. The potential of waste plastic to biofuel energy in the Middle East. (Paper accepted for oral presentation and proceeding in 7th International Conference on Sustainable Energy & Environmental Protection (SEEP), Dubai - UAE, November 2014).
  • Nizami, A. S.,Rehan, M., Ismail. I. M. The energy recovery technologies from municipal solid waste in Saudi Arabia: need and opportunities. (Paper accepted for oral presentation and proceeding in 7th International Conference on Sustainable Energy & Environmental Protection (SEEP), Dubai - UAE, November 2014).
  • Alhawi, T., Rehan, M. and Lai, X. Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of zinc carbonate nanoparticles. (Paper submitted to 7th World Congress on Particle Technology, May 2014, China).
  • Alhawi, T., Rehan, M., York, D. and Lai, X. Synthesis, characterization and control of zinc carbonate nanoparticles via the microemulsion route. (Paper submitted to 7th World Congress on Particle Technology, May 2014, China).
  • Rehan, M., Lai, X. and Kale, G. M. In situ EDXRD kinetic and mechanistic study of the hydrothermal crystallization of TiO2 nanoparticles from nitric acid peptized sol-gel (to be submitted to Nanoscale Journal).
  • Li, M., Qiu, S., Lu, Y., Wang, K., Lai, X andRehan, M., Effects of coformers on phase transformation and release profiles of carbamazepine cocrystals in hydroxyproply methylcellulose based matrix tablets (to be submitted to Pharmaceutical Research Journal).
  • Gardy, J., Hassanpour. A., Lai, X., Cunliffe, A. andRehan, M., Preparation and Characterization of Functionalized Nano- TiO2 Catalyst (in preparation).
  • Shafique, M., Rehan, M. and Kale, G. M. Structure and ionic conductivity of solid state electrolytes (in preparation).

Peer Reviewed Conference Papers/ Presentations

  • Martín-Soladana, P. M., Lai, X., Rehan, M., York, D. and Granito, N., (July 2014). Control of physical properties of zinc carbonate particles by continuous precipitation, The 45th Annual BACG Conference, UK (Poster).
  • Gardy, J., Hassanpour. A., Lai, X. and Rehan, M., (May 2014). The influence of blending process on the quality of rapeseed oil-used cooking oil biodiesels, International Conference on Environment and Renewable Energy, France (Oral).
  • Lai, X, Alhawi, T., Rehan, M. and York, D., (May 2014). Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of zinc carbonate nanoparticles, 7th World Congress on Particle Technology, China (Poster).
  • Lai, X, Alhawi, T., Rehan, M. and York, D., (May 2014). Synthesis, characterization and control of zinc carbonate nanoparticles via the microemulsion route, 7th World Congress on Particle Technology, China, (Poster).
  • Gardy, J., Wosu, C., Hassanpour. A., Lai, X. and Rehan, M., (Mar 2014). The impact of process parameters on biodiesel yield and improving the physicochemical properties of biodiesel fuel by pre-blending and post-blending, International Bioenergy Conference, Manchester, UK (Poster).
  • Rehan, M., Yu, X. and Lai, X., (Sep 2013). Synthesis and characterization of zinc carbonate nanoparticles by semi-batch and continuous crystallization processes, Inaugural Meeting for Leeds Crystallisation Centre, UK (Poster).
  • Rehan, M., Al-Hawi, T. and Lai, X., (Sep 2013). Synthesis and characterization of zinc carbonate nanoparticles via the microemulsion route, Inaugural Meeting for Leeds Crystallisation Centre, UK (Poster).
  • Rehan, M., Yu, X., Lai, X., Granito, N., Wise, G., Xu, D. and Juan, L. M., (Aug 2013). ZnCO3 crystallization in batch and continuous processes, Particle Processing Symposium, Proctor & Gamble, UK (Poster).
  • Witharana, S., Rehan, M., Chen, H. and Ding, Y., (Aug 2010). Stability and thermophysical properties of alumina nanofluids, Nanofluids: Fundamentals & Applications II, Canada (Poster).
  • Barber, M., Lai, X., Merrifield, D. R., Ramachandran, V., Rehan, M., Roberts, K. J., Witharana. S., (May 2010). Investigation of chemical processes using synchrotron radiation techniques, University of Leeds, UK (Poster).
  • Rehan, M., Lai, X. and Kale, G.M., (Apr 2009). An in situ kinetic study of the hydrothermal synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles using synchrotron radiation ED-XRD, The International Conference For NanoTechnology Industries, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Oral).
  • Rehan, M., Lai, X. and Kale, G. M., (Sept 2008). In situ investigation of hydrothermal synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles using synchrotron radiation x-ray diffraction, the 17th International Symposium on Industrial Crystallization, The Netherlands (Oral and Poster).
  • Rehan, M., Lai, X., Kale, G. M., (Jun 2008). In-situ synchrotron study of hydrothermal synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles, 9th UK Particle Technology Forum, UK (Poster).
  • Rehan, M., Lai, X. and Kale, G. M., (Feb 2008), In situ investigation of hydrothermal synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles using synchrotron radiation XRD, Nanoparticles Conference, UK (Poster).

Prizes and Awards

  • EPSRC Scholarship Postgraduate Award, University of Leeds, UK (PhD, 2007-2011).
  • Messel and Brian Scarlett travel grants to attend international conferences (2008-2009).
  • Finalist in the oral presentation competition, University of Leeds, UK (2008).
  • Best poster award (4th prize) at Festival of Research and Public Engagement, University of Leeds, UK (2008).
  • Awarded ‘Office Management Champion’ title by the head of department at University of Leeds, UK.

Memberships

  • Associate Member of IChemE (UK)
  • Associate Member of Institute of Nanotechnology (UK)

Research and Administrative Activities

  • Reviewer for CrystEngComm Journal.
  • Reviewer for Arabian Journal of Chemistry
  • Lab Demonstrator: Delivered Undergraduate’s Chemical Engineering Lab Module (2008-2010). Demonstrator for XRD experiments for MSc Pharmaceutical Science & Engineering. Provided training on different experimental procedures and techniques including XRD, SEM, DSC, TGA to many undergraduate and postgraduate students (University of Leeds, UK).
  • Project co-supervision of five MSc students (2007-2013) and two PhD students (2013-2014) with day-to-day activities on their research projects. Assisted many other students in planning and conducting their experiments, writing up reports at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels (University of Leeds, UK).
  • Short Courses: Delivered the laboratories demonstration part of Powder Characterisation short course at University of Leeds, UK (May 2013). Attended Effective Learning and Teaching course at University of Leeds, UK (Oct 2007).
  • Being involved in marking exam papers, lab reports & research dissertations.
  • Managed an office of sixteen research students and postdoctoral researchers for health and safety issues, maintaining facilities and keeping working conditions to high standards (2008-2012).
  • Participated in crystallization research group website designing and created and acting as LinkedIn research group manager.

Participations in Scientific Conferences, Workshops and Short Courses

  • Effective Research Student Supervision in Science, Engineering and Medically-Related Disciplines, training taken at University of Leeds, UK (2 Jul 2013).
  • Leading & Managing in the New Academic Environment (Modules: (1) Building and Developing a Positive Team Environment (12 April 2013), (2) Priority & Time Management) (24 May 2013).
  • Health & Safety: The Role of the Manager, training taken at University of Leeds, UK (17 June 2013).
  • Impact of Nanotechnology on Environmental Health (workshop), UK, Dec 2012.
  • Attended Molecules to Particles Symposium, UK, Jan 2008.
  • Attended UK-China Particle Technology Forum Conference, UK, April 2007.
  • Attended Pharmaceutical Product Formulation and Pharmaceutical Analytical Techniques (MSc modules at University of Leeds, UK, 2007).
  • Level 2 award in Health & Safety in the work place, 3 days course at University of Leeds, UK (IOSH, Mar 2007).
  • Chemistry for Chemical Engineers course (IChemE), University of Leeds, UK (4-6 Sep 2007).
  • Also attended comprehensive courses on Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Effective Research Writing, Research Ethics, Networking, Project Management, Preparing Research Proposals, at University of Leeds, UK during 2007 – 2012.

Computer Skills

  • Microsoft Office Programs (Achieved ECDL certification).
  • Computer Aided Design 2D & 3D (Achieved City and Guilds certifications at Level 2 & 3).
  • HighScore Plus and Polycrystal (XRD data analysis).
  • Digital Micrograph (crystal structure, size and morphology analysis of SEM and TEM images).
  • Pincer (in situ EDXRD data acquisition and analysis).
  • Working knowledge of MATLAB, Origin and other mathematical programs.
  • Experience in using many other technical, operational and data analysis software.

REFERENCES

  • Dr. Xiaojun Lai, Lecturer, Institute of Particle Science and Engineering, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK, Tel: +44 (0)113 3432439, E-mail: x.lai@leeds.ac.uk.
  • Dr. Girish Kale, Reader in Solid State Ionics, Institute for Materials Research, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK, Tel: +44 (0)113 343 2805, E-mail: g.m.kale@leeds.ac.uk.
  • Prof. Kevin Roberts, Brotherton Professor of Chemical Engineering, School Director of Research, Institute of Particle Science and Engineering, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK, E-mail: k.j.roberts@leeds.ac.uk, Tel: +44 (0)1133432408.
 
Last Update
4/19/2021 12:10:28 PM