51cg

Biography

With an extensive academic journey spanning across countries, including the US, France, Denmark, and Pakistan, I have dedicated my academic career to the fields of sustainable process engineering, environmental protection, safety, and clean energy.

My research primarily focuses on developing sustainable solutions to environmental challenges including carbon capture and utilization, waste valorisation, wastewater treatment, and biofuels. Through my research, I aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. 

Alongside my research, I take great pride in mentoring and educating the next generation of engineers. By emphasizing the practical application of engineering principles, I equip my students with the skills and knowledge necessary to tackle real-world environmental sustainability challenges.

As programme coordinator, I lead MSc in Process Safety Engineering and MSc in Advanced Chemical Engineering.

PgCert (2016): 51cg
Post-Doc (20010-13): University of California, Berkeley
PhD (2009): Mines Paris PSL
European PhD (2010): Mines Paris PSL and Technical University of Denmark
MS (2005) & BSc Engg (2004): Punjab University, Lahore

Prizes and Awards

European Doctorate (2010)

Research Overview

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

Current Research

Post Doactoral Scholars: 

1. Dr Lei Zhang, Exchange academic from Northeast Electric Power University, China, under CSC.

2. Dr Maria-Ara Carballo-Meilan (2018-19), Precipitated calcium Carbonate Products (OMYA RG 14551), 51cg

3. Dr Mohsin A Raza (2022-23), Renewable energy integration in farming and agriculture (KT Associate) ANM Group and 51cg

Current PhDs: 

1. Ali Falah Al-Saedi. PhD in Chemical Engineering, Lead supervisor

2. Nanbyen George Kim. PhD in Chemical Engineering, Lead supervisor

3. Saman Hameed. PhD in Chemical Engineering, Lead supervisor

4. Abdullahi Muhammad Mustapha. PhD in Chemical Engineering, Supervisor 

5. Rukayat Oyiza Salawu. PhD in Chemical Engineering, Lead supervisor

6. Muhammad Tanweer Khan. MSc by Research in Engineering (distance learning)

Successful PhDs: 

1. Z. Zanna Ibrahim (2026). Development of thermally stable water-based drilling fluids with enhanced filtration properties for elevated temperature wells. PhD. Lead supervisor: H. Hamidi; co-supervisor: W. Afzal.
2. T. W. Namaswa (2026). Optimization of biochar production from crop and forest residues for use as soil amendment and bioenergy for integrated climate action. PhD. Lead supervisor: D. Burslem; co-supervisors: J. Smith and W. Afzal.
3. B. Bhattarai (2024). Aerobic biodegradation of xenobiotic and process optimisation with open mixed microbial cultures in sequencing batch and batch reactors. PhD. Lead supervisor: W. Afzal; co-supervisor: D. Dionisi.
4. M. U. Azam (2024). Sustainable solutions for the chemical recycling of waste plastics to liquid fuels. PhD. Lead supervisor: W. Afzal; co-supervisor: I. Graça.
5. L. McDonald (2022). Low carbon cements with precipitated calcium carbonate as sustainable supplementary cementitious material. PhD. Lead supervisor: W. Afzal.
6. W. Pragot (2021). Mineral carbon capture and conversion into useful products: an experimental and ecological study. PhD. Lead supervisor: W. Afzal.
7. M. M. Yassin (2021). Feasibility study of microwave-assisted swing adsorption for post-combustion carbon capture. PhD. Lead supervisor: C. Fernandez Martin; co-supervisor: W. Afzal.
8. M. A. Raza (2020). Thermodynamics and transport properties of biomass-based chemicals for the applications in energy and environment. PhD. Lead supervisor: W. Afzal; co-supervisor: P. Hallett.
9. P. Sidi (2018). Investigating the suitability of Eichhornia crassipes for use in drilling fluids. PhD. Lead supervisor: W. Afzal; co-supervisor: P. Hallett.
10. D. Munir (2018). Catalytic hydrocracking of waste plastics to liquid fuels. PhD. Lead supervisor: M. R. Usman; co-supervisor: W. Afzal.
11. M. S. Akram (2018). Kinetic study and reactor simulation of methylcyclohexane dehydrogenation reaction for a mobile power plant. PhD. Lead supervisor: M. R. Usman; co-supervisor: W. Afzal.
12. G. A. R. Ramos (2018). Neuro-fuzzy based screening for EOR projects and experimental investigation of identified techniques in oilfield operations. PhD. Lead supervisor: L. Akanji; co-supervisor: W. Afzal.
13. S. Y. Khawaja (2014). Factors influencing the extraction efficiency in a pulsed sieve-plate extraction column. PhD. Lead supervisor: N. A. Akhtar; co-supervisors: M. R. Usman and W. Afzal.
14. M. I. Elnashar (2025) MSc by Research. Safety and risk assessment of green hydrogen production using PEM water electrolysis. Master by Research. Lead supervisor: H. Tan; co-supervisor: W. Afzal.

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; gas processing

Knowledge Exchange

Aberdeen Engineering Innovations Limited (Ab Enginns Ltd)
Co-Founder (Along with Prof Dionisi)

Carbon Capture Machine Limited (CCM UK)
Team member with Dr Imbabi, Sold by 51cg in 2023. 

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, 51cg

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