- Institution: Loughborough University
- Primary supervisor: Professor Simon Kondrat
- PhD student Ghafar Hazza
Project summary
Wastewater contains organic compounds that are often treated as waste but could instead be converted into useful products. Aqueous phase reforming (APR) offers a promising route for valorising wet waste streams, using water and catalysts to convert organic compounds into hydrogen and other useful products without the need to dry the feed.
This project focuses on understanding the thermodynamics of APR and how operating conditions such as temperature, pressure, feed composition and phase behaviour affect product formation and energy requirements. Aspen Plus process modelling will be combined with experimental studies of catalysts to understand process performance and identify suitable operating conditions.
The ultimate goal is to develop an efficient and scalable approach for converting wastewater into hydrogen and other useful products, while understanding the energy requirements and challenges involved in moving from laboratory-scale experiments towards larger-scale systems.
Meet the researcher
Hi, I’m Ghafar, a Chemical Engineer turned PhD researcher with the EnerHy CDT at Loughborough University.
Prior to this, I conducted research at Sheffield Hallam University focused on developing sustainable fuels from food waste, which ignited my passion for circular economy solutions.
In my current role, I am leveraging Aspen Plus modeling and experimental insights to evaluate the waste-to-hydrogen and other useful products process from a rigorous thermodynamic and process engineering perspective.
My focus is on understanding the system’s energy demands to help bridge the gap between laboratory success and viable, large-scale industrial application.
While the dross vanishes, useless and discarded, that which benefits mankind remains on the earth. My research philosophy is built on this foundation using engineering to transform environmental liabilities into sustainable, lasting value for society.