Dr. Muhammad Atiqullah

Research

PARTICIPATION IN PROJECTS

●    Extramural grant earned Seventy three (73) million Saudi Riyals.

Research Project(s) In Progress

As polymer program manager

●    Establishment of a Center of Research Excellence in Petroleum Refining and Petrochemicals
      (CoRE-PRP) (Prepared for the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Higher Education, Started in February 2007.

Completed Research Projects

As project manager, research guide, and task force leader

●    Development of Novel Polymer Performance Promoter, forCiba Specialty Chemicals, Basel,         
      Switzerland), Started in October 2004.         
●    Development of Heterogeneous Metallocene Catalysts for Olefin Polymerization. Phase III: Catalyst
      Scale up and Pilot Plant Study (for Saudi Basic Industries Corporation), Started in April 2006.
●    Development of Heterogeneous Metallocene Catalysts for Olefin Polymerization. Extended Phase II: 
      Enhancement and optimization of catalyst performance, for Saudi Basic Industries Corporation ),
      (12month duration), Started in January 2004.
●    Development of Heterogeneous Metallocene Catalysts for Olefin Polymerization. Phase II: Synthesis
      of novel catalysts, Screening, and Rankingtial, for Saudi Basic Industries Corporation), (36 month    
      duration), Started in September 1998.         
●    Development of Heterogeneous Metallocene Catalysts for Olefin Polymerization. Phase I:
      Comprehensive Literature Review (for Saudi Basic Industries Corporation), April 1995 to March
      1996.
●    An Overview of Recent Technological Developments in the Manufacturing of Linear Low and High 
      Density Polyethylenes (for Saudi Basic Industries Corporation), January 1991 to November 1991.

As task leader

●    Linear Alpha Olefins by Ethylene Oligomerization (for Saudi Basic Industries Corporation), March
      1992 to December 1994.
●    The Development of a Five-year Strategic Plan for the Gifted In Saudi Arabia, December, 2004.
●    Characterization of Selected Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Resins (prepared for Ibn Hayyan), December
      1988 to March 1990.

Research Proposals Accepted

●    The accepted proposals that I wrote amount to SR 72.595 million. See below for details.

As project manager/principal investigator

●    Establishment of a Center of Research Excellence in Petroleum Refining and Petrochemicals
      (CoRE-PRP) (Revised proposal prepared for the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Higher Education),   
      February 2007.
●    Establishment of a Center of Research Excellence in Petroleum Refining and Petrochemicals
      (CoRE-PRP) (Prepared for the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Higher Education), January 2007.
●    Establishing a collaborating Research Center in Petroleum Refining and Petrochemicals
      (Prepared for the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Higher Education), April 2007.
●    Development of Heterogeneous Metallocene Catalysts for Olefin Polymerization. Phase III: Catalyst 
      Scale up and Pilot Plant Study, for Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, Started in April 2006.
●    Development of Novel Polymer Performance Promoter, for Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Basel,
      Switzerlad, (12 months duration), Started in October 2004.
●    Development of Heterogeneous Metallocene Catalysts for Olefin Polymerization. Extended Phase II:
      Enhancement and optimization of catalyst performance (for Saudi Basic Industries Corporation), (36
      months duration), Started in September 1998.
●    Development of Heterogeneous Metallocene Catalysts for Olefin Polymerization. Phase II: Synthesis    
      of novel catalysts, Screening, and Ranking, for Saudi Basic Industries Corporation), (36 months   
      duration) Started in September 1998.
●    Development of heterogeneous metallocene catalysts for olefin polymerization.PhaseII:   
      Experimental work (prepared for Saudi Basic Industries Corporation), March 1998.
●    A study of the mass transport process in heterogenization of metallocene catalyst precursors by micro-      PIXE and RBS technique (prepared to request for Tandetron accelerator beam time from Center for
      Applied Physical Sciences, RI/KFUPM), June 1996.
●    Development of heterogeneous metallocene catalysts for olefin polymerization. Phase I:                     
      Comprehensive literature review (prepared for Saudi Basic Industries Corporation), July 1994.
●    An Overview of Recent Technological Developments in the Manufacturing of Linear Low and High
      Density Polyethylenes (for SABIC), March 1990.

As a team member

●    The Development of a Five-year Strategic Plan for the Gifted In Saudi Arabia, December 2004.
●    Linear Alpha-Olefins by Ethylene Oligomerization (prepared for SABIC), August 1991.

Additional Research Proposals

The total value of such proposals I prepared is SR 20.152 million. See below for details.

As an originator and proposal coordinator/principal investigator
●    Development of value-added polyvinyl chloride/polyethylene blends through compatibilization   
      (prepared  for Saudi Basic Industries Corporation), February 1999.            
●    Development of heterogeneous metallocene catalysts for olefin polymerization. Phase II: Experimental
      work (prepared for Saudi Basic Industries Corporation), December 1996.
●    Supplement to (original) (prepared for Saudi Basic Industries Corporation). March 1997.
●    Development of heterogeneous metallocene catalysts for ethylene polymerization. (prepared for Saudi
      Basic Industries Corporation). July 1994.
●    Investigation of Buckling and Fatigue Crack Growth Behavior of Selected Grades of SABIC's Linear
      Low and High Density Polyethylenes (prepared for SABIC), April 1990.
●    Blended Polyethylene Blown Films - Development, Characterization and Applications, May 1989.

As a co-investigator

●    An Appropriate Plastics Recycling Technology for Saudi Arabia, (submitted to KACST) in January
      1994
●    An Appropriate Plastics Recycling Technology for Saudi Arabia  (revised according to the reviewers'
      comments and resubmitted in May 1995 upon KACST's invitation)

As a major co-proponent

●    Ethylene Polymerization by Nickel-vanadium Bifunctional Catalyst (prepared for RI/KFUPM),  May
      1993.

As a team member

●    An Extension to the Study on the Characterization of Selected PVC resins (prepared for Ibn Hayyan),
      July 1990.
●    Development of Formulations for Mineral Water and Vegetable Oil Bottles using SABIC K-57S PVC
      Resin (unsolicited), December 1990.

Patents

●    Atiqullah, M., A. Moman, A. R. Atieh, S. J. Palackal, M. A. Al-Saleh, F. Rahman, M. Ibrahim, J. H.
      Khan (2006). Supported metallocene catalyst system for olefin polymerization, method for making, and
      using the same. EP Patent No: 1613667 A2.
●    Atiqullah, M., A. Moman, A. R. Atieh, S. J. Palackal, M. A. Al-Saleh, F. Rahman, M. Ibrahim, J. H.  
       Khan (2005). Supported metallocene catalyst system for olefin polymerization, method for making,    
       and using the same. US Patent No: 6,908,876 B2**.
●     Atiqullah, M., A. Moman, A. R. Atieh, S. J. Palackal, M. A. Al-Saleh, F. Rahman, M. Ibrahim, J. H. 
       Khan (2004). Supported metallocene catalyst system for olefin polymerization, method for making,
       and using the same. WO Patent No: 2004094480 A2.
     
      *Lead inventor. **The University received the distinctively prestigious King Abdulaziz Award for this
        patent.

Invited Book chapter

●    Atiqullah, M.Olefin Polymerization Heterogeneous Metallocene Catalysts: The Application and Role   
      of Group14 Lewis Acid Silica Support Modifiers. In Heterogeneous Catalysis Research Progress,  
      Nova Science, New York, USA, 2008.

Journal Publications

●    S.A. Beg and M. Atiqullah. Interactions of noncompetitive inhibitors on the nitrification process.
      Journal of Water Pollution Control Federation, vol. 55, 1080 (1983).
●    S.A. Beg and M. Atiqullah. Synergism and antagonism of arsenic, chromium and fluoride                
      on nitrification process. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, vol. A18, 633 (1983).
●    M. Atiqullah and E.B. Nauman. A model and measurement technique for micromixing copolymerization
      reactors. Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 45, 1267 (1990).
●    M. Atiqullah, M. M. Hassan, and S.A. Beg. Modeling of axial and recycle backmixing effects in a
      biological packed bed loop reactor. The Chemical Engineering Journal, vol. 44, B57 (1990)
●    M. Atiqullah, M. M. Hassan, and S.A. Beg.  Influence of the gel effect and backmixing on the            
      dynamics and rate parameters of bulk copolymerization in a tubular reactor-theoretical analysis. The    
      Chemical Engineering Journal, vol. 48, 71 (1992).   
●    M. Atiqullah, M. M. Hassan, and S.A. Beg. Modeling the effects of micromixing and               
      start-up procedures on bulk copolymerization and copolymer in a tubular reactor.  Journal of Applied  
      Polymer Science, vol. 46, 879 (1992).
●    F. Mahmud, M. Atiqullah*, N. Jarrah, and I. Hussain. Measurement of shape and size distributions of
      PVC resin particles by scanning electron microscopy and image analysis. European Polymer Journal,
      vol. 28, 1039 (1992).
●    M. Atiqullah, A.K.M.S. Rahman, S.A. Beg, and M.M. Hassan. The order of micromixing/segregation  
      effects on biological growth process in a stirred tank reactor. The Chemical Engineering Journal, vol.  
      51, B25 (1993).
●    M. Atiqullah, M. M. Hassan, and S.A. Beg. Micromixing effects on a parallel reaction in flow 
      reactors. Chemical Engineering and Technology, vol. 16, 243 (19 93).
●    M. Atiqullah, A.K.M.S. Rahman, and S.M.J. Zaidi. Effects of kinetic and transport parameters on   
      accelerated migration of reactive additives from plastic sheet. Polymer Engineering and Science, vol.
      33(24), 1644 (1993).
●    M. Atiqullah. Imperfect/incomplete micromixing effects on copolymerization in a premixed-feed stirred
      tank reactor. European Polymer Journal, vol. 29, 1581 (1993).
●    M. Atiqullah, I. Hussain, and A. Jamal. Optimized calibration curve for size exclusion chromatography
      applied to polyvinyl chloride. Polymer, vol. 35, 765 (1994).
●    S. H. Halim and M. Atiqullah. Role of Blending Technology in Polyethylene Recycling. Journal of
      Macromolecular Science: Reviews in Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, vol. C35(3), 495
      (1995)
●    M. M. Hassan, M. Atiqullah, S.A. Beg, and M.H.H. Chowdhury. Analysis of nonisothermal tubular
      reactor packed with immobilized enzyme systems. The Chemical Engineering Journal, vol. 58, 275 
      (1995).
●    M. M. Hassan, M. Atiqullah, S.A. Beg, and M.H.H. Chowdhury. Effects of enzyme microcapsule
      shape on the performance of a nonisothermal packed-bed, tubular reactor. Journal of Chemical          
      Technology and Biotechnology, vol. 66, 41 (1996).
●    O. Olabisi, M. Atiqullah, and W. Kaminsky. Group 4 metallocenes: Supported and unsupported
      Journal of Macromolecular Science - Reviews in Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, vol. C37(3),
●    M. Atiqullah, H. Hammawa, and H. Hamid. Modeling the solubility of ethylene and propylene in a
      typical polymerization diluent: some selected situations. European Polymer Journal, vol. 34(10), 1511
      (1998).
●    M. Atiqullah, H. Hammawa, M.N. Akhtar, J.H. Khan, and H. Hamid. Nonisothermal, uncontrolled     
      homo- and copolymerization of ethylene using selected zirconocenes. Journal of Applied Polymer       
      Science, vol. 70, 137 (1998).         
●    M. Atiqullah, M. Ahmed, M. N. Akhtar, S. Ahmed, and J. H. Khan. Analysis of  heterogenized            
      zirconocene catalysts using a micro-PIXE technique.  Journal of Radio Analytical and Nuclear             
      Chemistry, vol. 240 (3), 893 (1999).                            
●    M. Atiqullah, M. Faiz, M.N. Akhtar, M. A. Salim, S. Ahmed, and J.H. Khan. XPS investigation of
      the  electronic environment in selected heterogenized zirconocene catalysts. Surface and          
      Interface  Analysis, vol. 27 (8), 728 (1999).
●    M. Atiqullah, H. Hammawa, M. Faiz, M.N. Akhtar, M. Ahmed, J.H. Khan, A. Hasan, A. A. Abu
      Raqabah, A. Taleb and M. Taftaf. Zirconocene-catalyzed olefin polymerization: Modeling of         
      Catalyst  stability, nonisothermal mode of operation, and supported catalyst characterization. Arabian
      Journal for Science and Engineering: Theme issue on Catalysis in Industrial Processes, vol. 24(1C)  ,
      83 (1999).         
●    M. Atiqullah, M. N. Akhtar, M. Faiz, A. Moman, A. H. Abu-Raqabah, J. H. Khan, M. I. Wazeer.    
      Surface chemistry of selected supported metallocene catalysts studied by DR-FTIR, CPMAS             
      NMR, and XPS techniques. Surface and Interface Analysis, vol. 38, 1319 (2006).
●    M. A. Islam, I. A. Hussein, M. Atiqullah.  Effects of branching characteristics and copolymer              
      composition distribution on non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of metallocene LLDPEs.          
      European Polymer Journal, vol. 43, 599 (2007).                                        
●    M. Atiqullah, M. N. Akhtar, A. A. Moman, A. H. Abu-Raqabah, S. J. Palackal, H. A. Al-Muallem, 
      O. M. Hamed.  Influence of silica calcination temperature on the performance of supported catalyst     
      SiO2-nBuSnCl3/MAO/(nBuCp)2ZrCl2 polymerizing ethylene without separately feeding the MAO  
      cocatalyst.  Applied Catalysis A: General, vol. 320, 134 (2007) 
●    M. Atiqullah, A. A. Moman, M. N. Akhtar, H. A. Al-Muallem, A. H. Abu- Raqabah, Neaz              
      Ahmed.  Supported SiO-nBuSnCl3/MAO/(nBuCp)2ZrCl2 Catalyzing MAO cocatalyst- free             
      ethylene polymerization: Study of Hydrogen Responsiveness.  Journal of Applied Polymer
      Science,  vol. 106,3149 (2007).                   
●    M. Atiqullah, M. N. Akhtar, M. Tinkl, Neaz Ahmed. The Role of Allylanisole in Metallocene-
      catalyzed  Propylene Polymerization and Synthesis of End-capped Oligomers. Macromolecular  
      Reaction Engineering, Accepted (March 2008).             
●    M. N. Akhtar, M. Atiqullah, Akhlaq A. Moman, Atieh H. Abu-Raqabah, Neaz Ahmed. Supported
      (nBuCp)2ZrCl2 catalysts: Effects of selected Lewis acid organotin silica surface modifiers on            
      ethylene polymerization. Macromolecular Reaction Engineering, Accepted (March 2008).        
      
      

Citation Index

●    Over 175

Conference Proceeding

International

●    M. Atiqullah, M. M. Hassan, and S.A. Beg. A new approach to measuring kinetic parameters of    
      copolymerization. The 1st Int'l Conf. on Chemistry in Industry held at Manama, Bahrain, November 
      14-16, 1097 (1992).         
●    M. Atiqullah, H. Hassan, and H. Hamid. Measurement of catalyst activity and stability in metallocene-
      catalyzed olefin polymerization: An engineering approach. Proc. of the 4th International Congress on
      Metallocene Polymers: Metallocene Asia '97, Singapore, May 15- 16, 227 (1997).
●    M. Atiqullah, H. Hammawa, J.H. Khan, and M.N. Akhtar. Metallocene-catalyzed nonisothermal        
      polymerization of ethylene: A selected case study. Proc. of Petrotech ’98, 2nd Middle East          
      Refining and Petrochemicals Conference, September 13 - 16, Manama, Bahrain, vol. I, 553 (1998).
●    M. Atiqullah, M. N. Akhtar, A. Hassan, J. H. Khan (2001).  Phase-transfer catalyzed                       
      copolymerization of styrene and methylmethacrylate. Proceedings of the 3rd Middle East Petrotech      
      2001, Bahrain, October 28 to October 31, 2001            
●    M. Atiqullah (2000). Reactive modification of polyolefins: Challenges and opportunities. Proceedings
      of  Dubai Plast Pro 2000, April 9 to April 12, pp. III/3-1 - III/3-13.
●    M. Atiqullah, M. N. Akhtar, M. A. Saleh, J. H. Khan, F. Rahman, A. Moman, A. H. Abu-Raqabah,
      S.  J. Palackal, H. A. Muallem (2003). Hydrogen responsiveness and surface chemistry of                 
      upported metallocene catalyst and the related polyolefin applications. Proceedings of the 4th Middle
      East Petrotech   2003, Bahrain, September 29 to October 1, TEC 049.

National

●    M. Atiqullah and M. Abu-Shbak. Development of polyethylenes by blending technology using local     
      polymeric resins. Proc. of the 3rd Saudi Eng. Conf., Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, vol. 1, 78 (1991). 
●    M. Atiqullah, S.H. Hamid and A.G. Maadhah. The role of polymer reaction engineering in ethylene  
      polymerization. Proc. of the 4th Saudi Eng. Conf., Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, vol. 5, 171 (1995).
●    A. G. Maadhah, M. Atiqullah, and S.H. Hamid. The strategic development of polymeric R&D             
      programs in Saudi Arabia. Proc. of the 2nd Symposium on Technologies, Economics, & Investment  
      Opportunities in Petrochemical Industries in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, 1 (1996).
●    M. Atiqullah, M. Ahmed, M.N. Akhtar, S. Ahmed, and J.H. Khan.Characterization of heterogenized   
      zirconocene catalysts using micro-beam proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique. Proc. of the
      5th Saudi Eng. Conf., Makkah al-Mukkarramah, Saudi Arabia, vol. 4, 609 (1999).