Department of Chemical Engineering

King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
 
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Research

 

Research Interests

Fluidization
 

Our group has developed the first Liquid-Solid Circulating Fluidized Bed (LSCFB) in Canada. LSCFB widely been used in chemical, petrochemical, biochemical and environmental processes given its proficient mixing and superior heat and mass transfer characteristics. The KSA has recognised that the reuse of wastewater, after treatment, is the one of the most viable long term solution to meet the increasing problem of water demand in the country. Currently there is a growing need for more efficient biotechnological process in order to treat the increasing volume of wastewater.Currently one project funded by NSTIP-KACST going on collaboration with Powder Technology Research Center (PTRC), the University of Western Ontario, Canada.  It is also the aim of this study to investigate the scale (up/down) effects on the hydrodynamics of the bioreactor system by varying the size of the riser columns using different size of the biofilm carriers. 

   
CO2 capture & Biofuel Production
 

Our research group actively working on CO2 capture and wastewater treatment in both Chemical and Biochemical Process system. Microalgae cultivation in photo-bioreactors by utilizing CO2 from point sources (power plant, cement), wastewater (industrial, municipal, dairy) as nutrient source and sunlight for photosynthesis to produce biomass contains high oil and starch making possible the production of high quality biodiesel. Thus, microalgae culture can contribute to CO2 fixation, wastewater treatment and potential source of bio-energy. Currently we have two projects in this research field funded by KASCT and NSTIP-KACST. Two new proposal submitted for funding in addition of current projects in this vast area of research.

   
Biological-Wastewater Treatment
 

The treatment of wastewater is the existence of recalcitrant molecules that cannot efficiently be removed during treatment. For such molecules, bioaugmentation has been proposed as a viable strategy for their elimination. Bioaugmentation consists of adding efficient microorganisms to remove pollutants in wastewater treatment plant, however, the main limitation of this approach is the identification and isolation such of efficient bacteria. Oil & grease (O&G), mainly from cooking-oil and animal fat, are one of the contaminants that are not efficiently removed from wastewater using standard methods.  The main components of O&G are triglycerides, also known as esters of fatty acids attached to a glycerol. We have proposed to develop a bioaugmentation strategy to efficiently clean wastewater from O&G. One of the funded project going on with collaboration of biology department at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi Arabia.

   

Projects

Current Research Projects

 

CO2 Capture & Wastewater Treatment Using Microalgae: Investigation of Growth Kinetics, (KACST-NSTIP)

   

Integrated CO2 Capture/Sequestration and Wastewater Treatment by Microalgae Culture (KACST)

   
Biological Wastewater Treatment in Liquid-Solid Circulating Fluidized Bed: Scaling (up/down) effects on the Reactor Hydrodynamics  (KACST-NSTIP )
   
Identification and isolation of the oil and grease (O & G) biodegrading bacteria from wastewater in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KFUPM internal research grant)
   

Investigation of Growth Kinetics for Microalgae in seawater (KACST-Applied for funding, PI)

   
   
 Projects Completed

 

CO2 Capture & Wastewater Treatment Using Microalgae: Investigation of Growth Kinetics, (KACST-NSTIP)

   

Investigation of Artificial Neural Network and Neuro-Fuzzy Modeling for Hydrodynamic Studies in Liquid-Solid Circulating Fluidized Bed Riser.(DSR –KAFUPM)

   
CO2 Capture from Fossil Fuel based Power Generating Stations using Chemical-Looping Combustion (KACST-NSTIP)
   
Innovations in Renewable Energy Production: Biodiesel from Microalgae Grown on Waste Resources using Liquid-Solid Circulating Fluidized Beds (LSCFB) and Photo-Bioreactors.(NSERC-Canada)
   

Hydrodynamic studies of Liquid-Solid and Gas-Liquid-Solid Circulating Fluidized Beds.(CFI-Canada)

 
   
Design of Downhole Gravity Separation of Oil and Water: Phase I- Simulation study   for Technical Feasibility, (ARAMCO Funded)
   
Numerical Investigations of Flow and Kinetics in a Partially Packed Catalytic Claus Desulfurization Reactor. (ARI-KFUPM)
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
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Contact Info

Shaikh Abdur Razzak

Tel.: +966-3-860-7460

KFUPM Box: 5050

Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia

E-mail: srazzak@kfupm.edu.sa