As Co-PI, I worked on the project “Agro-waste materials extract (AWME) as a Green Corrosion Inhibitor for the Corrosion of Mild Steel in Acid Media.” The study explores agro-waste extracts as sustainable alternatives to toxic synthetic inhibitors. My role focuses on characterizing AWME using advanced analytical techniques to identify active compounds, functional groups, and structural features responsible for inhibition. This characterization is crucial to understand inhibition mechanisms, optimize extraction, and link material properties with corrosion resistance. The project promotes green chemistry solutions for corrosion protection in acidic environments.

This project developed a dual nonmetals-doped carbon foam photocatalyst to enhance photocatalytic efficiency in diverse degradation systems. Conventional photocatalysts often suffer from poor charge separation and limited active sites, reducing their effectiveness. Incorporating dual nonmetal dopants into porous carbon foam improved light absorption, electron–hole separation, and stability under varying conditions. The study evaluated its performance across multiple degradation systems and clarified the reaction pathways involved in pollutant breakdown. Findings demonstrated the robustness and versatility of the catalyst, offering a promising platform for advanced wastewater treatment and environmental remediation. An article from this work is currently in press.

This project explored, for the first time, the role of EDTA in enhancing hydroxyl radical (•OH) generation during the ozonation of oxalic acid at low pH. Conventional ozonation is highly effective in alkaline media, but limited under acidic conditions, restricting its application for acidic wastewaters. By introducing EDTA as a catalytic promoter, the study successfully overcame this challenge and demonstrated efficient •OH production without costly pH adjustments. This advancement provides a novel pathway for treating refractory organic acids in industrial effluents under acidic conditions. The research was completed as part of an MS thesis and later extended to evaluate sodium salts of surfactants as promoters for ozonation, leading to a Q1 publication in Environmental Technology & Innovation titled: “Efficient hydroxyl radical production with Sodium salts of surfactants ozonation for treatment of organic acid pollutants in wastewater