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Esterification of residual palm oil using solid acid catalyst derived from rice husk (2020)
Journal Article
Semilin, V., Balan, W. S., Janaun, J., Chung, C. H., Zhu, Z., Haywood, S. K., …Zein, S. H. (2021). Esterification of residual palm oil using solid acid catalyst derived from rice husk. Journal of hazardous materials, 404(Part B), Article 124092. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124092

In this study, carbon-silica based acid catalysts derived from rice husks (RH) were successfully synthesised using microwave (MW) technology. The results showed that MW sulphonation produced Sulphur (S) content of 17.2–18.5 times higher than in raw R... Read More about Esterification of residual palm oil using solid acid catalyst derived from rice husk.

Recovery of oil from palm oil mill effluent using polypropylene micro/nanofiber (2020)
Journal Article
Semilin, V., Janaun, J., Chung, C. H., Touhami, D., Haywood, S. K., Chong, K. P., …Zein, S. H. (2021). Recovery of oil from palm oil mill effluent using polypropylene micro/nanofiber. Journal of hazardous materials, 404, Article 124144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124144

Residual palm oil that goes into the river untreated can become detrimental to the environment. Residual oil discharge during milling process into palm oil mill effluent (POME) is unavoidable. About 1 wt% of residual oil in POME causes major problems... Read More about Recovery of oil from palm oil mill effluent using polypropylene micro/nanofiber.

Single-Step extraction-esterification process to produce Biodiesel from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) using microwave heating: a circular economy approach to making use of a difficult waste product. (2020)
Journal Article
Davies, E., Deutz, P., & Zein, S. H. (in press). Single-Step extraction-esterification process to produce Biodiesel from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) using microwave heating: a circular economy approach to making use of a difficult waste product. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-020-00856-1

This investigation explores single step biodiesel synthesis using Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) as a feedstock. Normally considered a waste product from the extraction process of palm oil, POME treatment is difficult and can cause significant environ... Read More about Single-Step extraction-esterification process to produce Biodiesel from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) using microwave heating: a circular economy approach to making use of a difficult waste product..

Optimization of pH as a strategy to improve enzymatic saccharification of wheat straw for enhancing bioethanol production (2020)
Journal Article
Abdulsattar, M., Abdulsattar, J., Greenway, G., Welham, K., & Zein, S. H. (2020). Optimization of pH as a strategy to improve enzymatic saccharification of wheat straw for enhancing bioethanol production. Journal of Analytical Science and Technology, 11(1), Article 17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40543-020-00217-7

In this work, wheat straw (WS) was used as a lignocellulosic substrate to investigate the influence of pH on enzymatic saccharification. The optimum enzymatic hydrolysis occurred at pH range 5.8 – 6.0, instead of 4.8 - 5.0 as has been widely reported... Read More about Optimization of pH as a strategy to improve enzymatic saccharification of wheat straw for enhancing bioethanol production.

An innovative method of extraction of coffee oil using an advanced microwave system: in comparison with conventional Soxhlet extraction method (2019)
Journal Article
Hibbert, S., Welham, K., & Zein, S. H. (2019). An innovative method of extraction of coffee oil using an advanced microwave system: in comparison with conventional Soxhlet extraction method. SN Applied Sciences, 1(11), Article 1467. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-019-1457-5

The production of energy and chemicals from waste biomass is an attractive alternative by comparison with first generation biofuels and fossil feedstocks. This paper investigates oil extraction from spent coffee grounds (SCG) by means of an advanced... Read More about An innovative method of extraction of coffee oil using an advanced microwave system: in comparison with conventional Soxhlet extraction method.

Wheat straw bio-refining. Part II: Optimization of the microwave radiation with sulphuric acid pre-treatment and its enzymatic hydrolysis for fermentable sugars (2017)
Journal Article
Festus, O., Skoulou, V. K., & Zein, S. H. (2017). Wheat straw bio-refining. Part II: Optimization of the microwave radiation with sulphuric acid pre-treatment and its enzymatic hydrolysis for fermentable sugars. Current Microwave Chemistry, 4(4), 306-316. https://doi.org/10.2174/2213335604666171103123459

Background: The potential of microwave-assisted heating for enhancing the alkaline pretreatment of lignocellulosic waste is highlighted in this work. Objective: To maximize separation of fermentable sugars from wheat straw. Methods: Wheat straw... Read More about Wheat straw bio-refining. Part II: Optimization of the microwave radiation with sulphuric acid pre-treatment and its enzymatic hydrolysis for fermentable sugars.

Wheat Straw Bio-refining. Part I: Optimization of the Microwave Radiation Process with Sulphuric Acid Pre-treatment (2017)
Journal Article
Demirhan, H., Fauzi, A., Skoulou, V. . K., Haywood, S. . . H., & Zein, S. . . H. (2017). Wheat Straw Bio-refining. Part I: Optimization of the Microwave Radiation Process with Sulphuric Acid Pre-treatment. Current Microwave Chemistry, 4(3), https://doi.org/10.2174/2213335604666170719113659

Background: This study investigates the microwave-assisted acid extraction of lignin from wheat straw. Methods: Two experimental design methods, the Central Composite Design (CCD) and the Response Surface Method (RSM) methods were used to select c... Read More about Wheat Straw Bio-refining. Part I: Optimization of the Microwave Radiation Process with Sulphuric Acid Pre-treatment.

Wheat Straw Bio-refining. Part I: Optimization of the Microwave Radiation Process with Sulphuric Acid Pre-treatment (2017)
Journal Article
Demirhan, H., Fauzi, A., Skoulou, V., Haywood, S., & Zein, S. H. (2017). Wheat Straw Bio-refining. Part I: Optimization of the Microwave Radiation Process with Sulphuric Acid Pre-treatment. Current Microwave Chemistry, 4(3), 205-218. https://doi.org/10.2174/2213335604666170719113659

Background: This study investigates the microwave-assisted acid extraction of lignin from wheat straw. Methods: Two experimental design methods, the Central Composite Design (CCD) and the Response Surface Method (RSM) methods were used to select c... Read More about Wheat Straw Bio-refining. Part I: Optimization of the Microwave Radiation Process with Sulphuric Acid Pre-treatment.

Characterization of rice husk-based catalyst prepared via conventional and microwave carbonisation (2017)
Journal Article
Touhami, D., Zhu, Z., Balan, W. S., Janaun, J., Haywood, S., & Zein, S. (2017). Characterization of rice husk-based catalyst prepared via conventional and microwave carbonisation. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 5(3), 2388-2394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2017.04.020

© 2017 Elsevier Ltd. Carbon-based sulphonated catalysts (CBSCs) were made from rice husk for biodiesel production. The CBSCs were prepared by microwave (MW) and conventional heating processes from the same feedstock. In both heating systems, the prep... Read More about Characterization of rice husk-based catalyst prepared via conventional and microwave carbonisation.

Nanocarbons from acid pretreated waste coffee grounds using microwave radiation (2017)
Journal Article
Zein, S. H., Gyamera, B. A., & Skoulou, V. K. (2017). Nanocarbons from acid pretreated waste coffee grounds using microwave radiation. Materials letters, 193, 46-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2017.01.100

This study investigates the use of microwave radiation to produce nanocarbons from Waste Coffee Grounds (WCG). It is first step to demonstrate the potential of integrating the microwave power to conventional methods of carbonaceous materials and nano... Read More about Nanocarbons from acid pretreated waste coffee grounds using microwave radiation.

Investigation of the chemocatalytic and biocatalytic valorization of a range of different lignin preparations: The importance of β-O-4 content (2016)
Journal Article
Lancefield, C. S., Rashid, G. M. M., Bouxin, F., Wasak, A., Tu, W., Hallett, J., …Bugg, T. D. H. (2016). Investigation of the chemocatalytic and biocatalytic valorization of a range of different lignin preparations: The importance of β-O-4 content. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 4(12), 6921-6930. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.6b01855

A set of seven different lignin preparations was generated from a range of organosolv (acidic, alkaline, ammonia-treated, and dioxane-based), ionic liquid, autohydrolysis, and Kraft pretreatments of lignocelluloses. Each lignin was characterized by 2... Read More about Investigation of the chemocatalytic and biocatalytic valorization of a range of different lignin preparations: The importance of β-O-4 content.

Effect of ions in ionic liquids on the characteristics of cellulose from coconut husk fibres (2016)
Journal Article
Reh, N. A., Zakaria, R., & Zein, S. H. (2016). Effect of ions in ionic liquids on the characteristics of cellulose from coconut husk fibres. International journal of biomedical engineering and technology, 21(1), 80-94. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBET.2016.076734

This paper reports the properties of cellulose nanowhiskers as new potential biomaterials. Cellulose nanowhiskers were produced from coconut husk fibres using four different anions of ionic liquids: 1-butyl-3-mehtylimidzalium chloride, 1-butyl-3-meht... Read More about Effect of ions in ionic liquids on the characteristics of cellulose from coconut husk fibres.

Incorporation of inorganic carbon nanotubes fillers into the CA polymeric matrix for improvement in CO2/N2 separation (2015)
Journal Article
Jawad, Z. A., Ahmad, A. L., Low, S. C., & Zein, S. H. (2015). Incorporation of inorganic carbon nanotubes fillers into the CA polymeric matrix for improvement in CO2/N2 separation. Current nanoscience, 11(1), 69-79. https://doi.org/10.2174/1573413710666140922224633

Among all separation techniques, membrane technology has been shown to reduce CO 2 emissions without any phase changes due to its rapid, energy efficient process. The membrane-based gas separation must consist of a defect-free, thin, dense skin layer... Read More about Incorporation of inorganic carbon nanotubes fillers into the CA polymeric matrix for improvement in CO2/N2 separation.

Rebuttal to the comment on article "poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes/chitosan green nanocomposite membranes and their application in pervaporation" (2015)
Journal Article
Ong, Y. T., Ahmad, A. L., Zein, S. H. S., Sudesh, K., & Tan, S. H. (2016). Rebuttal to the comment on article "poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes/chitosan green nanocomposite membranes and their application in pervaporation". Separation and purification technology, 158, 94-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2015.11.042

Influence of solvent exchange time on mixed matrix membrane separation performance for CO2/N2and a kinetic sorption study (2014)
Journal Article
Jawad, Z. A., Ahmad, A. L., Low, S. C., Chew, T. L., & Zein, S. H. (2015). Influence of solvent exchange time on mixed matrix membrane separation performance for CO2/N2and a kinetic sorption study. Journal of membrane science, 476, 590-601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2014.11.008

Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions. Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) have recently received attention as an attractive candidate for membrane-based separation, for which MMMs can serve as an alternative to conv... Read More about Influence of solvent exchange time on mixed matrix membrane separation performance for CO2/N2and a kinetic sorption study.

Green tea polyphenol-reduced graphene oxide: derivatisation, reduction efficiency, reduction mechanism and cytotoxicity (2014)
Journal Article
Abdullah, M. F., Zakaria, R., & Zein, S. H. S. (2014). Green tea polyphenol-reduced graphene oxide: derivatisation, reduction efficiency, reduction mechanism and cytotoxicity. RSC advances, 4(65), 34510-34518. https://doi.org/10.1039/c4ra04292a

This paper reports on the derivatisation, reduction efficiency, reduction mechanism and cytotoxicity of green tea polyphenol-reduced graphene oxide (GTP-RGO). The reduction of graphene oxide (GO) at 90°C using a weight ratio (WR) of GTP/GO=1 resulted... Read More about Green tea polyphenol-reduced graphene oxide: derivatisation, reduction efficiency, reduction mechanism and cytotoxicity.

A cellulose acetate/multi-walled carbon nanotube mixed matrix membrane for CO2/N2separation (2013)
Journal Article
Ahmad, A. L., Jawad, Z. A., Low, S. C., & Zein, S. H. (2014). A cellulose acetate/multi-walled carbon nanotube mixed matrix membrane for CO2/N2separation. Journal of membrane science, 451, 55-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2013.09.043

Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions have been rising indiscriminately and are becoming a major contributor to Earth's greenhouse effect. One of the most promising means of separating the hazardous CO 2 gas is to develop a cost effective and high-perform... Read More about A cellulose acetate/multi-walled carbon nanotube mixed matrix membrane for CO2/N2separation.

Facile Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles by Chemical Reduction Route (2013)
Journal Article
Ratnamalar, R., Mariatti, M., Ahmad, Z., & Zein, S. (2013). Facile Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles by Chemical Reduction Route. Materials Science Forum, 756, 99-105. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.756.99

This work reports a simple chemical reduction route for the preparation of uniformed Ag nanoparticles whereby a fine control over the sizes of the Ag nanoparticles was studied by varying the concentrations of the reducing agents used. In characteriza... Read More about Facile Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles by Chemical Reduction Route.

Nanophase Hydroxyapatite as a biomaterial in advanced hard tissue engineering: A review (2013)
Journal Article
Zakaria, S. M., Sharif Zein, S. H., Othman, M. R., Yang, F., & Jansen, J. A. (2013). Nanophase Hydroxyapatite as a biomaterial in advanced hard tissue engineering: A review. Tissue Engineering: Parts A, B, and C, 19(5), 431-441. https://doi.org/10.1089/ten.teb.2012.0624

Hydroxyapatite is a biocompatible material that is extensively used in the replacement and regeneration of bone material. In nature, nanostructured hydroxyapatite is the main component present in hard body tissues. Hence, the state of the art in nano... Read More about Nanophase Hydroxyapatite as a biomaterial in advanced hard tissue engineering: A review.