Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Chemical Engineering
8
Scopus Publications
126
Scholar Citations
6
Scholar h-index
6
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Perspectives on the status and future of sustainable CO2 conversion processes and their implementation Yakubu Adekunle Alli, Onome Ejeromedoghene, Tendai O. Dembaremba, Amer Adawi, Oyekunle Azeez Alimi, Teckla Njei, Abayomi Bamisaye, Alex Kofi, Uche Quincy Anene, Adekola Monsuru Adewale, Zainab Temitope Yaqub, Motunrayo Eniola Oladele, Lateefat Jimoh, Samuel Oluwadadepo Oni, Adeniyi Sunday Ogunlaja, Ben Bin Xu Carbon Capture Science and Technology, 2025 The rapid rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations continues to threaten global climate stability, underscoring the urgent need for scalable, economically viable, and sustainable CO₂ mitigation strategies. Among emerging solutions, CO₂ conversion technologies offer a transformative pathway by enabling the utilization of CO₂ as a renewable carbon feedstock for the production of fuels, chemicals, and materials, thereby promoting a circular carbon economy. The review begins by exploring foundational CO₂ capture and pre-treatment methods, emphasizing advanced materials, as well as integration strategies that directly couple capture with conversion processes as a gateway to improved CO 2 conversion. Recent advancements in CO₂ conversion technologies, spanning thermochemical, electrochemical, photochemical, and biological domains are then covered. The integration of CO₂ conversion systems with renewable energy and industrial infrastructures is explored through case studies and commercialization efforts, highlighting opportunities for sector-wide decarbonization. Furthermore, the increasing role of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in predictive modeling, catalyst design, and process optimization, as well as the techno-economic analyses that frame the practical deployment of these technologies is also presented. Persistent challenges including energy efficiency, long-term stability, product selectivity, and regulatory constraints are critically analyzed, and emerging solutions are proposed. The review concludes by outlining future research directions, including the development of next-generation technologies and strategies to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and public-private partnerships. By synthesizing cutting-edge advancements and identifying key barriers and opportunities, this work provides a roadmap for accelerating the global deployment of CO₂ conversion technologies toward a sustainable and decarbonized future.
Machine Learning Applications for Nano-synthesized Materials Production and Utilization Zainab T. Yaqub, Bilainu O. Oboirien Nanomaterials for Sustainable Hydrogen Production and Storage, 2024 The development of nanotechnology has led to the exploration and discovery of nanomaterials increasing at an exponential rate. This growth presents the challenge of accurately predicting the characterization of nanomaterials at a faster pace. Machine learning (ML), encompassing both traditional ML and deep learning tools, has the ability to address these challenges. This chapter explores the use of several ML models – including artificial neural networks (ANN), support vector machines (SVM), decision trees, convolutional neural networks (CNN), and deep neural networks (DNN) – to successfully predict various nanomaterial properties based on experimental data. These models are meticulously discussed, as well as the details of how they are utilized to predict the physicochemical properties of nanomaterials. Additionally, the challenges currently faced in using these ML tools are examined, along with discussions on the changes that must take place in the near future for ML to make a significant contribution to nanomaterial synthesis.
Modeling and Optimization of Nanomaterials Production Processes Lanrewaju I. Fajimi, Bilainu O. Oboirien, Zainab T. Yaqub Nanomaterials for Sustainable Hydrogen Production and Storage, 2024 Nanomaterials (NMTs) production modeling and optimization is a huge task. Even though several authors have been able to model the process, nevertheless, deeper investigation needs to be carried out since the process itself is a combination of several disciplines from physical sciences to engineering. This chapter investigates various research works that have carefully modeled the production process of carbon-based NMTs (mainly carbon nanotubes) over the last two decades. Models such as the machine-learning models, simple weight model, kinetic model, as well as the model derived from chemical kinetic models, are all investigated and presented in this chapter. In addition, reactors such as fixed bed reactors, fluidized bed reactors, screw kilns, and autoclaves have all been employed in NMT production using different techniques. The optimization of NMT production process is carefully evaluated from the works of authors who have found ways to improvise NMT production from a combination of different processes, pre-processes, catalysts, operating conditions, and reactors, amongst several others. To optimize the NMT production process aside from the conditions and variables mentioned, the coproduction of valuable products such as hydrogen gas is essential.
Chemical looping combustion (CLC) of municipal solid waste (MSW) Z. T. Yaqub, B. O. Oboirien, H. Leion Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 2023 Chemical Looping Combustion (CLC) has been found to be a better alternative in converting Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to energy and has the potential to reduce the generation of dioxins due to the inhibition of the de-novo synthesis of dioxins. This study comprehensively reviews the experimental studies of CLC of MSW, the oxygen carriers, reactor types, performance evaluation, and ash interaction studies. Modeling and simulation studies of CLC of MSW were also critically presented. Plastic waste is MSW’s most studied non-biomass component in MSW under CLC conditions. This is because CLC has been shown to reduce the emission of dioxins and furans, which are normally emitted during the conventional combustion of plastics. From the several oxygen carriers tested with MSW’s CLC, alkaline earth metals (AEM) modified iron ore was the most effective for reducing dioxin emissions, improving combustion efficiency and carbon conversion. Also, oxygen carriers with supports were more reactive than single carriers and CaSO4/Fe2O3 and CaSO4 in silica sol had the highest oxygen transport ability. Though XRD analysis and thermodynamic calculations of the reacted oxygen carriers yielded diverse results due to software computation constraints, modified iron ore produced less HCl and heavy metal chlorides compared to iron ore and ilmenite. However, alkali silicates, a significant cause of fouling, were observed instead. The best reactor configuration for the CLC of MSW is the fluidized bed reactor, because it is easy to obtain high and homogeneous solid–gas mass transfer. Future research should focus on the development of improved oxygen carriers that can sustain reactivity after several cycles, as well as the system’s techno-economic feasibility.
Experimental Evaluation Using Plastic Waste, Paper Waste, and Coal as Fuel in a Chemical Looping Combustion Batch Reactor Zainab Temitope Yaqub, Bilainu Obozokhai Oboirien, Marcus Hedberg, Henrik Leion Chemical Engineering and Technology, 2021 A comparative study of chemical looping combustion (CLC) with paper, plastic, and coal as fuel was carried out. Experiments were performed in a laboratory fluidized‐bed reactor by alternating between reduction and oxidation cycles. The results obtained indicated that a higher temperature leads to an increase in the CO2 yield and carbon conversion for all fuels. Paper had the highest fractional conversion of CO to CO2 followed by polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and coal. This was due to the higher fraction of volatiles in paper compared to PVC and coal. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the oxygen carrier particle after each of the solid fuel experiment was carried out. For the used ilmenite, there was a slight difference in the morphology for the three different fuels.
Process modelling of chemical looping combustion of paper, plastics, paper/plastic blend waste, and coal Zainab T. Yaqub, Bilainu O. Oboirien ACS Omega, 2020 Chemical looping combustion (CLC) is a novel carbon capture and storage technology that can be used in the proper disposal of municipal solid waste when used as a solid fuel. In this study, the results of the CLC of paper, plastics, and paper/plastic blends were compared with CLC of South African coal using Chemcad software. The simulation was done for two different CLC processes, namely, chemical looping oxygen uncoupling (CLOU) and in situ gasification CLC (IG-CLC). The results demonstrated that coal at 66% had a lower CO2 yield than paper (86%) but a higher yield than all the plastic samples in CLOU (3356%) and an equal CO2 yield in paper and all plastic samples in IG-CLC. Furthermore, coal had a lower CO2 gas yield than all the optimum blends (72–85%) for CLOU and an equal yield with the entire paper/plastic blend in IG-CLC. On combustion efficiency, coal has a lower combustion efficiency at 80% than paper and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) at 90 and 96%, respectively, but a higher efficiency than other plastic samples that are between 30 and 70% in CLOU while in IG-CLC, it had a lower efficiency than paper, PVC, and polyethylene terephthalate and higher efficiency than high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. For paper/plastic blends, coal has higher combustion efficiency than all the paper/plastic blends in both CLOU and IG-CLC processes except for the paper/PVC where the combustion efficiency was higher than coal.
RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Cigarette and Marijuana Smoke in Nigeria: Ecological, Health, and Female Reproductive Risks Assessment MA Adeniran, ZT Yaqub, AK Oyeneye Journal of Engineering Innovation and Sustainability 1 (2), 10-22 , 2025 2025.0
Perspectives on the status and future of sustainable CO2 conversion processes and their implementation YA Alli, O Ejeromedoghene, TO Dembaremba, A Adawi, OA Alimi, T Njei, ... Carbon Capture Science & Technology, 100496 , 2025 2025.0 Citations: 24
Process optimization of chemical looping combustion of solid waste/biomass using machine learning algorithm ZT Yaqub, BO Oboirien, H Leion Renewable Energy 225, 120298 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 26
Machine learning applications for Nano-synthesized materials production and utilization ZT Yaqub, BO Oboirien Nanomaterials for Sustainable Hydrogen Production and Storage, 123-135 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 3
Modeling and optimization of nanomaterials production processes LI Fajimi, BO Oboirien, ZT Yaqub Nanomaterials for Sustainable Hydrogen Production and Storage, 97-122 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 2
Chemical looping combustion (CLC) of municipal solid waste (MSW) ZT Yaqub, BO Oboirien, H Leion Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management 25 (4), 1900-1920 , 2023 2023.0 Citations: 22
Experimental evaluation using plastic waste, paper waste, and coal as fuel in a chemical looping combustion batch reactor ZT Yaqub, BO Oboirien, M Hedberg, H Leion Chemical Engineering & Technology 44 (6), 1075-1083 , 2021 2021.0 Citations: 15
Process modeling of chemical looping combustion (CLC) of municipal solid waste ZT Yaqub, BO Oboirien, AT Akintola Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management 23 (3), 895-910 , 2021 2021.0 Citations: 17
Techno-economic analysis of the CLC of waste paper, PVC and paper/PVC blends for electricity and heat generation BO Oboirien, ZT Yaqub PVC and Paper/PVC Blends for Electricity and Heat Generation , 2021 2021.0 Citations: 5
Process modelling of chemical looping combustion of paper, plastics, paper/plastic blend waste, and coal ZT Yaqub, BO Oboirien ACS omega 5 (35), 22420-22429 , 2020 2020.0 Citations: 12
Process Modelling of Chemical Looping Combustion of Municipal Solid Waste ZT Yaqub PQDT-Global , 2019 2019.0
Chemical looping combustion of Municipal solid wastes ZT Yaqub University of Johannesburg , 0
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Process optimization of chemical looping combustion of solid waste/biomass using machine learning algorithm ZT Yaqub, BO Oboirien, H Leion Renewable Energy 225, 120298 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 26
Perspectives on the status and future of sustainable CO2 conversion processes and their implementation YA Alli, O Ejeromedoghene, TO Dembaremba, A Adawi, OA Alimi, T Njei, ... Carbon Capture Science & Technology, 100496 , 2025 2025.0 Citations: 24
Chemical looping combustion (CLC) of municipal solid waste (MSW) ZT Yaqub, BO Oboirien, H Leion Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management 25 (4), 1900-1920 , 2023 2023.0 Citations: 22
Process modeling of chemical looping combustion (CLC) of municipal solid waste ZT Yaqub, BO Oboirien, AT Akintola Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management 23 (3), 895-910 , 2021 2021.0 Citations: 17
Experimental evaluation using plastic waste, paper waste, and coal as fuel in a chemical looping combustion batch reactor ZT Yaqub, BO Oboirien, M Hedberg, H Leion Chemical Engineering & Technology 44 (6), 1075-1083 , 2021 2021.0 Citations: 15
Process modelling of chemical looping combustion of paper, plastics, paper/plastic blend waste, and coal ZT Yaqub, BO Oboirien ACS omega 5 (35), 22420-22429 , 2020 2020.0 Citations: 12
Techno-economic analysis of the CLC of waste paper, PVC and paper/PVC blends for electricity and heat generation BO Oboirien, ZT Yaqub PVC and Paper/PVC Blends for Electricity and Heat Generation , 2021 2021.0 Citations: 5
Machine learning applications for Nano-synthesized materials production and utilization ZT Yaqub, BO Oboirien Nanomaterials for Sustainable Hydrogen Production and Storage, 123-135 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 3
Modeling and optimization of nanomaterials production processes LI Fajimi, BO Oboirien, ZT Yaqub Nanomaterials for Sustainable Hydrogen Production and Storage, 97-122 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 2
Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Cigarette and Marijuana Smoke in Nigeria: Ecological, Health, and Female Reproductive Risks Assessment MA Adeniran, ZT Yaqub, AK Oyeneye Journal of Engineering Innovation and Sustainability 1 (2), 10-22 , 2025 2025.0
Process Modelling of Chemical Looping Combustion of Municipal Solid Waste ZT Yaqub PQDT-Global , 2019 2019.0
Chemical looping combustion of Municipal solid wastes ZT Yaqub University of Johannesburg , 0
