Dr. Ifeanyi Michael Smarte Anekwe

Verified @gmail.com

Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering
University of the Witwatersrand

Dr. Ifeanyi Michael Smarte Anekwe
Dr Anekwe is a distinguished researcher in catalysis, specializing in heterogeneous catalytic systems for renewable energy and environmental sustainability. He holds a PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand, is a DAAD scholar, and works at Wits University, as well as serving as a visiting researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis in Germany. His pioneering work on advanced catalytic systems for biofuel production contributes to global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and accelerate the transition to cleaner energy by integrating fundamental catalyst development with applied energy innovation, emphasizing scalable pathways for sustainable aviation fuels and circular carbon systems. His contributions have been recognized internationally, and in 2025 he received the Overall WITS Early Career Researcher and Author Award from Elsevier, underscoring his impact. Beyond research, Dr. Anekwe provides editorial leadership for several reputable journals.

EDUCATION

Dr. Smarte Anekwe’s academic journey began with a BEng in Petroleum Engineering from the Federal University of Technology, where he gained a strong foundation in energy science and engineering. His undergraduate research focused on enhanced oil recovery techniques to optimize heavy crude oil utilization. Motivated by environmental challenges such as oil spills and acid mine drainage (AMD), he pursued an MEng at Durban University of Technology (DUT), supported by the DUT Postgraduate Grant. His master’s research explored biological methods for eco‑friendly remediation of polluted sites, sparking his interest in sustainable energy.

He advanced to doctoral studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, funded by BRICS, the NRF, and the Postgraduate Merit Award. His PhD centered on synthesizing and evaluating heterogeneous ZSM‑5 zeolite catalysts for biofuel production, with outcomes published in leading journals, conferences, and books.

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Chemical Engineering, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Materials Science, Environmental Science
38

Scopus Publications

1233

Scholar Citations

19

Scholar h-index

28

Scholar i10-index

Scopus Publications

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Next-Generation Remediation of Polluted Mine Water: Innovations in Microbial Engineering and Integrated Treatment Systems
    IMS Anekwe, YM Isa
    Mine Water and the Environment, 1-19 , 2026
    2026
  • Tailoring novel hierarchical HZSM-5 catalysts for high-selectivity ethanol valorisation to transportation fuels: transition metal doping, process optimisation, and coke formation
    IMS Anekwe, YM Isa
    Fuel 406, 137244 , 2026
    2026
    Citations: 2
  • Advances in nanocatalysts for biofuel production: Mechanisms, performance, and future perspectives
    SI Mustapha, IMS Anekwe, KB Muritala, YM Isa
    Materials Today Sustainability, 101246 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 8
  • Progress in heterogeneous catalysis for renewable energy and petrochemical production from biomass
    IMS Anekwe, SO Akpasi, EK Tetteh, AS Joel, SI Mustapha, YM Isa
    Fuel Processing Technology 276, 108267 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 25
  • The hydrogen challenge: addressing storage, safety, and environmental concerns in hydrogen economy
    IMS Anekwe, SI Mustapha, SO Akpasi, EK Tetteh, AS Joel, YM Isa
    International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 167, 150952 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 33
  • Circular economy and energy transition: a review of South Africa’s 5-year just energy transition investment plan (JET-IP)
    IMS Anekwe, D Ashiegbu, YM Isa, H Potgieter
    Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 30 (6), 48 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 4
  • Biomass conversion for sustainable hydrogen generation: a comprehensive review
    SI Mustapha, IMS Anekwe, SO Akpasi, KB Muritala, EK Tetteh, AS Joel, ...
    Fuel processing technology 272, 108210 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 44
  • Hydrogen as a clean energy carrier: advancements, challenges, and its role in a sustainable energy future
    SO Akpasi, IM Smarte Anekwe, EK Tetteh, UO Amune, SI Mustapha, ...
    Clean Energy 9 (1), 52-88 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 201
  • Climate change impacts on water supplies and availability in KwaZulu Natal Province, South Africa
    IMS Anekwe, H Zhou, SO Akpasi, MSM Makhathini, MM Mkhize
    UNESCO, GWSI Series Vol. 5. https://doi.org/10.54677/OZIA7839 5, 21-36 , 2025
    2025
  • Unlocking catalytic longevity: a critical review of catalyst deactivation pathways and regeneration technologies
    IMS Anekwe, YM Isa
    Energy Advances 4 (9), 1075-1113 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 77
  • Biofuels through thermochemical conversion: Biomass-to-liquids
    YM Isa, EES Lora, JCE Palacio, NDZ Ortigoza, I Anewke
    From Crops and Wastes to Bioenergy, 313-346 , 2025
    2025
  • Influence of metal doping on the coke formation of a novel hierarchical HZSM-5 zeolite catalyst in the conversion of 1-propanol to fuel blendstock
    IMS Anekwe, YM Isa
    RSC advances 15 (6), 3988-3999 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 10
  • Innovations in catalytic understanding: a journey through advanced characterization
    IMS Anekwe, SO Akpasi, EM Enemuo, D Ashiegbu, SI Mustapha, YM Isa
    Materials Today Catalysis 7, 100061 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 29
  • Ocean Plastic Pollution: Sources, Effects, Challenges and Mitigation Measures.
    I ANEKWE, MM MKHIZE, H ZHOU, SO AKPASI, TTG MKHIZE
    Journal of Marine Environmental Engineering 11 (4) , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 1
  • Sustainable remediation of acid mine drainage (AMD)- and crude oil-contaminated sites through wastewater-enhanced Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442 …
    IMS Anekwe, YM Isa
    Biotechnology for the Environment 1 (1), 12 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 4
  • Catalytic conversion of bioethanol over cobalt and nickel‐doped HZSM‐5 zeolite catalysts
    IMS Anekwe, B Oboirien, YM Isa
    Biofuels, bioproducts and biorefining 18 (3), 686-700 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 28
  • Renewable energy investments in South Africa: Potentials and challenges for a sustainable transition - a review
    IM Smarte Anekwe, SO Akpasi, MM Mkhize, H Zhou, RT Moyo, L Gaza
    Science Progress 107 (2), 00368504241237347 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 58
  • Application of biostimulation and bioventing system as bioremediation strategy for the treatment of crude oil contaminated soils.
    IMS Anekwe, Y ISA
    Soil & Water Research 19 (2) , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 18
  • Techno-economic and life-cycle analysis of single-step catalytic conversion of bioethanol to fuel blendstocks over Ni-doped HZSM-5 zeolite catalyst
    IMS Anekwe, EES Lora, KA Subramanian, A Kozlov, S Zhang, B Oboirien, ...
    Energy Conversion and Management: X 22, 100529 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 16
  • Effects of transition metal doping on the properties and catalytic performance of ZSM-5 zeolite catalyst on ethanol-to-hydrocarbons conversion
    IMS Anekwe, B Oboirien, YM Isa
    Fuel communications 18, 100101 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 32

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Hydrogen as a clean energy carrier: advancements, challenges, and its role in a sustainable energy future
    SO Akpasi, IM Smarte Anekwe, EK Tetteh, UO Amune, SI Mustapha, ...
    Clean Energy 9 (1), 52-88 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 201
  • Mycoremediation as a potentially promising technology: current status and prospects—a review
    SO Akpasi, IMS Anekwe, EK Tetteh, UO Amune, HO Shoyiga, ...
    Applied Sciences 13 (8), 4978 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 171
  • Bioremediation of acid mine drainage–Review
    IMS Anekwe, YM Isa
    Alexandria Engineering Journal 65, 1047-1075 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 101
  • Unlocking catalytic longevity: a critical review of catalyst deactivation pathways and regeneration technologies
    IMS Anekwe, YM Isa
    Energy Advances 4 (9), 1075-1113 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 77
  • Renewable energy investments in South Africa: Potentials and challenges for a sustainable transition - a review
    IM Smarte Anekwe, SO Akpasi, MM Mkhize, H Zhou, RT Moyo, L Gaza
    Science Progress 107 (2), 00368504241237347 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 58
  • Biomass conversion for sustainable hydrogen generation: a comprehensive review
    SI Mustapha, IMS Anekwe, SO Akpasi, KB Muritala, EK Tetteh, AS Joel, ...
    Fuel processing technology 272, 108210 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 44
  • Stability, deactivation and regeneration study of a newly developed HZSM-5 and Ni-doped HZSM-5 zeolite catalysts for ethanol-to-hydrocarbon conversion
    IMS Anekwe, M Chetty, L Khotseng, SL Kiambi, L Maharaj, B Oboirien, ...
    Catalysis communications 186, 106802 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 42
  • The hydrogen challenge: addressing storage, safety, and environmental concerns in hydrogen economy
    IMS Anekwe, SI Mustapha, SO Akpasi, EK Tetteh, AS Joel, YM Isa
    International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 167, 150952 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 33
  • Effects of transition metal doping on the properties and catalytic performance of ZSM-5 zeolite catalyst on ethanol-to-hydrocarbons conversion
    IMS Anekwe, B Oboirien, YM Isa
    Fuel communications 18, 100101 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 32
  • Biochar development as a catalyst and its application
    SO Akpasi, IMS Anekwe, J Adedeji, SL Kiambi, SO Akpasi, IMS Anekwe, ...
    Biochar—productive technologies, properties and applications , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 31
  • Wastewater and bioventing treatment systems for acid mine drainage–contaminated soil
    IM Anekwe, YM Isa
    Soil and Sediment Contamination: An International Journal 30 (5), 518-531 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 30
  • Innovations in catalytic understanding: a journey through advanced characterization
    IMS Anekwe, SO Akpasi, EM Enemuo, D Ashiegbu, SI Mustapha, YM Isa
    Materials Today Catalysis 7, 100061 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 29
  • Catalytic conversion of bioethanol over cobalt and nickel‐doped HZSM‐5 zeolite catalysts
    IMS Anekwe, B Oboirien, YM Isa
    Biofuels, bioproducts and biorefining 18 (3), 686-700 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 28
  • Bioethanol as a potential eco‐friendlier feedstock for catalytic production of fuels and petrochemicals
    IMS Anekwe, YM Isa, B Oboirien
    Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology 98 (9), 2077-2094 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 27
  • Comparative evaluation of wastewater and bioventing system for the treatment of acid mine drainage contaminated soils
    IMS Anekwe, YM Isa
    Water-Energy Nexus 4, 134-140 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 27
  • The place of biofuel in sustainable living; prospects and challenges
    IMS Anekwe, L Khotseng, YM Isa
    Elsevier , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 26
  • Progress in heterogeneous catalysis for renewable energy and petrochemical production from biomass
    IMS Anekwe, SO Akpasi, EK Tetteh, AS Joel, SI Mustapha, YM Isa
    Fuel Processing Technology 276, 108267 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 25
  • Catalytic conversion of low alcohol to hydrocarbons: challenges, prospects, and future work considerations
    IMS Anekwe, YM Isa
    International Journal of Energy Research 2023 (1), 1648449 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 22
  • Available technologies for wastewater treatment
    IMS Anekwe, J Adedeji, SO Akpasi, SL Kiambi
    Wastewater Treatment , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 22
  • Application of biostimulation and bioventing system as bioremediation strategy for the treatment of crude oil contaminated soils.
    IMS Anekwe, Y ISA
    Soil & Water Research 19 (2) , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 18