PhD Student Profile

Biowastes impact carbon (C) sequestration in soil through (i) increased biomass input by enhancing soil health, and (ii) chemical immobilisation of C with soil minerals, e.g. clay minerals and Fe- and Al-oxides. However, the enigma of C stabilisation in biowastes, which determines whether and how these two processes couple to C sequestration, remains unknown. Furthermore, one of the problems with the use of biowastes as a means of terrestrial C sequestration is their relatively fast rate of degradation, leading to the release of CO2, thereby becoming a source (rather than a sink) for GHG gas emission.

My project aim is to stabilise C in biowastes using nanomaterials and then to enhance their long-term C sequestration potential in soil. Specifically, the project will manufacture nano-stabilised biowaste products using nanomaterials and evaluate the C sequestration and fertilisation value of nano-stabilised biowastes.

PhD Title: “Reconciling carbon sequestration with fertiliser value of biowastes in farming systems through nanostabilisation of biowastes”

PhD start date: May 2022

Supervisors: Professor Ajayan Vinu (University of Newcastle), Professor Jiabao Yi (KFUPM, previously University of Newcastle), Dr Edward D Burton (Southern Cross University)

What interested you about this sort of research?
I firmly believe that my research has a significant impact both economically and environmentally from a science and engineering perspective. The combination creates a pleasant environment that greatly interests me.

What do you love about soil?
Soil is a vital component of the nutrient cycle and plays a crucial role in carbon storage, helping mitigate climate change. Its complexity and the way it interconnects with various environmental processes make it fascinating to study and appreciate.

How will your PhD help to make a difference for farmers or other next/end-users?
My project aims on the nanostabilisation of compost and other organic residues helps to achieve long-term storage of carbon in soil without impacting the fertiliser quality of these resources. Reconciling C sequestration with fertiliser value of nano-stabilised biowastes is an important outcome of this project. My project objective is to enable farmers to increase their productivity and profitability by providing them with knowledge, economic products and tools to improve the performance of their soils. The nano-stabilised biowaste products from organic recycling industries evaluated in this project will help the farmers to increase their productivity.

What do you want to do when you finish your PhD? 
I will pursue a research or technical role in the field of materials science and engineering.

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