Profile Details

Create Project

★★★★★

☆☆☆☆☆

USD 30 /hr

★★★★★

☆☆☆☆☆

Hire Dr. Dr. Zakir K.

Pakistan

USD 30 /hr

Plant Design | Reactor Design | Waste to Hydrogen | Gasification| Carbon Capture Technologies | Process Design

Profile Summary

I am a highly accomplished chemical engineer and researcher specializing in gasification, steam reforming, and catalytic conversion processes with integrated carbon capture. As an Associate Professor and Head of the Biomass Conversion Research Group at COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, I lead two research labs dedicated to waste-to-energy technologies and sustainable process development. I have led the development of innovative technologies in sustainable energy, CO₂ capture, and waste-to-energy conversion up to Technology Readiness Level 6. Across projects in Malaysia, the UK, and Pakistan, I have designed lab- to pilot-scale pyrolysis and gasification systems for producing hydrogen, syngas, methane, and value-added products from biomass and municipal solid waste. A key milestone was the full plant design for hydrogen production from coffee waste for an Italian client, aligned with EU emission standards. I also hold a patent for an Integrated Catalytic-Adsorption (ICA) steam gasification process developed at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS. At the University of Glasgow, my work on fluidized bed technology for food decontamination and non-intrusive tar detection received international recognition. Collaborating with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and others, I have optimized CO₂-lean gasification systems tailored to local waste streams, advancing scalable clean energy solutions. With 14+ years of experience spanning academia, research, and industrial collaborations, I have designed and optimized lab- and pilot-scale gasification systems in the UK, Malaysia, and Pakistan. My expertise covers: ✅ Process & Plant Design – From conceptualization to scale-up ✅ Reactor Optimization – Enhancing efficiency and performance ✅ Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) – Evaluating feasibility & cost-effectiveness ✅ Process Scale-Up – Bridging the gap from research to industrial applications I have successfully led and collaborated on major national and international projects, including a $5M biomass catalytic gasification initiative for hydrogen production and a Pakistan Science Foundation-funded project on coal, biomass, and sewage sludge co-utilization. My research contributions include the Integrated Catalytic Adsorption (ICA) process, patented in Malaysia, which significantly enhances hydrogen yield while minimizing CO₂ emissions. As a Senior Member of the International Association of Carbon Capture (IACC), I have published 50+ research papers, with an h-index of 22, and actively mentor PhD and MS students in waste-to-hydrogen conversion, carbon capture, and photocatalytic valorization. Recognized for my contributions, I have received multiple awards and grants, including the Exceptional Contribution Research Award (University of Glasgow, 2017) and a PEC-funded Green Hydrogen Production Project (2023). With a PhD in Chemical Engineering from University Technology PETRONAS, Malaysia, and an MSc from Friedrich-Alexander Universität, Germany, I am committed to driving innovations in sustainable energy and process intensification, fostering industrial-academic partnerships worldwide. 💡 Let’s collaborate to develop efficient, scalable, and sustainable energy solutions!

Subject Matter Expertise

• ☆ Chemical Engineering
• ☆ Reactor Design
• ☆ Fluid Mechanics
• ☆ Renewable Energy
• ☆ Process Engineering
• ☆ Technical & Scientific Writing
• ☆ Experimental Protocols
• ☆ Project Management

Services

• Writing

Writing Technical Writing

Work Experience

Associate Professor

Comsats University Islamabad, Lahore Campus

May 2023 - Present

Assistant Professor

COMSTAS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus

March 2018 - April 2023

Affiliated Staff

University of Glasgow

April 2018 - April 2020

Post-Doctoral Research Associate

University of Glasgow

August 2015 - March 2018

Assistant Professor

COMSATS Institute of Information Technology - MA Jinnah Campus

July 2013 - July 2015

Research Officer

University Technology Petronas

January 2009 - July 2013

Lecturer

COMSATS Institute of Information Technology - MA Jinnah Campus

September 2006 - January 2009

Research Assistant

Promeos GmbH, Erlangen, Germany

September 2003 - December 2005

Education

PhD in Chemical Engineering (Chemical Engineering )

Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS

January 2009 - July 2013

MSc in Chemical Engineering (Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBI))

Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

October 2002 - January 2006

BSc Chemical Engineering (Chemical Engineering )

University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar

March 1997 - September 2001

Certifications

• Senior Member

  International Association of Carbon Capture

  May 2023 - Present

• Approved PhD Supervisor

  Higher Education Commission (HEC)

  July 2015 - Present

• Lifetime -Certified Professional Engineer

  Pakistan Engineering Council

  October 2002 - Present

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Razia Talib, Zakir Khan, Shahzad Khurram, Abrar Inayat, Khurram Shahzad, Ian A. Watson (2024). Efficiency enhancement of a combined cycle power plant by thermal integration of multiple waste heat streams with organic Rankine cycle . Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering.

Naila Amin, Zakir Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Moinuddin Ghauri, Shahzad Khurram, Abrar Inayat, Mujtaba Jaffery, Zeeshan Hameed (2024). Municipal solid waste air gasification using waste marble powder as a catalyst for syngas production . Journal of the Energy Institute.

Zeeshan Hameed, Zakir Khan, Shahzad Khurram, Abrar Inayat, Naila Amin, Muhammad Aslam, Ian Watson (2024). Co-gasification study of blends of municipal solid waste with sugarcane bagasse and rice husk using the Coats-Redfern method . Journal of the Energy Institute.

Energy efficiency enhancement of a thermal power plant by novel heat integration of Internal Combustion Engine, Boiler, and Organic Rankine Cycle Talib R, Khan Z, Khurram S, et al. Energy efficiency enhancement of a thermal power plant by novel heat integration of Internal Combustion Engine, Boiler, and Organic Rankine Cycle. Asia-Pac J Chem Eng. 2023;e3013. doi:10.1002/apj.3013 . Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering.

Inayat, Abrar, Jamil, Farrukh, Ahmed, Shams Forruque, Ayoub, Muhammad, Abdul, Peer Mohamed, Aslam, Muhammad, Mofijur, M., Khan, Zakir, Mustafa, Ahmad (2023). Thermal degradation characteristics, kinetic and thermodynamic analyses of date palm surface fibers at different heating rates . Fuel.

Farrukh Jamil, Muhammad Aslam, Ala’a H. Al-Muhtaseb, Awais Bokhari, Sikander Rafiq, Zakir Khan, Abrar Inayat, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shakhawat Hossain, Muhammad Shahzad Khurram, et al. (2022). Greener and sustainable production of bioethylene from bioethanol: current status, opportunities and perspectives . Reviews in Chemical Engineering.

Khan, Z., Kamble, P., Reza Check, G., DiLallo, T., O'Sullivan, W., Turner, E.D., Mackay, A., Blanco-Sanchez, P., Yu, X., Bridgwater, A., et al.(2022). Design, instrumentation, and operation of a standard downdraft, laboratory-scale gasification testbed utilising novel seed-propagated hybrid Miscanthus pellets . Applied Energy. 315.

Jamil, F., Aslam, M., Al-Muhtaseb, A.H., Bokhari, A., Rafiq, S., Khan, Z., Inayat, A., Ahmed, A., Hossain, S., Khurram, M.S., et al.(2022). Greener and sustainable production of bioethylene from bioethanol: Current status, opportunities and perspectives . Reviews in Chemical Engineering. 38. (2). p. 185-207.

Saeed, M., Zafar, M., Razzaq, A., Khan, S.A., Khan, Z., Kim, W.Y.(2022). Visible-Light-Active Zn–Fe Layered Double Hydroxide (LDH) for the Photocatalytic Conversion of Rice Husk Extract to Value-Added Products . Applied Sciences (Switzerland). 12. (5).

Abrar Inayat, Muhammad Shahbaz, Zakir Khan, Muddasser Inayat, M. Mofijur, S.F. Ahmed, Chaouki Ghenai, Anis A. Ahmad (2021). Heat integration modeling of hydrogen production from date seeds via steam gasification . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.

Nada El Darra, Fei Xie, Prashant Kamble, Zakir Khan, Ian Watson (2021). Decontamination of Escherichia coli on dried onion flakes and black pepper using Infra-red, ultraviolet and ozone hurdle technologies . Heliyon.

El Darra, N., Xie, F., Kamble, P., Khan, Z., Watson, I.(2021). Decontamination of Escherichia coli on dried onion flakes and black pepper using Infra-red, ultraviolet and ozone hurdle technologies . Heliyon. 7. (6).

Hameed, Z., Aslam, M., Khan, Z., Maqsood, K., Atabani, A.E., Ghauri, M., Khurram, M.S., Rehan, M., Nizami, A.-S.(2021). Gasification of municipal solid waste blends with biomass for energy production and resources recovery: Current status, hybrid technologies and innovative prospects . Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 136.

Inayat, A., Khan, Z., Aslam, M., Shahbaz, M., Ahmad, M.M., Abdul Mutalib, M.I., Yusup, S.(2021). Integrated adsorption steam gasification for enhanced hydrogen production from palm waste at bench scale plant . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 46. (59). p. 30581-30591.

Naqvi, S.R., Tariq, R., Shahbaz, M., Naqvi, M., Aslam, M., Khan, Z., Mackey, H., Mckay, G., Al-Ansari, T.(2021). Recent developments on sewage sludge pyrolysis and its kinetics: Resources recovery, thermogravimetric platforms, and innovative prospects . Computers and Chemical Engineering. 150.

Inayat, A., Shahbaz, M., Khan, Z., Inayat, M., Mofijur, M., Ahmed, S.F., Ghenai, C., Ahmad, A.A.(2021). Heat integration modeling of hydrogen production from date seeds via steam gasification . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 46. (59). p. 30592-30605.

Muhammad Shahbaz, Tareq Al-Ansari, Muhammad Aslam, Zakir Khan, Abrar Inayat, Muhammad Athar, Salman Raza Naqvi, Muahammad Ajaz Ahmed, Gordon McKay(2020). A state of the art review on biomass processing and conversion technologies to produce hydrogen and its recovery via membrane separation . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 45. (30). p. 15166--15195. Elsevier {BV}

Naila Amin, Muhammad Suleman Tahir, Mehmood Saleem, Zakir Khan, Muhammad Aslam, Aqeel Ahmed Bazmi, Moinuddin Ghauri, Muhammad Sagir (2020). Rheological improvement in performance of low‐rank coal–water slurries using novel cost‐effective additives . Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering.

Amin, N., Tahir, M.S., Saleem, M., Khan, Z., Aslam, M., Bazmi, A.A., Ghauri, M., Sagir, M.(2020). Rheological improvement in performance of low-rank coal–water slurries using novel cost-effective additives . Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering. 15. (1).

Inayat, A., Tariq, R., Khan, Z., Ghenai, C., Kamil, M., Jamil, F., Shanableh, A.(2020). A comprehensive review on advanced thermochemical processes for bio-hydrogen production via microwave and plasma technologies . Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery.

Watson, I., Kamble, P., Shanks, C., Khan, Z., El Darra, N.(2020). Decontamination of chilli flakes in a fluidized bed using combined technologies: Infrared, UV and ozone . Innovative Food Science and Emerging Technologies. 59.

Inayat, A., Raza, M., Khan, Z., Ghenai, C., Aslam, M., Shahbaz, M., Ayoub, M.(2020). Flowsheet Modeling and Simulation of Biomass Steam Gasification for Hydrogen Production . Chemical Engineering and Technology. 43. (4). p. 649-660.

Hafeez, A., Ammar Taqvi, S.A., Fazal, T., Javed, F., Khan, Z., Amjad, U.S., Bokhari, A., Shehzad, N., Rashid, N., Rehman, S., et al.(2020). Optimization on cleaner intensification of ozone production using Artificial Neural Network and Response Surface Methodology: Parametric and comparative study . Journal of Cleaner Production. 252.

Shahbaz, M., Al-Ansari, T., Aslam, M., Khan, Z., Inayat, A., Athar, M., Naqvi, S.R., Ahmed, M.A., McKay, G.(2020). A state of the art review on biomass processing and conversion technologies to produce hydrogen and its recovery via membrane separation . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 45. (30). p. 15166-15195.

Javed, F., Aslam, M., Rashid, N., Shamair, Z., Khan, A.L., Yasin, M., Fazal, T., Hafeez, A., Rehman, F., Rehman, M.S.U., et al.(2019). Microalgae-based biofuels, resource recovery and wastewater treatment: A pathway towards sustainable biorefinery . Fuel. 255.

Khan, Z., Yusup, S., Aslam, M., Inayat, A., Shahbaz, M., Raza Naqvi, S., Farooq, R., Watson, I.(2019). NO and SO₂ emissions in palm kernel shell catalytic steam gasification with in-situ CO₂ adsorption for hydrogen production in a pilot-scale fluidized bed gasification system . Journal of Cleaner Production. 236.

Zakir Khan, Suzana Yusup, Prashant Kamble, Muhammad Naqvi, Ian Watson(2018). Assessment of energy flows and energy efficiencies in integrated catalytic adsorption steam gasification for hydrogen production . Applied Energy. 225. p. 346--355. Elsevier {BV}

Khan, Z., Yusup, S., Kamble, P., Naqvi, M., Watson, I.(2018). Assessment of energy flows and energy efficiencies in integrated catalytic adsorption steam gasification for hydrogen production . Applied Energy. 225. p. 346-355.

Aslam, M., Ahmad, R., Yasin, M., Khan, A.L., Shahid, M.K., Hossain, S., Khan, Z., Jamil, F., Rafiq, S., Bilad, M.R., et al.(2018). Anaerobic membrane bioreactors for biohydrogen production: Recent developments, challenges and perspectives . Bioresource Technology. 269. p. 452-464.

Attique, S., Batool, M., Jalees, M.I., Shehzad, K., Farooq, U., Khan, Z., Ashraf, F., Shah, A.T.(2018). Highly efficient catalytic degradation of low-density polyethylene Using a novel tungstophosphoric acid/kaolin clay composite catalyst . Turkish Journal of Chemistry. 42. (3). p. 684-693.

Khan, Z., Yusup, S., Ahmad, M.M., Inayat, A., Naqvi, M., Sheikh, R., Watson, I.(2018). Integrated catalytic adsorption steam gasification in a bubbling fluidized bed for enhanced H₂ production: perspective of design and pilot plant experiences . Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining. 12. (5). p. 735-748.

Javed, U., Farooq, R., Shehzad, F., Khan, Z.(2018). Optimization of HNO₃ leaching of copper from old AMD Athlon processors using response surface methodology . Journal of Environmental Management. 211. p. 22-27.

Naqvi, M., Dahlquist, E., Yan, J., Naqvi, S.R., Nizami, A.S., Salman, C.A., Danish, M., Farooq, U., Rehan, M., Khan, Z., et al.(2018). Polygeneration system integrated with small non-wood pulp mills for substitute natural gas production . Applied Energy. 224. p. 636-646.

Inayat, A., Ahmad, M.M., Mutalib, M.I.A., Yusup, S., Khan, Z.(2017). Economic analysis and optimization for bio-hydrogen production from oil palm waste via steam gasification . Energy Sources, Part B: Economics, Planning and Policy. 12. (2). p. 158-165.

Muhammad, N., Gao, Y., Khan, M.I., Khan, Z., Rahim, A., Iqbal, F., khan, A.S., Iqbal, J.(2015). Effect of ionic liquid on thermo-physical properties of bamboo biomass . Wood Science and Technology. 49. (5). p. 897-913.

Sheikh, R., Shao, G.N., Khan, Z., Abbas, N., Kim, H.-T., Park, Y.-H.(2015). Esterification of oleic acid by heteropolyacid/TiO₂-SiO₂ catalysts synthesized from less expensive precursors . Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering. 10. (3). p. 339-346.

Khan, Z., Inayat, A., Yusup, S., Ahmad, M.M.(2015). Kinetic parameters determination using optimization approach in integrated catalytic adsorption steam gasification for hydrogen production . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 40. (29). p. 8824-8832.

Inayat, A., Ahmad, M.M., Mutalib, M.I.A., Yusup, S., Khan, Z.(2015). MINLP optimization for heat integration of bio-hydrogen production from palm waste . Journal of Engineering Science and Technology. 10. (Spec.issue7). p. 50-60.

Khan, Z., Yusup, S., Ahmad, M.M., Chin, B.L.F.(2014). Hydrogen production from palm kernel shell via integrated catalytic adsorption (ICA) steam gasification . Energy Conversion and Management. 87. p. 1224-1230.

Khan, Z., Yusup, S., Ahmad, M.M., Rashidi, N.A.(2014). Integrated catalytic adsorption (ICA) steam gasification system for enhanced hydrogen production using palm kernel shell . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 39. (7). p. 3286-3293.

Yusup, S., Khan, Z., Ahmad, M.M., Rashidi, N.A.(2014). Optimization of hydrogen production in in-situ catalytic adsorption (ICA) steam gasification based on response surface methodology . Biomass and Bioenergy. 60. p. 98-107.

Ahmed, T.Y., Ahmad, M.M., Yusup, S., Inayat, A., Khan, Z.(2012). Mathematical and computational approaches for design of biomass gasification for hydrogen production: A review . Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 16. (4). p. 2304-2315.

Khan, Z., Yusup, S., Murni Melati, A., Ramli, A., Mohammad Taufiq, A., Sharifah Shahidah, A., Mas Fatiha, M., Shi Eda, E.M., Inayat, A., Khan, Z., et al.(2011). Effect of steam and catalyst on palm oil wastes thermal decomposition for hydrogen production . Research Journal of Chemistry and Environment. 15. (2). p. 466-472.

CONFERENCE PAPER

Kamble, P., Khan, Z., Gillespie, M., Farooq, M., McCalmont, J., Donnison, I., Watson, I.(2019). Biomass gasification of hybrid seed Miscanthus in Glasgow's downdraft gasifier testbed system . Energy Procedia. 158. p. 1174-1181.

Kamble, P., Khan, Z., Gillespie, M., McCalmont, J., Donnison, I., Watson, I.(2018). Robust instrumentation and control systems for gasification of biomass . European Biomass Conference and Exhibition Proceedings. 2018. (26thEUBCE). p. 516-520.

Kamble, P., Khan, Z., Capper, S., Sharp, J., Watson, I.(2017). Improving downdraft gasifier stability by robust instrumentation and control systems . Energy Procedia. 142. p. 2214-2217.

Capper, S., Khan, Z., Kamble, P., Sharp, J., Watson, I.(2017). Progression towards Online Tar Detection Systems . Energy Procedia. 142. p. 892-897.

Khan, Z., Yusup, S., Kamble, P., Watson, I.(2017). Assessment of Energy Flows in Integrated Catalytic Adsorption (ICA) Steam Gasification for Hydrogen Production . Energy Procedia. 142. p. 1577-1581.

BOOK

Inayat, A., Ahmad, M.M., Mutalib, M.I.A., Yusup, S., Khan, Z.(2014). Mathematical modelling for hydrogen production from steam gasification of cellulose . Applied Mechanics and Materials. 625. p. 176-179.

Khan, Z., Yusup, S.S., Ahmad, M.M., Lai Fui, B.C.(2014). Performance study of Ni catalyst with quicklime (CaO) as CO₂ adsorbent in palm kernel shell steam gasification for hydrogen production . Advanced Materials Research. 917. p. 292-300.