A notable achievement has been reached by Dr. Wael Hamd, an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering (FOE) at the University of Balamand (UOB), with the publication of a groundbreaking new paper in the esteemed high impact Environmental Research journal by Elsevier. This achievement is a direct result of his participation in the CAT2023 conference in Valencia back in September 2023.

During the conference, Dr. Hamd had the chance to engage and collaborate with leading minds from prestigious academic institutions, including Dr. CV Paz from the Center of Excellence on Catalysis and Catalytic Reaction Engineering (CECC) at Chulalongkorn University's Department of Chemical Engineering in Bangkok, Thailand. This fruitful collaboration has led to significant advancements in the field of catalysis, underscoring the importance of international partnerships in driving innovative research.

It is worth mentioning that Chulalongkorn University, where Dr. CV Paz hails from, has been ranked as the top university in Thailand for an impressive 15 consecutive years by the QS World University Rankings 2025. Moreover, Chulalongkorn University proudly represents Thailand on the global stage, being the first Thai University ranking No. 1 in Asia for sustainability and global impact in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2021, along with securing the 17th position worldwide in 2023.

The published paper is entitled: “Analysis of Ag-DP25/PET plasmonic nano-composites as a visible-light photocatalyst for wastewater treatment: Experimental/theoretical studies and the DFT-MB degradation mechanism.” A set of photocatalytic nan-composites embedded with the polymeric binder poly (acrylonitrile-co-butadiene)-dicarboxy terminated (C7H9N) were performed and evaluated for wastewater treatment applications. The experimental/theoretical analysis aimed to offer an in-depth understanding of medium/surface interactions on decorated TiO2 materials, as well as how these interactions affect overall degradation behavior.

Vice President for Internationalization and Engagement and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Professor Rami Abboud congratulated Dr. Hamd for his new published paper stating: “Such international partnerships exemplify the impact of fostering connections across borders and institutions, ultimately driving applied progress and innovation in research. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in the Faculty of Engineering’s commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship.”

Paper Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38714221/

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