Inspiring Minds seeks to broaden awareness and impact of graduate student research, while enhancing transferable skills. Students were challenged to describe their research, scholarship or creative activity in 150 or fewer words to share with our community.

Harnessing Waste for the Future: Upgrading Bio-oil into Sustainable Fuel

The energy crisis is a growing concern as our reliance on fossil fuels exacerbates the gap between supply and rising global demand. Canada, as the world's largest producer of lignocellulosic waste biomass, holds significant potential to address this challenge. Our research focuses on developing viable substitutes for conventional crude oil products, contributing to a more sustainable energy future. This biomass can be converted into bio-oil, which shares many characteristics with crude oil. Our study introduces a novel multiphase catalytic hydrodeoxygenation process that operates under mild conditions to remove oxygen atoms and improve the bio-oil’s stability for conventional use. We enhance this process by utilizing cost effective and abundant metals like Nickel, Titanium and Ruthenium. This approach not only increases hydrogen gas solubility and reduces consumption but also offers a more economically viable solution. Additionally, this process significantly lowers the carbon footprint, aligning with Canada’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions.

Reem Shomal
PhD candidate, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Faculty of Engineering - Western University

Supervisor
Ying Zheng (https://www.eng.uwo.ca/chemical/faculty/zheng_y/index.html)

Reem Shomal is a PhD candidate at Western University in Canada since 2022. She graduated with honors from the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), where she completed both her bachelor’s and master's degrees in chemical engineering. During her master’s studies, Reem focused on producing biodiesel from algae as a renewable energy source, significantly contributing to enzyme technology advancement. Her exceptional work in this field led to multiple publications in prestigious journals and collaborative projects with Asian funding partners. Reem has completed numerous training programs as a process engineer in the UAE. This practical experience has further enhanced her research capabilities and applied skills. Currently, Reem’s research emphasizes the upgrading of bio-fuels derived from lignocellulosic waste biomass under mild reaction conditions. She is developing novel catalysts and process reactions, integrating artificial intelligence to optimize these processes for industrial applications. Her primary objective is to transition these technological advancements into widespread industrial use, ultimately reducing the carbon footprint through greener, more sustainable technologies. Beyond her research, Reem is a passionate advocate for women in engineering. She actively participates in initiatives designed to promote and empower women in STEM fields. As a testament to her expertise and commitment to the academic community, she serves as a reviewer for MDPI and Springer journals. Reem is also dedicated to her professional development, continuously refining her teaching and research methodologies through various specialized courses.

You can connect with Reem on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/reem-shomal-085610139/.

View Reem's work as it appears in the Inspiring Minds Digital Collection: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/579/.