Muhammad Bilal Asif

Research Interests

I am an environmental engineer and a membrane technologist. My research is in the general area of the water-energy nexus. My current research interests include the design and development of innovative nanomaterials for membrane fabrication, heterogenous catalysis and sorption with the overall aim to generate clean water, destruct micropollutants of emerging concern, and/or recover metals and nutrients.

Selected Publications

Asif, M.B., Zhang, S., Qiu, L. and Zhang, Z., 2022. Ultrahigh-permeance functionalized boron nitride membrane for nanoconfined heterogeneous catalysis. Chem Catalysis (Cell Press), 2(3), 550-562.
Asif, M.B., Kang, H. and Zhang, Z., 2022. Gravity-driven layered double hydroxide nanosheet membrane activated peroxymonosulfate system for micropollutant degradation. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 425, 127988.
Asif, M.B., Iftekhar, S., Maqbool, T., Paramanik, B.K., Tabraiz, S., Sillanpää, M. and Zhang, Z., 2021. Two-dimensional nanoporous and lamellar membranes for water purification: Reality or a myth? Chemical Engineering Journal, 432, 134335.
Asif, M.B., Ji, B., Maqbool, T. and Zhang, Z., 2021. Algogenic organic matter fouling alleviation in membrane distillation by peroxymonosulfate (PMS): Role of PMS concentration and activation temperature. Desalination, 516, 115225.
Asif, M.B., Hou, J., Price, W.E., Chen, V. and Hai, F.I., 2020. Removal of trace organic contaminants by enzymatic membrane bioreactors: Role of membrane retention and biodegradation. Journal of Membrane Science, 611, 118345.

Education

2019 PhD., Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
2014 M.Sc., Environmental Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, ICT, Pakistan
2010 B.Sc., Environmental Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

Professional Profile

2022-present Postdoctoral fellow at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
2020-2022 Postdoctoral fellow at Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, China
2017-2019 Academic tutor at University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
2011-2016 Lecturer at University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila, Pakistan
2010-2011 Environmental Engineer at Euroconsult Pakistan Pvt. Ltd., Lahore, Pakistan

Scientific and Professional Membership

Membrane Society of Australasia (MSA)
Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC)

Awards

China Postdoctoral Science Foundation Fellowship Award (2021)
Excellent Postdoctoral award at Tsinghua University (2021)
Examiners’ commendation for Outstanding PhD Thesis (2019)
President’s Gold Medal for achieving a perfect GPA of 4.0/4.0 in M.Sc. degree (2014)
Dean's Honor Roll (3 Nos.) for distinction/extraordinary performance during B.Sc. degree (2006-10)
Research profile and the interview featured in IWA Water Reuse Specialist Group Newsletter (October,
2018)
Travel Award from Membrane Society of Australasia to attend The MSA Early Career Researcher Membrane Symposium (2019)
Cricket Premiership winner of Wollongong region

KAUST Affiliations

PSE - Physical and Engineering Division

Research Interests Keywords

Water treatment Environmental remediation membrane technology Nanocatalysts heterogenous catalysis