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Dr Tarek Rashwan

Profile summary

  • Central Academic Staff
  • Lecturer in Sustainability and the Smart Environment
  • Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
  • School of Engineering & Innovation
  • tarek.rashwan

Web links

Professional biography

Currently seeking PhD students interested in a low-carbon, clean, and circular economy: e.g., waste to energy, environmental remediation, resource recovery!
Current PhD opportunities:
Life from fire?
Pushed to the Extreme

Current PhD Students
Fatemeh Khodaparastan: Exploring biochar production in applied smouldering systems
Harri Williams: Modelling hydrogen storage using an alternative cushion gas
Marc Cochrane: Assessment of technological pathways for international transport of hydrogen 

Alongside students and collaborators, I'm currently researching a range of environmental engineering topics that support a low-carbon, clean, and circular economy - such as assessing hydrogeological conditions for safe used nuclear fuel storage, large-scale hydrogen storage and transport systems, and furthering the scientific understanding of a novel thermochemical waste-to-energy technique based on smouldering combustion.  These projects primarily focus on understanding mass and energy balance dynamics - often in porous media systems - via experimental, analytical, and numerical methods.  I am concurrently an Honorary Lecturer at University College London, hold a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a specialization in Environment & Sustainability from The University of Western Ontario, and I am a registered professional engineer in Ontario, Canada.

Research interests

Below are two image links to videos summarizing current research activities.

 

The following image link is to SPLICE: Sustainable Processes Linked for an Integrated Circular Economy.  This is an Open Societal Challenges project linked to my team's core research activities. 
 

Please see this story on our 2023 research meeting, SPLICE 2023.

Teaching interests

I am engaged in supporting the presentation and production of various engineering and environmental & sustainability courses, including

Impact and engagement

My team and I engage frequently in external events.

See an example event below with myself and colleagues alongside OU PhD students Harri Williams and Marc Cochrane.  This panel discussion was on hydrogen in the UK and a part of Energy Security & Green Infrastructure Week 2023.

This online case study highlights a successful project alongside local leader on electric vehicle component design, Saietta.

 

This is a photo of team members supporting a local science outreach programme that promotes women leadership in STEM, Soapbox Science. My PhD student Fatemeh Khodaparastan participated in Soapboxscience 2024.  Wonderful event for a terrific initiative!

External collaborations

I am keen to host collaborators at the OU. Below is a YouTube video of a very special lecture delivered by Prof. Bejan (Duke University) from his visit to the OU with an introduction from Prof. Torero (University College London)!

I have many long-standing collaborations with colleagues accross the UK - e.g., University College London, The University of Edinburgh, The University of Strathclyde - and internationally - e.g., Western University (Canada), York University (Canada), Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (Chile), Federal University of Espírito Santo (Brazil), Xi'an University of Science and Technology (China), and China University of Mining and Technology (China). In addition, I collaborate frequently with multiple industry partners, including Nuclear Waste Management Organization, Geosyntec Consultants, Saietta, Elentec, Ragn Sells, and the leading smouldering technology provider Savron.

Externally funded projects

Using smouldering combustion as a novel, energy-efficient technique to recycle electric drive trains
RoleStart dateEnd dateFunding source
Lead01 Feb 202331 Jul 2023Saietta Group PLC
Using smouldering combustion as a novel, energy-efficient technique to recycle electric drive trains
RoleStart dateEnd dateFunding source
Co-investigator01 Feb 202331 Jul 2023Saietta Group PLC

Publications

Quantifying oxygen diffusion during thermal degradation of combustible porous media (2024-12)
Hou, Fei; Zhong, Xiaoxing; Zanoni, Marco A.B.; Rashwan, Tarek L. and Torero, José L.
Applied Thermal Engineering, 257, Article 124219(Part A)

Fuel mobility dynamics and their influence on applied smouldering systems (2024-12)
Miry, Seyed Ziaedin; Zanoni, Marco A.B.; Rashwan, Tarek L.; Kinsman, Laura; Torero, José L. and Gerhard, Jason I.
Combustion and Flame, 270, Article 113789

Smoldering ignition of wet combustible materials (2024-07-01)
Wang, Jiahao; Zanoni, Marco A.B.; Rashwan, Tarek L.; Torero, José L. and Gerhard, Jason I.
Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 40, Article 105448(1-4)

Multi-step scheme and thermal effects of coal smouldering under various oxygen-limited conditions (2024-07)
Hou, Fei; Zhong, Xiaoxing; Zanoni, Marco A.B.; Rashwan, Tarek L. and Torero, José L.
Energy, 299, Article 131421

Hydrogen - rich syngas derived from smouldering biomass and hydrocarbon wastes (2024-06-27)
Brown, Joshua K.; Rashwan, Tarek L. and Gerhard, Jason I.
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 72 (pp. 839-849)

Effect of compaction on bisulfide diffusive transport through MX-80 bentonite (2024-05-02)
Chowdhury, F.; Rashwan, T. L.; Mondal, P.; Behazin, M.; Keech, P. G.; Sharma, J. S. and Krol, M.
Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 264, Article 104341

Downward water mobility in applied smoldering (2024)
Wang, Jiahao; Zanoni, Marco A.B.; Rashwan, Tarek L.; Torero, José L. and Gerhard, Jason I.
Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 40, Article 105234(1-4)

Investigation of applied smouldering in different conditions: The effect of oxygen mass flux (2023-11)
Miry, Seyed Ziaedin; Zanoni, Marco A.B.; Rashwan, Tarek L.; Torero, José L. and Gerhard, Jason I.
Fuel Processing Technology, 250

Elucidating the characteristic energy balance evolution in applied smouldering systems (2023-06-15)
Rashwan, Tarek L.; Zanoni, Marco A.B.; Wang, Jiahao; Torero, José L. and Gerhard, Jason I.
Energy, 273, Article 127245

Modelling oxygen-limited and self-sustained smoldering propagation: Thermochemical treatment of food waste in an inert porous medium (2023-05-20)
Song, Zeyang; Zanoni, Marco A.B. and Rashwan, Tarek L.
Chemical Engineering Journal, 468

Smouldering to treat PFAS in sewage sludge (2023-04-19)
Fournie, T.; Rashwan, T. L.; Switzer, C. and Gerhard, J. I.
Waste Management, 164 (pp. 219-227)

Applied smouldering for co-waste management: Benefits and trade-offs (2023-02)
Rashwan, Tarek L; Fournie, Taryn; Green, Megan; Duchesne, Alexandra L.; Brown, Joshua K.; Grant, Gavin P.; Torero, José L. and Gerhard, Jason I.
Fuel Processing Technology, 240, Article 107542

Investigating bisulfide sorption onto bentonite through laboratory batch experiments (2023)
Papry, Sifat Azad; Rashwan, Tarek L.; Mondal, Pulin; Behazin, Mehran; Keech, Peter G. and Krol, Magdalena
Applied Geochemistry, Article 105626(152)

Investigation of multi-dimensional transfer effects in applied smouldering systems: A 2D numerical modelling approach (2022-12)
Miry, Seyed Ziaedin; Zanoni, Marco A.B.; Rashwan, Tarek L.; Torero, José L. and Gerhard, Jason I.
Combustion and Flame, 246, Article 112385

Exploring PCDD/Fs and potentially toxic elements in sewage sludge during smouldering treatment (2022-09-01)
Fournie, T.; Rashwan, T. L.; Switzer, C.; Grant, G. P. and Gerhard, J. I.
Journal of Environmental Management, 317, Article 115384

Exploring the governing transport mechanisms of corrosive agents in a Canadian deep geological repository (2022-07-01)
Rashwan, Tarek; Asad, Md. Abdullah; Molnar, Ian L.; Behazin, Mehran; Keech, Peter G. and Krol, Magdalena M.
Science of The Total Environment, 828, Article 153944

Phosphorus recovery and reuse potential from smouldered sewage sludge ash (2022)
Fournie, T.; Rashwan, T. L.; Switzer, C. and Gerhard, J. I.
Waste Management, 137 (pp. 241-252)

Scaling up self-sustained smouldering of sewage sludge for waste-to-energy (2021-11)
Rashwan, Tarek L.; Fournie, Taryn; Torero, José L.; Grant, Gavin P. and Gerhard, Jason I.
Waste Management, 135 (pp. 298-308)

The improved energy efficiency of applied smouldering systems with increasing scale (2021-10)
Rashwan, Tarek L.; Torero, José L. and Gerhard, Jason I.
International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 177, Article 121548

Heat losses in applied smouldering systems: Sensitivity analysis via analytical modelling (2021-06)
Rashwan, Tarek L.; Torero, José L. and Gerhard, Jason I.
International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 172, Article 121150

Heat losses in a smouldering system: The key role of non-uniform air flux (2021-05)
Rashwan, Tarek L.; Torero, José L. and Gerhard, Jason I.
Combustion and Flame, 227 (pp. 309-321)

Processes defining smouldering combustion: Integrated review and synthesis (2020-11)
Torero, José L.; Gerhard, Jason I.; Martins, Marcio F.; Zanoni, Marco A.B.; Rashwan, Tarek L. and Brown, Joshua K.
Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 81, Article 100869

Application of self-sustaining smouldering combustion for the destruction of wastewater biosolids (2016-04)
Rashwan, Tarek; Gerhard, Jason I. and Grant, Gavin P.
Waste Management, 50 (pp. 201-212)

Investigating Bisulphide Sorption onto Bentonite: Methodology Development and Design of Batch Experiments (2024-05-24)
Papry, S. A.; Rashwan, T. L.; Mondal, P.; Behazin, M.; Keech, P. G. and Krol, M.
In : Proceedings of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering Annual Conference 2023 (24-27 May 2024, Moncton, New Brunswick) (pp. 63-74)

SPLICE: Dye Hard - Bioremediation of Heavy Metals and Dye Degradation in Wastewater Via Microbes (2024)
Kingston, Ryan; Tatton, Ben; Rashwan, Tarek and Macey, Michael
In : The 2024 Geomicrobiology Network Research In Progress Meeting (02 Oct 2024, University of Glasgow, UK)

Measuring Key Parameters Governing Anion Transport Through Mx-80 Bentonite (2023)
Chowdhury, F.; Rashwan, T. L.; Papry, S. A.; Behazin, M.; Keech, P. G.; Mondal, P.; Sharma, J. and Krol, M.
In : Canadian Society of Civil Engineering Annual Conference 2021 (26-29 May 2021, Online) (pp. 547-558)