Ilman Nuran Zaini, Ph.D.

Research Interests

My primary research focus involves the development, utilization, and integration of low-carbon energy sources to reduce carbon emissions in challenging sectors. Specifically, a significant portion of my research is dedicated to the thermochemical conversion of biomass and waste into fossil-free fuels and chemicals, tailored for energy-intensive industries. I engage in diverse studies across various scales, ranging from lab-scale experiments to the comprehensive process modeling of energy systems.

Selected Publications

Decarbonising the iron and steel industries: Production of carbon-negative Direct Reduced Iron by using biosyngas.
I. N. Zaini, A. Nurdiawati, J. Gustavsson, W. Wei, H. Thunman, R. Gyllenram, P. Samuelsson, W. Yang
Energy Conversion and Management, 281, 116806 (2023)
H. Yang, A. Nurdiawati, R. Gond, S. Chen, B. Tang, Y. Jin, I.N. Zaini, Z. Shi, T. Han, W. Wang, A. Martin, R. Younesi, L. Sandström, P. Jönsson, W. Yang. Carbon-negative valorization of biomass waste into affordable green hydrogen and battery anodes. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, in press (2023)
Advanced application of geometry-enhanced 3D-printed catalytic reformer for syngas production.
J. J. B. Caballero, T. Han, R. Svanberg, I. N. Zaini, H. Yang, R. Gond, P. Cao, T. Lewin, P. G. Jönsson, W. Yang
Energy Conversion and Management, 287, 117071 (2023)
Towards fossil-free steel: Life cycle assessment of biosyngas-based direct reduced iron (DRI) production process.
A. Nurdiawati, I. N. Zaini, W. Wei, R. Gyllenram, W. Yang, P. Samuelsson
Journal of Cleaner Production, 393, 136262 (2023)
A pilot-scale test of plasma torch application for decarbonising the steel reheating furnaces.
I. N. Zaini, R. Svanberg, D. Sundberg, K. Bölke, J. Granqvist, C. Lille, N. Tarantino, W. Yang
Thermal Science and Engineering Progress, 40, 101766 (2023)
Production of H2-rich syngas from excavated landfill waste through steam co-gasification with biochar.
I. N. Zaini, Y. Gomez-Rueda, C. García López, D. K. Ratnasari, L. Helsen, T. Pretz, P. G. Jönsson, W. Yang
Energy, 207, 118208 (2020)
Characterization of pyrolysis products of high-ash excavated-waste and its char gasification reactivity and kinetics under a steam atmosphere.
I. N. Zaini, C. García López, T. Pretz, W. Yang, P. G. Jönsson
Waste Management, 97, 149-163 (2019)
Cogeneration of power and H2 by steam gasification and syngas chemical looping of macroalgae.
I. N. Zaini, A. Nurdiawati, M. Aziz
Applied Energy, 207, 134-145 (2017)

Education

Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, 2021
M.Eng., Environmental Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan, 2016
B.Eng., Mechanical Engineering, Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia, 2013

Professional Profile

2023-present: Postdoctoral Fellow at CCRC, KAUST, Saudi Arabia
2021-2023: Postdoctoral researcher at Department of Materials Science and Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden
2016-2017: Research assistant, Advanced Energy System Center, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan

KAUST Affiliations

Clean Combustion Research Center (CCRC)
Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering (PSE)

Research Interests Keywords

Industrial Decarbonization Thermochemical Conversion Bioenergy Waste-to-Energy Electrification Process Modeling and Simulation