Department: Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Research Field: Biochar and Nanocomposite Materials, Water and Wastewater treatment
Emails: m.akramsathio@njfu.eu.cn and m.akramsathio37@gmail.com
Resume:
Dr. Muhammad Akram is an Associate Professor at the College of Material Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China. He earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Science & Engineering from Shandong University, China, and has extensive postdoctoral research experience at Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, and Shandong University. Dr. Akram’s research focuses on biochar-based nanocomposites, wastewater treatment technologies, adsorption, electrochemistry, and catalytic degradation of pollutants. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed research articles and book chapters, served as a guest editor and reviewer for numerous international journals, and actively contributes to advancing sustainable water remediation and environmental engineering.
Research Interests
· Nutrients, anions, and heavy metal removal (adsorption & coagulation)
· Development of nanomaterials and catalysts for water treatment
· Preparation of various types of Biochar nanocomposite material
· Environmental behavior of engineered nanoparticles
· Electrocatalytic oxidation and electrodeposition-electrodialysis
· Catalytic chemistry with novel heterogeneous catalysts
· Exploring emerging research areas in environmental and chemical engineering
Papers and monographs:
1. Muhammad Akram, Zahira Banu, Seerat ul Ain Bhutto,el at,. Sustainable Synthesis of Ce/La bionanocomposite from Citrus limon for pollutant removal: Performance and regeneration studies. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 2025 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2025.115042 (I.F 5.6)
2. Muhammad Akram, Zahira Banu, Seerat ul Ain Bhutto,el at,. Enhanced nickel (II) removal from aqueous media using magnesium-Punica granatum linn based adsorbent: Mechanism and performance, Journal of Molecular Liquids, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2025.127808 (I.F 5.3).
3. Muhammad Akram, Zahira Banu, Seerat ul Ain Bhutto,el at,. Highly efficient nickel recovery from industrial wastewater via synergistic electrodeposition and electrocatalytic oxidation technique, Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2024.112830 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2024.112830 (I.F 7.3).
4. Muhammad Akram, Seerat Ul A Bhutto, S Aftab, F Wang, Xing Xu, Mingzhu Xia, Ruthenium based with carbon supported catalysts for the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural: A review, NanoEnergy Volume117, 108808,(2023) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2023.108808 (I.F 17.6).
5. Muhammad Akram, B. Gao, J. Pan, R. Khan, M.A. Inam, X. Xu, K. Guo, Q. Yue, Enhanced removal of phosphate using pomegranate peel-modified nickel lanthanum hydroxide, Science of The Total Environment, (2021) 151181. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969721062598 (I.F 9.8)
6. Muhammad Akram, Xing Xu, Baoyu Gao, et al. “Highly efficient removal of phosphate from aqueous media by pomegranate peel co-doping with ferric chloride and lanthanum hydroxide nanoparticles”. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2020, 125311. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652620353567 (I.F 11.1)
7. Muhammad Akram, Xing Xu, Baoyu Gao, Qinyan Yue, Shang Yanan, Rizwan Khan, and Muhammad Ali Inam. "Adsorptive removal of phosphate by the bimetallic hydroxide nanocomposites embedded in pomegranate peel." Journal of Environmental Sciences 91 (2020): 189-198. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1001074220300358 (I.F 6.9)
8. Zahira Banu, Muhammad Akram, et al. Effective removal of phosphate using La(OH)3@Magnetic graphene: A sustainable approach for water remediation, Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2024.114058 (I.F 7.3).
9. Seerat ul Ain Bhutto, Muhammad Akram, Probabilistic risk assessment of microplastics in Tai lake, China, Science of The Total Environment, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.169965 (I.F 9.8).
10. Zahira B, Muhammad Akram, Naveed Z A, Muhammad U K, Fengyun W, Linrui L, Mingzhu X Sustainable porous graphene/Co-MOF for the removal of water pollutants: Combined theoretical and experimental studies, Journal of Water Processing and Engineering, 2024 10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.104982 (I.F 7).
11. Seerat ul Ain Bhutto, Muhammad Akram, Species sensitivity distributions of microplastics based on toxicity endpoints and particle characteristics: Implications of assessing ecological risk in Tai Lake, Environmental Pollution, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125505 (I.F 9.8).
12. Ahmed Uddin, Muhammad Bilal, Jinchen Qian, Muhammad Akram, Qingquan He, Enhancing dual functional oxygen-vacant Z-scheme 3D-ZnO/2D-oxygen doped g-C3N4 nanocomposites for efficient photocatalytic bisphenol A degradation and CO2 reduction, 2025, Separation and Purification Technology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.133420 (I.F: 9.0)
13. Muhammad Kashif Majeed, Arshad Hussain, Muhammad Akram, Muhammad Umar Majeed, Muhammad Arshad, Adil Saleem, Rashid Iqbal, Linker-Functionalized Zr-Based UiO-66 Metal-Organic Frameworks: Tuning Acidity for Enhanced Catalytic Dimerization of Cyclohexanone, 2025 ChemNanoMat 11(5) DOI: 10.1002/cnma.202500026 (IF 3.6)
14. Xinyu Y, Bing H, Mingjing S, Muhammad Akram, Xinxin L, Lei W, JPan, Modulation of calcination conditions on the defluorination performance of nano Ce-based adsorbents: The key roles of Ce valence state and oxygen vacancy, 501, 157654, 2024 Chemical Engineering Journal https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.157654 (I.F 13.3).
15. Taozhen Li, X Wang, Z Fan, X Wang, Z Wu, Muhammad Akram, J Pan, Baoyu Gao, Unique role of doped Mo into Fe-based catalyst to intensify peroxydisulfate activation for micropollutants degradation: Promote the conversion of SO4•- to FeIV = O, Chemical Engineering Journal, 500, 157255, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.157255 (I.F 13.3).
16. Bing Hou, X Yang, L Wang, T Shi, Muhammad Akram, L Wang, J Wan, Baoyu Gao, J Pan, Fe doping enhanced Cr(VI) adsorption efficiency of cerium-based adsorbents: Adsorption behaviors and inner removal mechanisms, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2024.06.036 (I.F 9.9).
17. Muhammad Y J Baloch, W Zhang, T Sultana, Muhammad Akram, B A, Al S, Md. Z K, M A Farooq, Utilization of sewage sludge to manage saline–alkali soil and increase crop production: Is it safe or not? Environmental Technology & Innovation (2023), volume 32, 103266, DOI: 10.1016/j.eti.2023.103266 (I.F 7.1).
18. Seerat ul ain Bhutto, Yi-fei Ma, Muhammad Akram, Xue-yi Youa Microplastics in Tai lake food web: Trophic transfer and human health risk assessment. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, 2023. 101: p. 104206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2023.104206 (I.F 4.3).
19. Jianfeng Li; Shenglong Ding; Huacheng Zhao; Jingfang Kou; Muhammad Akram; Manhua Xu; Wu Gao; Chuang Liu; Huangruoyin Yang, Zhengping Dong*, Pt clusters anchored on sulfur-doped ordered mesoporous carbon for chemoselective hydrogenation of halogenated nitroarenes, Journal of Colloid And Interface Science (2022) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2022.06.052 (I.F 9.9)
20. Anand P, N. Solangi, Tahir H, Ge Zhang, Muhammad Akram, S Ali,, Review—Heteroatom-Doped High Porous Carbon Metal Free Nanomaterials for Energy Storage and Conversion, The Electrochemical Society ("ECS") ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology, (2022), Volume 11, Number 9, DOI: 10.1149/2162-8777/ac8dbe .(I.F 2.07).
21. Yuanfeng Qi, Jing Li, Yanqing Zhang, Qi Cao, Yanmei Si, Zhiren Wu, Muhammad Akram, Xing Xu. “Novel Lignin-based single atom catalyats as peroxymonosulfate activator for pollutants degradation: role of subgle cobalt and electron transfer pathway “ Applied Catalysis B: Environmental 2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2021.119910 (I.F 22.1)
22. Jingwen Pan; Y Gao; P Duan; K Guo; Baoyu Gao; Muhammad Akram; Xing Xu; Qinyan Yue, In-situ Cu-doped carbon-supported catalysts applied for high-salinity polycarbonate plant wastewater treatment and a coupling application, Chemical Engineering Journal (2021) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2021.129441 (I.F 13.3)
23. Jingwen Pan, Baoyu Gao, P Duan, K Guo, Muhammad Akram, Xing Xu, Qinyan Yue, Yue Gao, Improving peroxymonosulfate activation by copper ion-saturated adsorbent-based single atom catalysts for the degradation of organic contaminants: electron-transfer mechanism and the key role of Cu single atoms. Journal of Material Chemistry A (2021). DOI: 10.1039/d1ta02237g (I.F 11.9)
24. Pijun Duan, X Liu, Binhua Liu, Muhammad Akram, Y Li, Jingwen Pan, Qinyan Yue, Baoyu Gao, Xing Xu, Effect of phosphate on peroxymonosulfate activation: Accelerating generation of sulfate radical and underlying mechanism. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2021.120532 (I.F 22.1)
25. M.A. Inam, R. Khan, K.H. Lee, Muhammad Akram, Z. Ahmed, K.G. Lee, Y.M. Wie, Adsorption Capacities of Iron Hydroxide for Arsenate and Arsenite Removal from Water by Chemical Coagulation: Kinetics, Thermodynamics and Equilibrium Studies, Molecules, 26 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26227046 (I.F 4.6)
26. M Ali Inam, R Khan, Ick Tae Yeom, Abdul S B, Muhammad Akram and Muhammad Waleed Inam “Optimization of Antimony Removal by Coagulation-Flocculation-Sedimentation Process Using Response Surface Methodology” Processes 2021, https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9010117 (I.F 3.5)
27. Liu, Y., T. Sun, Q. Su, Y. Tang, X. Xu, Muhammad Akram and B. Jiang. "Highly efficient and mild electrochemical degradation of bentazon by nano-diamond doped PbO2 anode with reduced Ti nanotube as the interlayer." Journal of Colloid and Interface Science (2020) 575: 254-264. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021979720305488 (I.F 9.9)
28. Yuanfeng Qi, B Ge, Y Zhang, Bo Jiang, C Wang, Muhammad Akram, X Xu "Three-dimensional porous graphene-like biochar derived from Enteromorpha as a persulfate activator for sulfamethoxazole degradation: role of graphitic N and radicals transformation." Journal of Hazardous Materials. (2020) .123039. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304389420310281 (I.F 13.6)
29. Hongbing Dan, Nan Li, Xing Xu, Yue Gao, Ying Huang, Muhammad Akram, Weiyan Yin, Baoyu Gao, Qinyan Yue. “Mechanism of sonication time on structure and adsorption properties of 3D \peanut shell/graphene oxide aerogel” Science of the Total Environment (2020). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720335038 (I.F 9.8)
30. Rizwan Khan, Muhammad Ali Inam, Sarfaraz Khan, Muhammad Akram, Ick Tae Yeom: Effect of Dissolved Organic Matter on Agglomeration and Removal of Commercial CuO Nanoparticles by Coagulation. Processes. (2019) 739, 139983. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7070455 (I.F 3.5)
31. Muhammad Ali Inam, Rizwan Khan, Muhammad Akram, Sarfaraz Khan, Ick Tae Yeom: Effect of Water Chemistry on Antimony Removal by Chemical Coagulation: Implications of ζ-potential and Size of Precipitates. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019. 20(12), 2945. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20122945 (I.F 5.6)
32. Rizwan Khan, Muhammad Ali Inam, Muhammad Akram, Saba Zam Zam, Sookyo Shin, Ick Tae Yeom: Coagulation and Dissolution of CuO Nanoparticles in the Presence of Dissolved Organic Matter Under Different pH Values. Sustainability 2019, 10, 2825. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102825 (I.F 3.9)
33. Muhammad Ali Inam, Rizwan Khan, Muhammad Akram, Sarfaraz Khan, Du Ri Park, Ick Tae Yeom: Interaction of Arsenic Species with Organic Ligands: Competitive Removal from Water by Coagulation-Flocculation-Sedimentation (C/F/S). Molecules 2019, https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24081619 (I.F 4.6)
34. Rizwan Khan, Muhammad Ali Inam, Sarfaraz Khan, Muhammad Akram, Du Park, Ick Tae Yeom: The Removal of CuO Nanoparticles from Water by Conventional Treatment C/F/S: The Effect of pH and Natural Organic Matter. Molecules 2019, 24, 914. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24050914 (I.F 4.6)
35. Rizwan Khan, M A Inam, Du Park, Saba Z Z, Sookyo S, Sarfaraz K, Muhammad Akram, Ick Yeom: I. Influence of Organic Ligands on the Colloidal Stability and Removal of ZnO Nanoparticles from Synthetic Waters by Coagulation. Processes 2018, 6, 170. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr6090170 (I.F 3.5)
36. Seerat ul ain Bhutto, Muhammad Akram, Xue-yi You, 27th-28th May 2024 “Species Sensitivity Distributions of Microplastics In Tai Lake Based On Toxicity Endpoints And Mps Characteristics” at International Conference on Environmental, Biological, Ecological Sciences and Engineering (ICEBESE-24), Nanjing, China
Book Chapters
1. Muhammad Akram, Seerat Ul A Bhutto, S Aftab, Xing Xu, Chapter 21 Nanocomposites for Removal and Degradation of Organic Pollutants, In book: Modern Nanotechnology, Springer Nature (2023) DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-31111-6_21
2. Kamal Kishore, C Yi Hsu, S Sridhara, J O Odongo, Muhammad Akram, Chapter 1, Fundamentals of Nanotechnology for Environmental Engineering, In book: Modern Nanotechnology, Springer Nature, (2023), DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-31111-6_1
3. Sindhu L, Mangi SS, Muhammad Akram, Mangi HN, Song Y, Li L, Cui H, Guo W and Men X, 2023. Risk assessment for anthropogenic socioecological drivers of zoonotic diseases and possible controls. In: Khan A, Rasheed M and Abbas RZ (eds), Zoonosis, Unique Scientific Publishers, Faisalabad, Pakistan, Book Chapter, Vol. I: 54-73. https://doi.org/10.47278/book.zoon/2023.005
Professional International Training & Certification
§ “Earth Observation for Sustainable Development in Developing Countries” (Online). Organized by AIRCAS, CODATA-PASTD, SERVIR-HKH and ICIMOD, (19th to 30th October 2020).
§ One Month Internship at Habib Sugar Mills Nawabshah. (2010)
In the training, the Biogas Plant, CO recovery plant, Boiler area, Turbine area, and sugar making process.
§ Internship at Environmental Protection Agency Hyderabad (EPA) (2011)
During the training, visited, audited, and monitored many industries in the Hyderabad site area.
§ Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) Registration Number: Enviro/247
Conferences & Certification
§ 10-hour Online course on “Water use and the water cycle” The Open University UK. 2020
§ 15-hour Online course on “Water for Life” The Open University UK. 2020.
§ Participant, Shanghai Cooperation Organization Youth (SCO-Y) Event (2018)
§ Non-Destructive Techniques of Concrete Construction for their Economic Repair and Rehabilitation (PEC) 2015.
§ 6TH International Conference On Alternative Energy and Power-2012
§ NVQ Occupational Safety and Health Qualification and IOSH Membership Workshop. 2012
§ Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment. 2012
§ Role of Energy Resources in Sustainability of Environment 2012.
§ 5TH International Conference On Alternative Energy and Power-2011
§ Energy Crises and its Solutions 2011
§ Cost Reduction through Energy Audit 2010
§ National Youth Summit 2010.
Service and Professional Associations
§ Guest Editor — Materials (MDPI)
Serving as Guest Editor for the Special Issue “Carbon-Based Novel Materials for Wastewater Treatment.” Responsibilities include managing the editorial workflow, performing pre-check evaluations, coordinating peer review, inviting high-quality submissions, and ensuring scientific accuracy and quality. The Special Issue focuses on carbon-based nanomaterials for advanced wastewater purification, integrating materials science with environmental engineering.
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials/special_issues/EMT8W5SLN4
§ Editorial Board Member,
The Open Environmental Research Journal (Bentham Science Publishers)
Selected as an Editorial Board Member responsible for reviewing manuscripts within my research expertise, providing editorial recommendations, advising on journal policies, and contributing to the development of thematic issues. The role also includes journal promotion, encouraging high-quality submissions, and representing the journal in academic events and conferences.
https://openenvironmentalresearchjournal.com/editorial-board.php
§ International Advisory Board Member
Journal of Medical and Health Allied Sciences (AJMAHS)
https://ajmahs.com.pk/editorial_board.php
§ Reviewer: Chemical Engineering Journal, Journal of Cleaner Production, Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Powder Technology, Membrane Wastewater Treatment, Journal of Desalination and Water Purification. Biotechnology and Bioengineering-Wiley, QUEST Research Journal, Annals of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Journal of Manufacturing Processes, MDPI: Membranes, Processes, Molecules, IJERPH and +7
Courses taught:
Research Methods and Writing (Postgraduate)