The Brief Story
Dr. Awais Khatri's research, development, consultancy, and commercialization efforts are deeply focused on sustainable textile manufacturing and processing, aligning strongly with SDG-12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). His work emphasizes resource-efficient production, environmentally responsible practices, and innovative solutions that drive sustainability in the textile industry.
His journey in sustainable textile processing began during his Ph.D. at the School of Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University Australia where he developed a safer and non-toxic formulation to replace hazardous chemicals used in cotton textile coloration and finishing. The innovative formulation for pad-steam dyeing with reactive dyes was successfully tested at Popular Fabric Pvt. Ltd. Karachi. Expanding this research, he explored emerging technologies like ultrasonication as sustainable alternatives to conventional dyeing, natural dye extraction and finishing methods.
Dr. Khatri has contributed extensively to this domain through scholarly publications, including research papers, books, book chapters, and postgraduate theses. His work has been published in top-tier journals such as Journal of Cleaner Production, Coloration Technology, Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, Journal of Natural Fibers, and Safety Science, as well as with renowned publishers like Woodhead Publishing Ltd. Additionally, he served as a Textile Expert in a USAID-funded project on eco-innovative textile processing at Korangi Association of Trade and Industry Karachi.
Currently, he is collaborating with Soorty Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. to enhance wastewater management and recycling systems, develop sustainable coloration techniques for denim and garments, and recover indigo dye from wastewater, contributing to a more sustainable textile industry.
Funded Projects
HEC Pakistan TDF-062 (PKR 13.99 M): Development of commercial natural indigo dyes for dyeing cotton textile from indigenous indigo plants – 2017-2020 (as Principal Investigator)
Soorty Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. (PKR 0.95 M): Monitoring and validation of the performance of effluent treatment and recycling plant of unit-13 Nooriabad – Sep-Nov 2020 (as Co-Lead and Focal Person)
WWF-Pakistan (PKR 0.7 M): Development of policy, planning and strategies on cleaner production for Sindh Environmental Protection Agency – Jun-Oct 2020 (as Textile/Product-Development Expert)
USPCAS-W (PKR 2.3 M): Eco-innovation in textile processing industry of KITE for sustainable product processing – 2018-2019 (as Textile Expert)
Ph.D. Supervision
since 2022 – Develop indigo dye-house wastewater treatment simulator for sustainable resource recovery – (Co-Supervisor)
Student: Engr. Hafiz Usama Imaad
Masters Supervision
2021 – Sustainable reactive dyeing process for readymade garments – (Co-Supervisor)
Student: Engr. Raza Ali Soomro
Student: Engr. Noman Junejo
Student: Engr. Farah Ishaque
2018 – Development of environmentally sustainable reactive dye formulation for dyeing cotton fabric
Student: Engr. Kashif Khan Khuhro
2018 – Implementation of lean manufacturing in yarn manufacturing: A case study – (Co-Supervisor)
Student: Engr. Muhammad Ali Khan
Student: Engr. Urooj Baig
Student: Dr. Safdar Ali Larik
2014 – Study of effectiveness of cationization of cotton over mercerization for dyeing with anionic dyes
Student: Dr. Ahmer Hussain Shah
Publications
Coloration Technology 2022; 138(4):388-396
Journal of the Textile Institute 2021; 112(5):801-808
Fibers and Polymers 2018; 19(6):1266-1270
Safety Science 2017; 93:127-133
Journal of Natural Fibers 2016; 13(6):749-758
Journal of Cleaner Production 2015; 87:50-57
Ultrasonics Sonochemistry 2015; 25:178-183
Color Research and Application 2014; 39(1):63-69
Coloration Technology 2013; 129(1):76-81