Chemical Kinetics and Applied Catalysis Laboratory (CKCL)

Overview

The Chemical Kinetics and Applied Catalysis Laboratory (CKCL) is a research laboratory within the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Khon Kaen University (KKU), located in Khon Kaen, Thailand. The laboratory was established in 2011 under the leadership of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kitirote Wantala, who also serves as Director of the Center for Carbon and Global Warming Management at KKU. CKCL is internationally recognized for its interdisciplinary research that integrates chemical engineering, materials science, and environmental engineering to develop sustainable technologies targeting pollution reduction, environmental remediation, and renewable energy production.

The laboratory's name reflects its two foundational scientific pillars: Chemical Kinetics — the quantitative study of reaction rates, rate laws, and reaction mechanisms on catalysts — and Applied Catalysis — the practical application of catalytic technologies in fields such as air pollution treatment, water pollution treatment, petrochemical processing, and chemical manufacturing. All research activities at CKCL are directed toward elucidating reaction mechanisms on catalytic surfaces and translating fundamental kinetic insights into real-world technological solutions.

Vision and Mission

CKCL aspires to be a safe, well-organized, and exemplary research laboratory that produces next-generation researchers through innovative thinking and high-quality scientific output. The laboratory's stated vision is to serve as a model for developing new researchers with out-of-the-box problem-solving approaches, generating novel knowledge and technologies.

The core mission of CKCL encompasses six key commitments:

1. Producing researchers with both intellectual rigor (IQ) and emotional competence (EQ)

2. Discovering and developing new products in the field of renewable energy through novel research methods

3. Elevating research quality to international standards

4. Promoting and supporting students to publish and present at the international level

5. Disseminating research knowledge and technology to society

6. Adding value to waste or low-value resources by converting them into high-value products

Research Focus Areas

CKCL's research portfolio spans three interconnected domains, all unified by the goal of creating sustainable, scalable, and socially impactful technologies.

1. Photocatalysis and Environmental Remediation

CKCL is widely recognized for its work on photocatalytic materials for wastewater treatment and pollutant degradation. The laboratory designs and synthesizes photocatalysts — materials that harness light energy to generate reactive radicals capable of breaking down toxic organic contaminants in water. Target pollutants include industrial dyes (e.g., methylene blue, reactive red), antibiotic residues (e.g., tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, carboplatin), pesticide compounds (e.g., alachlor, paraquat), and humic acids.

Key materials developed include nitrogen-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles, iron-modified TiO₂ photocatalysts, and perovskite structures such as SrTiO₃ modified with lanthanum and iron for enhanced visible-light activity. The laboratory also employs Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) beyond photocatalysis, including Fenton-like reactions, electro-Fenton processes, and ozonation-based techniques. These approaches are designed to address the growing challenge of pharmaceutical and industrial micropollutants that conventional biological treatment cannot handle.

2. Renewable Energy and Biomass/Waste Valorization

A significant portion of CKCL's research is dedicated to converting agricultural waste, industrial by-products, and organic residues into value-added biofuels and solid fuels. The laboratory investigates catalytic pyrolysis, hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), and transesterification processes for producing bio-gasoline, bio-kerosene, bio-diesel, and hydrochar.

Catalysts developed at CKCL for biofuel production are often derived from waste materials themselves — for example, gypsum-derived CaO catalysts for palm oil pyrolysis, CaO-MgO catalysts for waste cooking oil deoxygenation, and dolomite-based catalysts for light fuel production. This approach exemplifies the circular economy principle, where waste is simultaneously the raw material and the catalyst source. The laboratory has also contributed to hydrothermal carbonization of biomass sources such as Giant Salvinia, sewage sludge, pulp and paper sludge, and sugarcane bagasse.

3. Adsorption Technologies and Pollution Control

CKCL develops novel adsorbent materials for removing heavy metals, dyes, and other hazardous substances from water and air. Research in this area includes the synthesis of mesoporous silica materials (e.g., MCM-41 derived from rice husk silica), nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI), manganese oxide-based materials (K-OMS-2), and biochar from agricultural waste.

Specific pollutants targeted include arsenic (As(III) and As(V)), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr(VI)), nitrate, and selenate. The laboratory applies rigorous adsorption kinetic and isotherm modeling to characterize these materials, making the research directly applicable to water treatment systems in industrial and community settings.

Catalyst Development and Characterization

A core technical strength of CKCL lies in its expertise in catalyst synthesis and advanced characterization. The laboratory routinely employs synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS/XANES) techniques at national facilities such as the Synchrotron Light Research Institute (SLRI) in Thailand to investigate the electronic and structural properties of catalysts at the atomic level. Additional characterization methods include X-ray diffraction (XRD), N₂ adsorption-desorption (BET surface area analysis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS).

The laboratory has developed a particular expertise in manganese oxide cryptomelane (K-OMS-2) materials for gas-phase catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as toluene, as well as Cu/Ce single-doped and co-doped OMS-2 variants. This work addresses urban air quality challenges by providing low-temperature catalytic solutions for industrial VOC emissions.

Publication Record and Academic Impact

CKCL, led by Assoc. Prof. Wantala, has accumulated a substantial publication record of over 100 peer-reviewed articles in international SCOPUS-indexed journals. The laboratory consistently publishes in high-impact Q1 journals across multiple disciplines, including:

Journal; Field; Impact Factor (Recent)

Fuel; Energy & Combustion; ~7.60

Chemosphere; Environmental Science; ~7.09

Materials Today Sustainability; Materials/Sustainability; ~7.80

Journal of Water Process Engineering; Water Technology; ~6.30

Applied Surface Science; Surface Chemistry; ~5.15

Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis; Thermal Analysis; ~6.00

Surfaces and Interfaces; Interface Science; ~5.70

Highlighted recent publications include photodegradation of anticancer drug carboplatin using La-Fe-modified SrTiO₃ perovskite catalysts (Journal of Water Process Engineering, 2025), bio-coal synthesis from Giant Salvinia via hydrothermal carbonization (BioEnergy Research, 2024), and enhanced biofuel production from waste cooking palm oil using CaO-MgO catalysts modified with K₂O (Fuel, 2023).

International Collaborations

CKCL maintains active international research collaborations across multiple continents. Key collaborative partners include:

• JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, India (photocatalysis, perovskite nanomaterials, MOF synthesis)

• Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Iran (photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceuticals and pesticides)

• University of the Philippines (Diliman), Philippines (VOC catalytic oxidation, K-OMS-2 materials)

Dr. Wantala also serves on the international editorial board of Environment and Water Engineering (Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Iran) and has served as Guest Editor for Materials Today Proceedings and Chemical Engineering Communications.

Laboratory Culture and Graduate Training

Beyond research outputs, CKCL is strongly committed to developing well-rounded scientists. The laboratory encourages English-language proficiency through regular English-medium group meetings, weekly English study sessions, and opportunities for students to present research at international conferences. Graduate students are expected to meet weekly with their advisor, to graduate within the program's timeline, and to publish more papers than minimally required by their degree program.

Students leaving CKCL are expected to possess strong analytical thinking skills, collaborative work habits, responsibility, punctuality, and the ability to generate publishable research that exceeds program requirements. The laboratory also welcomes international exchange students to foster cross-cultural scientific exchange.

Broader Impact and Societal Relevance

CKCL's research directly addresses Thailand's national priorities in environmental sustainability and renewable energy. By designing catalysts from locally abundant waste materials - rice husk, dolomite, blood clamshells, gypsum, and agricultural residues - the laboratory reduces both the cost and the environmental footprint of its technologies, making them practically deployable at the community and industrial scale. The laboratory's work on carbon footprints (Carbon Footprint of Products, CFP; Carbon Footprint of Organizations, CFO) also directly supports Thailand's commitments to greenhouse gas reduction under international climate agreements.

In summary, CKCL at Khon Kaen University stands at the intersection of environmental science, materials chemistry, and chemical engineering — conducting rigorous, internationally competitive research that is grounded in real-world problems and oriented toward a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Key highlights of the description:

Overview & Foundation: CKCL was established in 2011 within the Department of Chemical Engineering at KKU, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kitirote Wantala

Two core pillars explained:

1. Chemical Kinetics (reaction rates, rate laws, mechanisms on catalysts)

2. Applied Catalysis (air/water pollution treatment, petrochemical processes)

Three main research themes:

1. Photocatalysis & Environmental Remediation

2. Renewable Energy & Biomass/Waste Valorization

3. Adsorption Technologies & Pollution Control

Publication record: 

Over 100 Scopus-indexed articles, consistently in Q1 international journals including Fuel, Chemosphere, Materials Today Sustainability, and Journal of Water Process Engineering

International collaborations: 

Partners in India, Germany, Iran, Philippines, France, and Japan

Vision & Mission: 

To be a model research lab producing next-generation scientists who publish beyond program requirements and contribute to solving real societal problems