Welcome to my personal page
Dr. Oh Wen Da
Senior Lecturer
Physical Chemistry division,
School of Chemical Sciences,
Universiti Sains Malaysia,
11800 Penang,
Malaysia
Email: ohwenda@usm.my; ohwenda@gmail.com
Tel: +604 653 3548
Fax: +604-657 4854
Link to my work: Google Scholar
Link to online MOOC on publishing scientific article: Writing Scientific Manuscript for High Impact Publication
Consultation services: Over the past years, we provided consultation services and testing to various stakeholders including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and industries. We are open to providing consultation services on topics related to environment, waste-to-resources, water quality monitoring, and water/wastewater treatment within the framework of circular economy.
Research Interests
Conversion of waste/biowaste into functional materials and energy within a circular economy framework.
Developing advanced functional materials for environmental catalysis.
Novel chemical technologies for water and wastewater treatment.
Education
Ph.D., Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (2013 - 2016)
MSc., Environmental Chemistry, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia (2009 - 2012)
BSc. (Hons), Chemistry, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia (2006 - 2009)
Academic/Professional Appointments
Visiting Professor, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (2020, 2022, 2023)
Elected EXCO member, Water Watch Penang, NGO (2020 - present)
Senior Lecturer, School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (2018 - present)
Guest Lecturer, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (2016-2018)
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Residues and Resources Reclamation Center, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (2016-2018)
Teaching
At Universiti Sains Malaysia: KUT101 - Safety and Security for Chemical Sustainability; KFT233 - Physical Chemistry I; KAT442 - Environmental Pollution Chemistry; KFT332 - Physical Chemistry II; KUT304 - Physical Chemistry Practical; KAA510 - Quality System and Intellectual Property; KAA507 - Surface and Thermal Analysis
At Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia: KI504: Inorganic Structure Elucidation/Materials Characterization (2023)
At Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia: KI510 - Environmental Toxicology (2022)
At Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia: KI508 - Water Treatment (2020)
At Nanyang Technological University: EM9101 - Environmental Quality (2016-2018)
Research interest: Waste-to-Resources
Waste to resources refers to the process of converting waste materials into valuable resources. Waste to catalytic material refers to the process of converting waste into catalysts, which are substances that increase the rate of chemical reactions. Catalysts are widely used in industry to produce chemicals, fuels, and other products. By converting waste into catalytic materials, the waste can be reused, reducing the need for new resources, and reducing waste in landfills. This process can help to conserve resources and reduce the environmental impact of waste disposal.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can also be produced from waste materials through a process known as waste-derived carbon nanotube synthesis. This process involves the conversion of waste materials such as plastics, tires, or waste biomass into CNTs through thermal or catalytic methods. The waste derived CNTs can then be used as a reinforcement material in composites, as a component in electronics and energy storage devices, or in other applications where their unique mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties are required. The production of CNTs from waste not only helps to reduce the amount of waste in landfills, but also conserves resources and reduces the need for new raw materials in the production of CNTs.
Research interest: Advanced materials for environmental catalysis
Environmental pollution due to recalcitrant organics is a global concern. Over the last decade, advanced oxidation technologies based on persulfate (peroxymonosulfate and peroxydisulfate) activation have been extensively developed for environmental decontamination owing to their advantages of being highly efficient, effective and eco-friendly. Generally, persulfate can be activated by using either external energy (e.g., UV, microwave, etc.), chemical (e.g., base, phenol, quinone, etc.), or transition metal catalyst (homogeneous or heterogeneous) to produce highly reactive transient species for aqueous pollutant destruction. However, the heterogeneous catalytic persulfate activation is preferred because of the following advantages: (1) no economic concern due to constant energy or auxiliary chemical requirement, (2) simple and versatile, and (3) ease of catalyst recovery after treatment. Currently, two classes of heterogeneous catalysts are developed, namely metal- and carbon-based catalysts. The metal-based catalysts are highly effective and efficient for persulfate activation. However, secondary pollution due to metal leaching during catalysis hinders their widespread application. To solve this issue, two strategies can be employed, namely designing metal-based catalysts with better stability, and developing carbon-based catalysts.
Group members
Mr. Bao Wenqi (2024 - present)
PhD in progress
Ms. Kelly Loke Kah Yee (2024 - present)
MSc in progress
Mr. Alhaiqi Mohammed Ahmed Salem (2024 - present)
PhD in progress
Mr. Ganapaty A/L Manickavasagam (2023 - present)
PhD in progress
Mr. Lim Xiu Xian (2022 - 2024)
MSc graduated
Dr. Muhammad Faisal Gasim Malik (2021 – 2024)
PhD Graduated
Ms. Koo Pooi Ling (2021 - 2023)
MSc graduated
Mr. Choong Zheng Yi (2020 – 2023)
MSc. Graduated
Ms. Julia Zaeni Raudlatul Jannah (2019 - 2022)
MSc. Graduated
Mixed-mode MSc student
Mr. Tong Zhi Xiang (2022 - 2024)
Ms. Ng Wen Yih (2021 - 2022)
As co-supervisor
Ms. Nuraina Hanim binti Mohd Nizam (with Dr. Ku Marsilla and Associate Professor Dr. Sharifah Emilia) - PhD (2023 - present)
Ms. Tan Kai Qi (with Associate Professor Dr. Low Siew Chun) - PhD (2022 - present)
Mr. Mohamed Hussein Abdurahman Mohamed (with Professor Dr. Ahmad Zuhairi Bin Abdullah) - PhD (Graduated)
Ms. Alamri Rahmah Dhahawi (with Professor Dr. Rohana Binti Adnan) - PhD (Graduated)
Mr. Saheed Ismaila Olalekan (with Associate Professor Dr. Faiz Bukhari) - PhD (Graduated)
Ms. Kuik Xiao Hui (with Dr. Ng Si Ling) - MSc (mixed mode) - 2018 - 2019 (Graduated)
Undergraduate students
2023/2024 - Chin Yee Teng, Nursyazlin Suda
2022/2023 - Lean Zhen Yi, Nur Atisya Binti Adnan, Sivapreyan A/L Punithan
2021/2022 - Dharishny Rames, Gooi Qing Sheng, Nivethah A/P Sivam
2020/2021 - An-Wati Chong, Muhammad Faris Bin Mohd Azhar, Naveena A/P Subramaniam, Thivya A/P Subramaniam
2019/2020 - Choong Zheng Yi, Nur Alia Natasha Binti Mohd Nasir
2018/2019 - Ng Zhu Chen, Nur Anati Amirah Binti Mohd Kamal, Che Najmi Hawa Binti Che Ariffin
Postgraduate admissions and Scholarships
Interested postgraduate students can write to me and apply as a postgraduate student (MSc or PhD) through the Institute of Postgraduate Study (IPS), USM: http://onlineips.usm.my/admission/