ChM Dr. Oh Wen Da
Associate Professor
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
Embedded Files
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
Associate Professor, School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (2024 - present)
Editor of Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering (Elsevier) and Environmental Research (Elsevier) (2024 - present)
Early Career Editorial Board of Applied Catalysis O: Open (Elsevier) (2022 - present)
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 - 2024)
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
Research interest: Waste-to-Resources
The "waste-to-resources" approach offers a sustainable pathway to convert discarded materials into high-value industrial assets, such as catalytic materials. By utilizing waste to produce catalysts, industries can lower their environmental impact, divert waste from landfills, and conserve virgin resources. A key advancement in this field is the synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from waste biomass, tires, and plastics via thermal or catalytic methods. These waste-derived CNTs retain the exceptional mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties required for advanced applications in electronics, energy storage, and composite reinforcements, proving that sustainable waste management can successfully intersect with cutting-edge nanomaterial production.
Building on this foundation, our research group focuses on the conversion of plastic waste into high-value CNTs through a catalytic pyrolysis process. The research aims to develop efficient catalysts and optimize operating conditions to maximize CNT yield and quality while simultaneously addressing the growing challenge of plastic waste accumulation. By transforming problematic waste streams into advanced carbon nanomaterials, this work contributes to both sustainable waste management and the development of value-added products for industrial applications, supporting the transition towards a circular economy.
Research interest: Advanced materials for environmental catalysis
Research interest: Advanced materials for environmental catalysis
Environmental pollution caused by recalcitrant organic contaminants has become a major global concern. Over the past decade, persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), involving peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and peroxydisulfate (PDS), have attracted significant attention for environmental remediation due to their high efficiency, effectiveness, and environmental compatibility. In general, persulfates can be activated through external energy inputs (e.g., ultraviolet irradiation and microwave energy), chemical activators (e.g., bases, phenols, and quinones), or transition metal catalysts (homogeneous or heterogeneous) to generate highly reactive species capable of degrading a wide range of aqueous pollutants. Among these activation approaches, heterogeneous catalytic persulfate activation is particularly attractive because it does not require continuous energy input or additional chemical reagents, offers operational simplicity and versatility, and enables easy catalyst recovery and reuse after treatment. To date, two major classes of heterogeneous catalysts have been extensively investigated: metal-based and carbon-based catalysts. Metal-based catalysts generally exhibit superior catalytic activity and persulfate activation efficiency. However, their practical application is often constrained by catalyst instability and the potential release of metal ions during operation, which may lead to secondary environmental pollution. To address these limitations, two primary strategies have emerged: (i) the development of more stable metal-based catalysts with enhanced resistance to metal leaching, and (ii) the design of metal-free carbon-based catalysts as environmentally benign alternatives.
Group members
Ms. Low Yu Qing (2025 - present)
MSc in progress
Ms. Zhu Jinjin (2024 - present)
MSc in progress
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
Dr. Ganapaty A/L Manickavasagam (2023 - 2026)
PhD Graduated
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
Ms. Lu Jirui (2024-2026)
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
2025/2026 - Goh Shi Jen, Nurul Afiqah Binti Ahmad Tarmizi, Vincent Wong Ping Seng
2025/2026 - Nur Ainaa Izzati Binti Fazil, Felcy Florince Fred, Nur Aisyah Binti Mohammad Yusof, Siti Nur Syahrizatul Syahadah Binti Noor Zamri
2024/2025 - Chin Kian Hui, Anis Asyiqin Binti Ahmad Yatimi, Nurul 'Atiqah Binti Mohd Rosdi, Tachaini A/P Kumaran
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/
Google Sites
Report abuse