1. Enzymatic Reactions
2. Biofuels
3. Microalgae
4. Wastewater Treatment

Sulaiman Al-Zuhair is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at UAE University and currently holds the position of Head of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department. Before that, he held the positions of Director of Project Management Unit and Coordinator of the Postgraduate Program. Prof. Al-Zuhair has been in charge of enhancing the ranking of the University from 2017-2020, during which, the university ranking witnessed significant improvement in both QS and THE rankings. Prof. Al-Zuhair’s research resulted in the publication of 88 papers in Scopus indexed journals, and his current Scopus h-index is 31. He also has four patents under his name and published a book and three book chapters. As a Principal Investigator, Prof. Al-Zuhair was able to secure research funds of over AED 3 million dirhams, and over AED 20 million as a Co-Investigator. He is the recipient of the Dubai Award for Sustainable Transport (Best Academic Research) and the UAEU Research Excellence Award in 2019, College of Engineering Excellence Overall Performance in 2017 and 2019, and Excellence Research Award in 2016 and 2020. Prof. Al-Zuhair is on the Editorial Boards in a number of journals, and had held positions in the scientific and organizing committees of several international conferences.

At UAE University

Undergraduate courses:

1. Process Control                                         
2. Fluid Mechanics         
3. Heat Transfer                                           
4. Mass Transfer            
5. Reactor Design               
6. Biofuels Technology
7. Chem Eng Thermodynamics             
8. Chemical Engineering Lab. II

Postgraduate courses taught:

1. Fluid Phase Equilibria
2. Enzymatic Technology
3. Directed Studies in Chemical Engineering
4. Special Topics in Chem Eng
5. Research in Chemical Engineering

At the University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus

Undergraduate courses taught:

1. Process Dynamics and Control                   
2. Basis of Biotechnology
3. Chemical and Phase Equilibria                 
4. Heat and Mass Transfer
5. Fluid Mechanics

At Taylor’s University

Undergraduate courses:

1. Fuel Technology                                         
2. Fluid Mechanics       
3. Chemical Engineering Science
4. Engineering in Society                               

Main Supervision of PhD Theses

1. Ayat Hasan (UAE University – On going): Thesis title: Bioactive Membrane System for Efficient Emerging Pollutants Treatment
2. Babatunde Ogunbadejo (UAE University – On going): Thesis title: Enzymatic synthesis of cyclodextrin from glycerol using cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase immobilized Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
3. Shadeera Raof (UAE University – On going): Thesis title: CO2 conversion to formate using formate dehydrogenase (FDH) immobilized in metal organic framewors (MOFs)
4. Saleha Almardeai (UAE University – Completed, June 2022): Thesis title: Membrane bioreactor for enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose
5.  Hanifa Taher (UAE University - Completed, June 2014): Thesis title: Supercritical fluid technology in enzymatic production of biodiesel from microalgae

Main Supervision of M.Sc. Theses

1. Hebah AlMoodi (UAE University – On going): Thesis title: Kinetics of enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins extracted from microalgae
2. Merna Farag (UAE University – On going): Thesis title: Nanofluids for enhanced CO₂ absorption
3. Eyad Sowan (UAE University – On going): Thesis title: Using Switchable Solvents for enhanced biodiesel production
4. Reem Shomal (UAE University – Completed November 2021): Thesis title: Improving lipase activity and stability in MOFs for enhanced biodiesel production
5. Reem Al Mansoori (UAE University – Completed November 2021): Thesis title: Using packed bed for continuous extraction of oil from date pits: A kinetics study
6. Mohamed Shafi (UAE University – Completed May 2020): Thesis title: Using microalgae for oil spills treatment
7. Mukhtar Ismail (UAE University –Completed December 2019): Thesis title: Using thermal switchable solvents for simultaneous extraction/reaction of microalgae oil for biodiesel production
8. Mohamed Abu Jayyab (UAE University – Completed December 2019): Thesis title: Phenol(s) removal by microalgae for wastewater treatment and biodiesel production
9. Mariam Al-Ameri (UAE University – Completed June 2018): Thesis title: Simultaneous lipids extraction and biodiesel production from microalgae using Switchable Solvents
10. Miada Osman (UAE University – Completed June 2017): Thesis title: Using electrocoagulation for removal of calcium and chloride ions from the effluent of modified Solvay pretreatment process of reject brine
11. Hanifa Taher (UAE University – Completed June 2010):Thesis title: Enzymatic biodiesel production from fats extracted from lamb meat by SC-CO2

Main Supervision of M.Sc. Technical Projects 

1. Hana Abu sabeikeh (UAE University – Completed Jan 2019): Technical Project title: Simultaneous oil extraction and enzymatic biodiesel production from microalgae using supercritical CO2
2.  Yusuf Abdi (UAE University – Completed June 2017): Technical Project title: Using ionic liquids to enhance the reusability of immobilized lipase for effective biodiesel production
3. Mohamed Djama (UAE University – Completed May 2016): Technical Project title: Amine solutions regeneration using microalgae for CO2 absorption
4. Salama AlDhaheri (UAE University – Completed December 2015): Technical Project title: Biodiesel production from oil extracted from date pits
5. Mohamed AbuAlreesh (UAE University – Completed June 2014): Technical Project title: Enzymatic Delignification of seaweed for bioethanol production
6. Karam Basel (UAE University – Completed June 2015): Technical Project title: Desulfurization of LPG for use in compact fuel cells

Main Supervision of M.Eng. Research Projects

1. Y.L. Fan, K.S. Chui and S. Rizwan (University of Nottingham – 2007): MEng Research: Kinetics of cellulase inhibition by sugar produced by hydrolysis of cellulose
2. K.V. Jayaraman, S. Krishnan and W.H. Chan (Univ. of Nottingham – 2007): MEng Research: Effect of fatty acid and water concentrations on biodiesel production by lipase

Co-Supervision of M.Sc. Theses

1. Ebin George (Heriot Watt University - Completed, Sept 2015): Thesis title: Oil spill removal by microalgae
2. Danagul Ichshanova (Heriot Watt University - Completed, Sept 2015): Thesis title: Oil extraction from date pits
3. Syed Sultana (Heriot Watt University - Completed, Sept 2013): Thesis title: Enzymatic conversion bioethanol form seaweeds
4. Ahmed Fahmy (Heriot Watt University - Completed, Sept 2013): Thesis title: Dual use of microalgae for treating wastewater and producing biodiesel

Granted Patents

1. US Patent No.: US 9,399,740 B2: Biodiesel Production
2. Canadian Patent No. CA 2,796,105: Process and System for the Treatment of Industrial and Petroleum Refinery Wastewater
3. US Patent 11,060,120 B1: Methods of Producing Biodiesel from Microalgae using Thermo-Responsive Switchable Solvents
4. US Patent: Membrane bioreactor for simultaneous enzymatic Cellulose Hydrolysis and Product Separation

Filed Patents

1. US Patent: Simultaneous Enzymatic Cellulose Hydrolysis and Product Separation in a Radial-Flow Membrane Bioreactor