Dr. Mohammad Nahid Siddiqui
Professor
Dr. Siddiqui’s research encompasses waste plastic valorization, the development of degradable polymeric composites, asphaltene chemistry, and the design of advanced nanoporous materials for water, gas, and fuel purification.
📍 Bldg. 4-261-3 | Bldg. 4-215
☎ (+966) 13 860 2529
🔗 ORCID: 0000-0001-6670-3049
🔗 Scopus: 7202516156
Research Area
⬡ Depolymerization and Recycling of Waste Plastics
⬡ Degradable Polymers and Composites
⬡ Developing Smart Carbon Materials
⬡ Chemistry of Asphaltene
Valorization & Chemical Recycling of Waste Plastics
Dr. Siddiqui works extensively on transforming plastic waste into useful chemical products and fuels. This includes:
Pyrolysis and catalytic conversion of mixed plastic waste to recover oils and chemicals that can be used as feedstocks or fuels. Research addressing circular-economy solutions to plastics, including surfactant production and high-value product synthesis from waste plastics. Contributions to sustainable approaches that reduce environmental pollution and add economic value to waste streams.
This work contributes to tackling global plastic pollution and supports waste-to-resource conversion strategies.
Degradable Polymers & Polymer Composites
Designed for improved degradation and reduced environmental persistence. Modified polymers and nanocomposites that incorporate fillers (like clay, silica, ZnO) to enhance mechanical, thermal, or functional properties.
This research spans materials design, performance improvement, and environmental sustainability of polymer materials.
Asphaltene Chemistry & Petroleum-Related Studies
Characterization and chemical transformations of asphaltenes to understand their structure and reactivity. Thermal and catalytic cracking of heavy residues with implications for upgrading petroleum fractions. Studies on aging, oxidation, and stabilization of asphalt components in fuel and road materials.
This research helps improve the processing of heavy oils and the performance of asphaltic materials in infrastructure.
Nanoporous Adsorbents & Purification Technologies
Design and synthesis of nanoporous carbons and structured adsorbents targeted at removing pollutants from water, gas, and fuels. Work on adsorption of dyes, metals, sulfur compounds, and organics using engineered porous carbon, activated carbon from waste, and hybrid materials. Applications include water purification, desulphurization of fuels, and gas cleanup for cleaner energy and environmental protection.
The development of advanced adsorbent materials for purification. This field intersects environmental chemistry, materials science, and sustainable engineering.
Education
✔︎ PhD: Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK, 1997
✔︎ MSc: KFUPM, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, 1985
✔︎ MSc: Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India, 1981
✔︎ BSc: Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India, 1979
- Marlan, A. R.; *Siddiqui, M. N.; Saleh, T. A.; Putri, S. E. and Faika, S.: “Synthesis of Zinc-Silica Quantum Dots for High-Efficiency Photocatalytic Applications”, Chemical Engineering Science, February 2026, Volume 321, Part C, pp. 123023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2025.123023
- Asri, W. R.; Siddiqui, M. N. and Jalilov, A. S.: “Photoluminescent Quenching of Carbon Nanodots in the Presence of Tetracyanoethylene: Quenching Sphere of Action of Carbon Nanodots”, Langmuir, Nov. 2025, Vol 41, pp. 29995-30006, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c04653
- Faizan, M.; Jallow, A.; *Siddiqui, M. N. and Abdul Jameel, A.G.: “Pyrolytic upcycling of plastic waste into graphene and carbon nanostructures”, Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, January 2026, Vol 193(1), pp. 107407, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2025.107407
- Faizan, M.; Jallow, A. and *Siddiqui, M. N.: “Circular Economy Strategies for Converting Waste Plastics into Surfactants”, Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, Oct 2025, Vol 13(5), pp. 118987, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2025.118987 Publication 6
- Siddiqui, M. N.; Faizan, M. and Abdul Jameel, A.G.: “Thermal and mechanical enhancement of PVC composites with functionalized asphaltene fillers”, Arabian Journal of Science and Engineering, online July 25, 2025, Vol 50, pp., 14877, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-025-10425-1
- Islam, K. M. O.; Ahmad, N.; Alboqami, F.; Ahmed, U.; Siddiqui, M. N.; Ummer, A. C. and Jameel, A.G.A.: “Utilization of coffee waste for biofuel production through catalytic microwave-assisted pyrolysis approach”, Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, June 2025, Vol 15, pp. 10585–10601, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-024-05854-1
- Siddiqui, M. N.; Redhwi, H. H.; Andrady, A. L.; Furqaun, S. A. and Hussain, S.: “Effect of Extensive Solar Ultra-Violet Irradiation on the Durability of High-Density Polyethylene- and Polypropylene-Based Wood–Plastic Composites”, Polymers, January 2025, 17(1), 74, https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17010074
- Marlan, A. R.; *Siddiqui, M. N.; Saleh, T. A. and Putri, S. E.: “Sustainable Energy Solutions: Optimizing Biodiesel Production through Heterogeneous Catalysis Using ZnO/SiO2 from Agricultural Waste”, Catalysis Letters, January 2025, Vol 155(1), pp. 56 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10562-024-04907-4
- Siddiqui, M. N.; Redhwi, H. H.; Belioka, M. P. and Achilias, D. S.: “Effect of nanoclay on the thermal degradation kinetics of recycled biodegradable/non-biodegradable polymer blends using the random chain-scission model”, Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, January 2024, 177, 106291, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2023.106291
Dr. Muhammad Faizan
Postdoc Fellow
Dr. Usman Bello
Postdoc Fellow
Maryem Ourimi
PhD Student
Abd Rahman Marlan
MS Student
Abdul Aziz Jallow
MS Student
Roa’a Alzoubi
MS Student
| Undergraduate Courses Taught |
|---|
|
• CHEM 101: General Chemistry I (Lectures, Recitations, and Laboratory). • CHEM 201: Organic Chemistry I • CHEM 204: Organic Chemistry II • CHEM 202 Organic Chemistry II LAB • CHEM 456 Industrial Organic Chemistry • CHEM 453 Chemistry of Petroleum Processes |
| Graduate Courses Taught |
|---|
| • CHEM 535 Petroleum Chemistry |