Zhenhao Zhao | Environmental Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Analytical Chemistry

Dr. Zhenhao Zhao | Environmental Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Jilin University | China

Dr. Zhenhao Zhao, currently an Associate Professor and Doctoral Supervisor in the Department of Environmental Engineering at Jilin University, is an emerging scholar recognized for his impactful contributions to the field of wastewater treatment and environmental biotechnology. He holds a Master’s degree from Jilin University and a Ph.D. from Northeast Normal University, and is also a distinguished Tang Aoqing Young Scholar, reflecting his excellence in scientific research and academic leadership. Dr. Zhao’s research primarily centers on the application of microbial activating agents and the development of biotechnological processes for advanced wastewater treatment and resource recovery. His work focuses on enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of microbial systems for pollutant degradation, addressing critical issues related to water quality and environmental safety. He has successfully completed or is currently engaged in 13 research projects, including competitive grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, underscoring his strong research capability and leadership. Dr. Zhao has an impressive research output with 19 peer-reviewed papers published in SCI and Scopus-indexed journals, accumulating 159 citations from 141 documents and achieving an h-index of 7 (Scopus). His publications have advanced understanding in microbial ecology, bioreactor design, and sustainable wastewater treatment mechanisms. In addition, he holds 10 patents (5 authorized) related to innovative water purification technologies, further demonstrating the translational impact of his research. Beyond research, Dr. Zhao actively contributes to the academic community as a Young Editorial Board Member of Water Purification Technology and as a member of the Jilin Provincial Society of Environmental Science and Engineering. His collaborative work with the NSFC Joint Fund further emphasizes his interdisciplinary and applied research focus. Dr. Zhao’s scholarly achievements and growing citation impact highlight his potential as a leading researcher in environmental science and sustainable water treatment innovation.

Profile : Scopus

Featured Publications

Zhao, Z., Wang, L., Li, Y., Chen, J., & Liu, H. (2025). Mechanistic insights into the enhanced synergistic removal of composite heavy metals using modified zeolite in constructed wetlands. Journal of Safety and Environment.

Zhang, C., You, Z., Li, S., Zhang, C., Zhao, Z., & Zhou, D. (2024). NO₃⁻ as an electron acceptor elevates antibiotic resistance gene and human bacterial pathogen risks in managed aquifer recharge (MAR): A comparison with O₂. Environmental Research, 249, 118277.

Sun, S., Zhao, Z., Cui, X., Huo, M., & Geng, Z. (2020). The influence of residual coagulant Al on the biofilm EPS and membrane fouling potential in wastewater reclamation, Water.

Si Mengting | Environmental Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Analytical Chemistry

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Si Mengting | Environmental Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Yangtze University | China

Dr. Mengting Si is an Associate Professor at the School of Petroleum Engineering, Yangtze University, China. She earned her Ph.D. and M.S. from the School of Energy and Power Engineering at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and her B.Sc. in Automotive Engineering from Jilin University. Her research focuses primarily on carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), and soot formation during fossil fuel combustion, particularly leveraging hyperspectral imaging and optical diagnostic techniques. Dr. Si has a strong research track record, having authored 31 publications indexed in Scopus, which have collectively received 396 citations across 357 documents, reflecting an h-index of 11. She has secured multiple prestigious research grants, including two as Principal Investigator from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and one from the State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion. Her work has appeared in top-tier journals such as Combustion and Flame, Renewable Energy, and Applied Optics. In addition to her publications, she has contributed to several national-level collaborative research projects and holds one Chinese patent. Dr. Si’s research has also been presented at leading academic conferences, including the International Pittsburgh Coal Conference and the Annual Conference of the Chinese Society of Engineering Thermophysics. Her contributions to combustion diagnostics and emissions control have earned her multiple awards, including the 1st Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress in Petroleum and Chemical Automation and the 3rd Prize of Natural Science of Hubei Province. Dr. Si continues to advance cleaner combustion technologies and sustainable energy research.

Profiles : Scopus | Research Gate

Featured Publications

  • Si, M., Liu, J., Zhang, Y., Liu, B., Luo, Z., & Cheng, Q. (2024). Effect of co-combustion of coal with biomass on the morphology of soot. Renewable Energy, 226, 120374.

  • Si, M., Liu, J., Chang, K., Zhang, Y., Luo, Z., & Cheng, Q. (2024). Evolution of physicochemical characteristics of soot in a single coal combustion flame. Combustion and Flame, 260, 113243.

  • Si, M., Cheng, Q., Yuan, L., Zhang, Y., & Luo, Z. (2022). Study on the combustion behavior of single coal particle using a thermal-imaging technique. Combustion and Flame, 242, 112178.

  • Si, M., Cheng, Q., Yuan, L., Luo, Z., Xu, Z., & Zhao, H. (2022). Physical and chemical characterization of two kinds of coal-derived soot. Combustion and Flame, 238, 111759.

  • Si, M., Cheng, Q., Yuan, L., Luo, Z., Yan, W., & Zhou, H. (2021). Study on combustion behavior and soot formation of single coal particle using hyper-spectral imaging technique. Combustion and Flame, 233, 111568.

 

Ruijuan Qu | Environmental Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Analytical Chemistry

Dr. Ruijuan Qu | Environmental Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Nanjing University, China

👨‍🎓Profiles

👩‍🏫 Early Academic Pursuits

Ruijuan Qu completed her PhD from Nanjing University, where she subsequently embarked on her professional career. She started her academic journey as an assistant researcher and progressed to associate researcher. Her continued academic growth led to her appointment as an Associate Professor at the School of Environment, Nanjing University. Her foundational academic pursuits focused on environmental sciences, particularly on the transformation mechanisms of organic pollutants and the development of efficient degradation technologies.

💼 Professional Endeavors

Her professional career has been largely centered around environmental chemistry, with a particular focus on pollution degradation and chemical processes in environmental systems. Her research spans various aspects of environmental transformation, including the fate of organic pollutants, chemical oxidation processes, and the application of computational chemistry. She has made significant contributions to the understanding of complex environmental processes, particularly in the treatment of organic pollutants using advanced oxidation processes. She collaborates internationally, notably with Prof. Virender K. Sharma from Texas A&M University, on Ferrate oxidation treatments of organic pollutants.

🔬 Contributions and Research Focus

She has been instrumental in developing innovative methods and models to study the transformation of organic pollutants. She established a novel "non-target mass spectrometry – preparative separation-characterization - simplified transition state calculation" method for identifying intermediate products in pollutant degradation. Furthermore, she investigated the influence of suspended particles and co-existing components on the heterogeneous photodegradation of persistent organic pollutants in river systems. Her work has led to a deeper understanding of the polymerization processes in chemical oxidation of phenols, and she proposed strategies to regulate this process for low-carbon, efficient oxidation treatments.

🌍 Impact and Influence

Her research has had significant impact in the field of environmental chemistry, particularly in understanding the environmental fate and transformation of organic pollutants. Her innovative methods have been applied to address key challenges in environmental pollution, particularly in water and wastewater treatment. As a recognized leader in the field, Her work has contributed to advancing green chemistry and pollution control technologies. She was named to Stanford University's 2023 World's Top 2% Scientists List, highlighting her significant contributions and the wide recognition her research has gained in the global scientific community.

📚 Academic Cites

Her work has been cited extensively, with a citation index of 6036 times and an H-index of 43 according to Web of Science. This reflects the widespread influence and relevance of her research in the environmental chemistry domain. Her 159 articles published in SCI-indexed journals underscore her prolific contributions to the academic community, advancing the understanding of chemical processes and pollutant management.

🛠️ Technical Skills

Ruijuan Qu possesses advanced technical expertise in environmental chemistry, particularly in the areas of mass spectrometry, computational chemistry, and environmental analytical techniques. Her work in environmental transformation analysis, pollutant degradation technologies, and process optimization highlights her technical proficiency. She also possesses deep knowledge of chemical oxidation processes and their applications in environmental remediation, making her a leader in this niche field of research.

👩‍🏫 Teaching Experience

As an Associate Professor at Nanjing University, She has contributed significantly to educating the next generation of environmental scientists. She teaches courses in environmental chemistry, pollutant treatment technologies, and environmental computational chemistry. Her teaching approach integrates cutting-edge research with practical applications, ensuring that her students are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to address current and future environmental challenges.

🏆 Legacy and Future Contributions

Her legacy is grounded in her pioneering work in environmental chemistry and pollution degradation. Through her innovative research, she has not only advanced scientific understanding but has also contributed to the development of green technologies for environmental protection. Her future contributions are poised to further shape the field, particularly in the development of more efficient, sustainable pollution control methods and the application of computational chemistry in environmental research.

🔮 Future Contributions

She continues to push the boundaries of environmental science with ongoing research focused on improving chemical oxidation methods, advancing non-target mass spectrometry for pollutant detection, and developing low-carbon technologies for water and wastewater treatment. Her future work aims to bridge the gap between fundamental environmental chemistry and practical, scalable solutions to global pollution challenges, enhancing both environmental sustainability and human health.

📖Notable Publications