Academic Staff

Research themes/interests

Dr A K Ragen

Wastewater engineering; Environmental engineering and management; Environmental impact assessment

Dr V Seebaluck

Energy/Renewable Energy/Bio-energy; Sugarcane industry (sugar, electricity, ethanol production systems); Energy and sustainable development; Energy-Environment-Economy-Development

Dr D Surroop

Waste management; Waste-to-Energy; Climate change; Energy engineering and management; Energy and waste auditing; Renewable energy technologies

Dr. (Mrs.) P Jeetah

Bioprocess engineering, biomass to biofuel, Composting; Anaerobic digestion processes; Renewable energy.

Dr G D Somaroo

Chemical engineering, chemical safety, chemical weapons, life cycle analysis of environmental and energy processes; Degradability/biodegradability of solid wastes; Composting; Anaerobic digestion processes.

Dr. (Mrs) V Dookhun

Environmental risk assessment; Persistent toxic chemicals; Environmental management; Energy policy; Process design simulation; Quality management

Dr. A Mudhoo

Bioremediation of organic wastes; Wastewaters and pollutants by aerobic and anaerobic processes; Green chemistry (Ultrasound- & Microwave-assisted processes); Adsorption; Mathematical analysis and modeling

 

  

Research Projects

  • MRC-CRIGS A17: "Abatement of pollution from oil refinery effluents using reed beds". Company: MOROIL (Mr Ravish Musruck - Project Leader) & UoM Research Collaborator (Dr A K Ragen). Starting date: September 2017 - (ongoing for 18 months). Project value: MUR 3,000,000.

  • KuWert Project - "Vessel-based treatment of plastics for the implementation of value chains in less developed countries and to avoid plastic input in the environment, particularly marine ecosystems”. Project externally funded under the BMBF (Germany) program. Project leader : Technolog Services GMbh. University partners: University of Sierra Leone and UoM. UoM team: Dr A K Ragen (PI) and Dr G Somaroo (I). Project value devoted for UoM: Euro 20,000.

  • Effective use of coconut oil, shell and husk. Principal Investigator: Mauritius Research Council Funded Project. Dr Y. Surnam; Investigators: Dr G. Somaroo. 2015 to date. Expected completion date: November 2017.

  • Re-Sources: Plateforme pour la promotion de la valorisation matiere et energie a partir des dechets solides. Principal Investigator: Dr G. Somaroo; Investigators: Dr P. Jeetah., A. Mudhoo, Dr O Gukhool. November 2013 to date. Expected completion date: November 2017.

  • Sustainable Waste Management Practices at Petit Verger Prison. Green Waste Composting Facility. Technical Report. Principal Investigator: Dr G Somaroo. 2014. Completed.

  • Developing community-based projects via e-learning; and promoting the Ocean Economy, Science and Technology to improve the livelihoods of women in Mauritius and Rodrigues. Funded by University of Mauritius. June 2017 to date. Principal Investigator: Dr G. Somaroo; Investigators: Associate Professor S Rosunee, Dr P Jeetah, Mrs S Ramsamy-Iranah, Mr G Bahadur and Mr N. Nazurally.

  • Use of biogas as an alternative to LPG at the cafeteria of the University of Mauritius. Faculty Research Project. Funded by University of Mauritius. December 2013 to June 2014. Principal Investigator: Dr G. Somaroo; Investigator: Associate Professor (Dr) S. Venkannah.

  

Technical Research Reports

 GEF SGP UNDP Country Programme Strategy (CPS) Development. Technical Report. Principal Investigator: Dr G Somaroo, co-investigator: Mr I Koodoruth. 2015. Completed.

RESEARCH OUTPUT

Research Journal Articles

Mudhoo, A., Ramasamy, D.L., Bhatnagar, A., Usman, M. and Sillanpää, M., 2020. An analysis of the versatility and effectiveness of composts for sequestering heavy metal ions, dyes and xenobiotics from soils and aqueous milieus. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 197, p.110587.

Kim, S.H., Mudhoo, A., Pugazhendhi, A., Saratale, R.G., Surroop, D., Jeetah, P., Park, J.H., Saratale, G.D. and Kumar, G., 2019. A perspective on galactose-based fermentative hydrogen production from macroalgal biomass: trends and opportunities. Bioresource Technology, 280, 447-458.

 Mudhoo, A., Bhatnagar, A., Rantalankila, M., Srivastava, V. and Sillanpää, M., 2019. Endosulfan removal through bioremediation, photocatalytic degradation, adsorption and membrane separation processes: a review. Chemical Engineering Journal, 360, 912-928.

 Mudhoo, A., Torres-Mayanga, P.C., Forster-Carneiro, T., Sivagurunathan, P., Kumar, G., Komilis, D. and Sánchez, A., 2018. A review of research trends in the enhancement of biomass-to-hydrogen conversion. Waste Management, 79, 580-594.

Bansal, M., Mudhoo, A., Garg, V.K. & Singh, D., 2016. Sequestration of copper (II) from simulated wastewater using pre–treated rice husk waste biomass. Environmental Engineering and Management Journal, 15(8), 1689-1703. (IF:1.008)

Chukowry, P.K., Mudhoo, A. & Santchurn, S.J., 2017. Bacillus algicola decolourises more than 95% of some textile azo dyes. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 15(3), 531-536. (IF:3.594)

Jeetah P, and Aldine N. 2014. Energy Optimization in Dyehouse, University of Mauritius Research. Vol 20.

Jeetah, P, Golaup N and Buddynauth K. 2015. Production of cardboard from waste rice husk, Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, Vol 3 (2015), 52-59

Jeetah, P, Mohee, R and Ragnath C 2015. Optimization and fermentation Processes for Bioethanol Production, University of Mauritius Research. Vol 21.

Lachos-Perez, D., Brown, A.B., Mudhoo, A., Martinez, J., Timko, M.T., Rostagno, M.A. & Forster-Carneiro, T., 2017. Applications of subcritical and supercritical water conditions for extraction, hydrolysis, gasification, and carbonization of biomass: a critical review. Biofuel Research Journal, 14(2), 611-626. (Indexed in Scopus and Web of Science)

Mohee, R., Boojhawon, A., Sewhoo, B., Rungasamy, S., Somaroo, G. D., & Mudhoo, A. (2015). Assessing the potential of coal ash and bagasse ash as inorganic amendments during composting of municipal solid wastes. Journal of environmental management, 159, 209-217.

Mohee, R., Mauthoor, S., Bundhoo, Z. M., Somaroo, G., Soobhany, N., & Gunasee, S. (2015). Current status of solid waste management in small island developing states: a review. Waste management, 43, 539-549.

Mohee, R., Mudhoo, A., Peryagh, C., & Somaroo, G. D. (2013). Composting of washed Ulva reticulata seaweed: process parameter variations and compost quality. International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 12(1), 89-111.

Ramiah Y. and Jeetah P, 2015. Efficiency of Moringa Oleifera and Polyaluminium chloride for sludge thickening, University of Mauritius Research. Vol 21

Savoo, S. & Mudhoo, A., 2018. Biomethanation macrodynamics of vegetable residues pretreated by low-frequency microwave irradiation. Bioresource Technology, 248A, 280-286. (IF:5.651)             

Sivagurunathan, P., Kumar, G., Mudhoo, A., Rene, E.R., Saratale, G.D., Kobayashi, T., Xu, K., Kim, S.-H. & Kim, D.-H., 2017. Fermentative hydrogen production using lignocellulose biomass: An overview of pre-treatment methods, inhibitor effects and detoxification experiences. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 77C, 28–42. (IF:8.050)

Soobhany, N., Mohee, R., & Somaroo, G. D. (2014). Process parameters analysis for the vermicomposting of shredded paper using Pheretimoid Spp. International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 14(1), 99-116.

Conference Papers

Jeetah, P and Mohee, R. 2012. Bioethanol production from readily available lignocellulosic biomass in Mauritius through Enzymatic Hydrolysis, International Conference on Technology transfer on Renewable Energy (ICTTRE 2012), 21-22 June 2012; Mauritius.

Jeetah, P and Mohee, R. 2012. Potential of producing bio-ethanol for use as E10 in Transportation Sector from Low Cost Lignocellulosic Green Waste in Mauritius, ORBIT2012 conference on Global assessment for organic resources and waste management, 12-15th June 2012; Rennes

Jeetah, P and N. Reetoo, Biogas production potential from cow dung to be used in the Vedic farm, International Conference on “Renewable Energy and Sustainability (RESUS 2015), 3 – 5 March 2015

Jeetah, P, B. Bholah and Mohee, R, Bioethanol production from algae, International Conference on “Renewable Energy and Sustainability (RESUS 2015), 3 – 5 March 2015

Reekye A and Jeetah, P, Assessing Energy Potential from Waste Tyres in Mauritius by Direct Combustion, Pyrolysis and Gasification, International Conference on Energy, Environment and Climate Change (ICEECC 2015), 8-9 July 2015

Surroop, D., Mohee, R., and Jeetah, P. 2012. Renewable Energy Potential in Mauritius and Technology Transfer through the DIREKT Project. International Conference on Agriculture, Chemical and Environmental Sciences (ICACES'2012), 6-7Oct 2012; Dubai  

Book Chapters

Jeetah, P., Surroop, D., Mohee, R., Leal, W., Schulte, V. and Gottwald, J. 2013. Strategies developed for the Small Island States (SIDS) to enhance renewable Energy utilization by DIREKT, Climate – Smart Technologies, Chapter 17, pp 235- 244, ISBN 978-3-642-37753-2, Doi 10.1007/978-3-642-37753-2_36, Springer Berlin Heidelberg

Jeetah, P., Surroop, D., Mohee, R., Leal, W., Schulte, V. and Gottwald, J. 2013. Feasibility of using Solar Energy as a source of renewable Energy in Mauritius under collaboration of DIREKT, Climate – Smart Technologies, Chapter 36, pp 473- 481, ISBN 978-3-642-37753-2, Doi 10.1007/978-3-642-37753-2_36, Springer Berlin Heidelberg

Leelah, S. & Mudhoo, A., 2018.  Greenhouse gas emission reductions from solid waste management: Prognosis of related issues. In: The Nexus: Energy, Environment and Climate Change. Green Energy and Technology (Eds. Leal Filho, W. & Surroop, D.), Springer, Cham; pp. 347-366.

Schulte, V., Surroop, D., Mohee, R., Khadoo-Jeetah, P., Leal, W. and Gottwald, J. 2012. Fostering renewable energies in Small Developing Island States through knowledge and technology transfer: Findings from a labour market survey undertaken in Mauritius under the DIREKT project, Educational and Technological Approaches to Renewable Energy, Chapter 4, pp 89-104, ISBN 978-3-631-62264-3

Research Abstracts

Ganeshan. T and P.Jeetah. 2013. Efficiency of removing hardness in water using Moringa Oleifera seed suspension. Research Week 2013. University of Mauritius. 16–20 September 2013.

Jeetah, P, Hulkhory B. and Mohee, R, Bioethanol potential from palm leaves using separate saccharification and fermentation (SHF) and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF), First International Conference, Recent Advances In Bio-Energy Research (ICRABR-2015), 14 – 17 March 2015

Jeetah, P. and Etwah P. 2014. Treatment of Wastewater from Textile Industries using Thermal Power Plant Wastes. Research Week 2014. University of Mauritius. 15 – 19 September 2014.

Jeetah, P. and Mungur V. 2014. Efficiency of Used Yeast Biomass as a Biosorbent for Removal of Reactive Dyes from Textile Waste Water. Research Week 2014. University of Mauritius. 15 – 19 September 2014.

Jeetah, P. and Seeboo R K. 2014. Biogas Production from Municipal Solid Waste. Research Week 2014. University of Mauritius. 15 – 19 September 2014.

Khadoo-Jeetah, P., Mohee, R. and Clarke, K. G. 2012. Poster on Acid hydrolysis versus enzymatic hydrolysis for ethanol production from lignocellulosic wastes, 1st Biotechnology World Congress Conference (1st BWC), 14 -15th February 2012, Dubai.