International Research Project Featured in National Publication on Top Industrial Plans
As reported by the Public Relations Office of Esfarayen University of Technology, the book "Selected Industrial Plans of Iranian Universities and Research Institutes" for the year 1404 (2025) has been published by the Office of Community and Industry Relations of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology.
In this publication, a report on an international research project – commissioned by Xi'an University in China – entitled "Synthesis and Characterisation of Cellulose-Based Aerogel Hybrid" has been introduced and described as one of the selected industrial plans. The project was carried out by Dr. Mohammad Hatami, Associate Professor at Esfarayen University of Technology, and is featured on page 143 of the book.
This achievement further highlights the growing international scientific collaboration between the faculty members of Esfarayen University of Technology and prestigious academic institutions worldwide, reinforcing the university's commitment to addressing global challenges through joint research endeavours.
One of the most significant sources of environmental pollution is industrial wastewater. Industries such as dye manufacturing, chemical production, paper and cardboard manufacturing, textiles, and food processing are among the major contributors. Textile wastewater, in particular, contains hazardous dye pollutants such as Methyl Orange, Rhodamine B, and Methylene Blue. These contaminants not only cause serious environmental and water pollution but also lead to secondary contamination of surface and groundwater, thereby threatening human health and the survival of various organisms in the ecosystem. Therefore, the removal of dye pollutants from industrial wastewater is a critical and vital task.
In this project, a photocatalyst based on cellulose aerogel derived from wastepaper was used as the primary aerogel matrix for wastewater treatment and dye pollutant removal. The use of aerogels as photocatalysts for photocatalytic degradation has attracted significant attention from researchers in recent years due to their high specific surface area, high adsorption capacity, uniform structure, and – most importantly – their resistance to agglomeration and ease of separation from aqueous solutions after treatment. Additionally, zinc oxide-graphene oxide nanoparticles were employed in this research to function within the porous aerogel structure for effective pollutant removal.
The Public Relations Office of Esfarayen University of Technology extends its sincere congratulations to Dr. Hatami on this national and international recognition.