CO₂ Capture & Utilization
Hybrid membrane–absorption processes, alkanolamine systems, and direct air capture for energy-efficient CO₂ separation — paired with catalytic pathways that convert captured CO₂ into fuels and chemicals.
Chemical Engineering · Clean Energy & Sustainable Conversion
Qazi Nasir
PhD — Clean Energy & Sustainable Chemical Conversion
Research-active chemical engineer with a PhD and 15+ years across academia, research, and industry. My work integrates CO₂ capture and utilization, catalytic conversion, membrane-enabled separations, high-pressure thermodynamics, and data-driven process modeling to advance clean energy and sustainable chemical manufacturing.
01 · About
A researcher building bridges between thermodynamics and applied process engineering.
I am a research-active chemical engineer with a PhD from Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS and 15+ years of combined academic, research, and industrial experience. I am the author or co-author of 28 peer-reviewed publications, a book chapter, and authored monographs, and I have served as PI or investigator on competitively funded research — spanning CO₂ capture and utilization, catalytic conversion, membrane-enabled separations, high-pressure thermodynamics, phase equilibria, and machine learning.
As an Assistant Professor at the University of Nizwa, Oman and earlier at NUST, Pakistan, I taught thermodynamics, process simulation, plant design, natural gas processing, catalysis, and numerical methods, while leading externally funded research on hydrate equilibria, CO₂ capture and conversion, and heterogeneous catalysis. My work appears in journals such as the Journal of Natural Gas Science & Engineering, The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, and Neural Computing and Applications.
Today, as an independent researcher in Virginia, I focus on integrated CO₂ capture and catalytic conversion, catalytic membrane reactors, and data-driven process design — alongside STEM education — continuing to translate fundamental science into industrially useful tools for carbon-efficient chemical manufacturing.
+
Years in academia, research & industry
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Peer-reviewed publications
+
Citations of published work
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Students mentored
02 · Research
Four areas where I focus my work.
From fundamental phase behavior to deployed machine-learning models, my research targets the capture and processing of CO₂-rich gas systems.
Catalytic Reaction Engineering
CO₂ hydrogenation to methanol, carbon-supported and carbon nanofiber-based catalysts, heterogeneous catalysis, and plasma-assisted conversion of H₂O/CO₂ — from kinetics studies to process-level design.
Membrane-Enabled Separations & Reactors
Intensified reaction–separation systems — including a TRC-funded catalytic membrane reactor for propane oxidative dehydrogenation — where selective transport coupled with reaction unlocks new operating regimes.
Thermodynamics, Phase Equilibria & Data-Driven Modeling
High-pressure PVT and VLE measurement with hybrid physics-informed machine-learning models that predict hydrate equilibria and accelerate reaction and process design — replacing costly experiments with fast, reliable surrogates.
Funded research
Principal Investigator — Propane Oxidative Dehydrogenation Using Catalytic Membrane Reactor, The Research Council (TRC), Oman
Investigator — Kinetic Study of Hydrate Formation: Flow Assurance and Separation of CO₂-Rich Gas Mixture, PETRONAS Research
Investigator — Phase Behavior of CO₂-Rich Gas Mixture Under Reservoir-to-Surface Conditions, YUTP Fundamental Research Fund
03 · Capabilities
Experimental, computational & engineering skills.
Process Simulation
Programming & ML
Experimental
Engineering Domains
04 · Career
Experience & education.
Fifteen years across industry, doctoral and postdoctoral research, and university faculties in Malaysia, Pakistan, and Oman.
Experience
2025 — Present
Independent Researcher
Clean Energy & Sustainable Chemical Conversion · Annandale, Virginia, USA
Continuing research in CO₂ capture and utilization, catalytic conversion, and data-driven process design; preparing manuscripts and collaborative research proposals within the U.S. clean-energy ecosystem, alongside STEM education in Virginia.
2016 - Jan 2026
Assistant Professor, Chemical & Petrochemical Engineering
University of Nizwa · Oman
Taught thermodynamics, process simulation, plant design, natural gas processing, catalysis, and numerical methods at undergraduate and graduate levels. Developed flipped-classroom and simulation-based approaches, mentored 50+ students, and led ABET-aligned curriculum redesign and lab safety training for 100+ students using high-pressure equipment.
2010 — 2016
Lecturer / Assistant Professor, Chemical & Material Engineering
National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) · Pakistan
Taught core and elective chemical engineering courses at undergraduate and graduate levels; supervised research and final-year design projects; contributed to curriculum development and accreditation activities.
2012 — 2015
Research Officer — Research Center for CO₂ Capture
Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS · Malaysia
Measured and modeled vapor–liquid equilibria and gas-hydrate phase behavior using high-pressure PVT systems; delivered project milestones for sponsored research and developed external collaborations.
2004 — 2008
Apprentice / Process Engineer
Pak-American Fertilizer Pvt. Ltd. · Pakistan
Supervised water-treatment plant and laboratory operations; served as Independent Shift Engineer responsible for plant operations and emergency response, with process optimization using Aspen HYSYS, Aspen Plus, ChemStation, CHEMCAD, and ProSim.
Education
2015
PhD, Chemical Engineering
Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS · Malaysia
Dissertation: Thermodynamic and Phase Behaviour of Fluid and Clathrate Hydrate of Carbon Dioxide Rich Gas Mixture.
2009
MSc, Petroleum Engineering
Teesside University · United Kingdom
Middlesbrough, Tees Valley.
2004
BSc, Chemical Engineering
Institute of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Punjab University · Pakistan
Quaid-i-Azam Campus, Lahore.
05 · Teaching
Courses developed & delivered.
Extensive undergraduate and graduate instruction across core chemical-engineering subjects, with applied, industry-relevant course materials, flipped-classroom methods, and simulation-based laboratories.
Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
Process Simulation
Plant Design
Natural Gas Processing
Catalysis
Numerical Methods
Chemical Process Industries
Petroleum Refinery & Gas Processing
STEM Educator (K–12)
Mentoring is an extension of my teaching philosophy: I advise undergraduate and graduate students on research and final-year design projects spanning separation processes, catalysis, gas hydrates, process modeling, and AI/ML applications. My approach structures work around progressively increasing independence — clarifying questions and expectations, establishing short milestones, and requiring students to explain their decisions and uncertainty — with several mentored projects receiving departmental recognition.
06 · Publications
Selected research & peer-reviewed work.
Author/co-author of 28 peer-reviewed publications, a book chapter, and authored monographs spanning CO₂ capture and utilization, catalysis, phase equilibria, and machine learning. Citation counts reflect Google Scholar.
2025
The Opportunities and Challenges of Using Nanomaterials as Photocatalysts for the Degradation of Environmental Pollutants
2citations
2025
Photocatalytic Degradation of Organophosphates Using Nanocrystalline ZnO Synthesized by Modified Sonochemical Method
1citations
2024
Application of machine learning on hydrate formation prediction of pure components with water and inhibitors solution
5citations
2024
Passive Direct Air Capture of Carbon Dioxide with an Alkaline Amino Acid Salt in Water-based Paints
4citations
2024
Effects of Ni Loadings on the Structure and Morphology of Carbon Nanotubes Using Nickel Doped Iron Oxide Catalysts
2citations
2023
Predicting Gas Hydrate Equilibria in Multicomponent Systems with a Machine Learning Approach
10citations
2023
Enhanced anaerobic co-digestion of food waste and solid poultry slaughterhouse waste using fixed bed digester: Performance and energy recovery
20citations
2023
Evaluation of two plumes jet plasma reactor for plasmolysis of H2O vapor and CO2 combination-optimization study
2citations
2023
Neural network-based correlation and statistical identification of data outliers in H2S-alkanolamine-H2O and CO2-alkanolamine-H2O datasets
2citations
2022
A multi-layer perceptron neural network model for predicting the hydrate equilibrium conditions in multi-component hydrocarbon systems
31citations
2022
A review of preparation methods for heterogeneous catalysts
41citations
2020
A review on the role and impact of various additives as promoters/inhibitors for gas hydrate formation
212citations
2014
Hydrate Dissociation Condition Measurement of CO₂-Rich Mixed Gas in the Presence of Methanol/Ethylene Glycol and Mixed Electrolyte Aqueous Solution
42citations
07 · Contact
Contact
Let's collaborate
Open to research collaboration, consulting, and teaching opportunities in clean energy, CO₂ capture and utilization, catalytic conversion, and chemical engineering education.