Kun-Yi Andrew Lin, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan, China
Prof. Kun-Yi Andrew Lin is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Environmental Engineering at National Chung Hsing University (NCHU), Taiwan. He received his Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Engineering from Columbia University, USA, where his research focused on nanoparticle–organic hybrid materials for carbon capture and utilization. Since joining NCHU in 2013, Prof. Lin has developed an internationally recognized research program in environmental nanotechnology, advanced functional materials, and sustainable environmental remediation. His research interests include metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), MOF-derived materials, nanostructured catalysts, advanced oxidation processes, and resource recovery technologies for environmental applications. Prof. Lin has been recognized among the World's Top 2% Most-Cited Scientists in the Stanford University Ranking for multiple consecutive years. He serves as Chief Specialty Editor of Frontiers in Nanotechnology (Environmental Nanotechnology) and Associate Editor of Composites and Advanced Materials, Journal of Applied Biomaterials & Functional Materials, Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering, and Energy & Environment. He also previously served as an Editor of the Chemical Engineering Journal.
Alissara Reungsang, Khon Kaen University, Thailand
Prof. Dr. Alissara Reungsang is a distinguished researcher and professor at the Faculty of Technology, Khon Kaen University (KKU) in Thailand, where she serves in the Department of Biotechnology. She is the head of the Research Group for Development of Microbial Hydrogen Production Process from Biomass at KKU. Her extensive academic background includes a B.S. in Biotechnology from Khon Kaen University, an M.S. in Pharmacy (Microbiology) from Mahidol University, and a Ph.D. in Water Resources from Iowa State University, USA, which she earned in 2000, Prof. Reungsang's research is primarily focused on bioenergy and bioenvironmental engineering, with a specialization in anaerobic digestion processes. Her work involves the production of biohydrogen, biomethane, and biohythane from various types of biomass, including agricultural residues like sugarcane bagasse and leaves, as well as industrial wastes. Beyond gaseous biofuels, her research also explores the production of high-value biochemicals, such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and fatty acids, and includes the bioremediation of pesticide-contaminated soil. With a prolific publication record, she has authored over 240 documents, which have accumulated more than 6,800 citations, reflecting her significant impact in the fields of biofuel production and bioconversion. Her groundbreaking contributions have been recognized nationally; she received the National Best Researcher Award in the field of agriculture and biology from the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) in 2019. More recently, in 2024, she was honored with the "High-Potential Researcher Award" by Thailand's Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation for her project on biofuel and biochemical production technologies from the sugarcane industry. Prof. Reungsang is also a member of the Academy of Science, Royal Society of Thailand.
Speech title "From Microplastic Pollution to Bioenergy and Bioplastics: Closing the Carbon Loop in the Waste-to-Energy Chain"
Abstract-Microplastics are no longer only a marine problem. Polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride and polyester dominate the microplastic fraction of Thai municipal wastewater and sludge, which means they arrive routinely in the anaerobic digesters used for renewable energy recovery. This lecture examines what they do there, what can be done about them, and how the problem can be converted into a product. Using a D-optimal mixture design at a fixed total load of 1,000 mg/L, we found that every polymer combination depressed methane production relative to a plastic-free control (3,839 mL-CH4/L). Critically, a difference of only four percentage points in PVC content shifted performance by twelve percent, from a 7% loss to a 19% loss. The mechanism was structural rather than toxic: extracellular polymeric substances fell from 83.02 to 31.51 mg/g, and the acetoclastic methanogen Methanosaeta declined from 44.1% to 23.9% while hydrogenotrophic populations expanded. Functional prediction nonetheless revealed peroxidase, lipase, dehalogenase and esterase activities already latent within the digester community. Building on that observation, we isolated plastic-degrading microorganisms from an open dump landfill in Khon Kaen. Neobacillus sp. PVCKKU3, a novel species carrying a 5.91 Mbp genome, achieved 8.07% PVC weight loss in 35 days under optimised conditions against 0.02% in an abiotic control, and did so on untreated microplastics, unlike most reported strains that require thermal, chemical or composting pretreatment. Consortium CPP-KKU3 degraded 17.8% of polypropylene within 30 days while simultaneously accumulating polyhydroxybutyrate. Complementing degradation, a biocomposite membrane of sugarcane bagasse cellulose and PHBV removed 83.79% of Congo red dye and 95.15% of vegetable oil with sustained reusability. Together these results outline a circular route in which persistent plastic waste is intercepted, degraded and returned as biodegradable polymer, consistent with Thailand's bio-circular-green economy framework.
Helena Nadais, University of Aveiro, Portugal
Helena Nadais is a Chemical Engineer and Assistant Professor at the University of Aveiro, specializing in environmental sciences with a particular focus on water and wastewater treatment processes. Her academic background includes a Master Degree in Chemical Engineering, specializing in Processes and Industry, from Lisbon Technical University and a PhD in Applied Environmental Sciences from the University of Aveiro. Her doctoral research pioneered new methodologies for treating industrial wastewater with an emphasis on energy recovery. Helena Nadais has been a faculty member since 2003, teaching and doing extensive research in the treatment and valorization of water and industrial effluents. She is recognized for her scholarly contributions with an H-index of 21, and she has authored 41 publications in indexed journals. Her professional engagements include leading and participating in numerous national and international research projects, fostering industry-academia collaborations, and enhancing the application of sustainable practices in environmental management. Helena Nadais is currently involved as scientific researcher in several national and international research projects focusing on material and energy recovery from wastes.