Dr. Emmanuel Umejuru

Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (EMÜ)

Nationality: Nigerian

Status: Married, 3 children

Estonian University of Life Sciences

Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Chair of veterinary biomedicine and food hygiene
Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi 62, Tartu 51006, ESTONIA

Email: emmanuel.umejuru@emu.ee

ORCID: 0000-0001-7757-8087

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

EDUCATION

• Ph.D in Chemistry (2021, University of Johannesburg, South Africa) Thesis Title: Synthesis of low cost adsorbents for the removal of heavy metal ions and reuse of the heavy-metal loaded adsorbent for the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants.
• M.Sc. in Environmental Technology (2011, Teesside University, England)

Present fields of research

• Nanomaterials synthesis for photocatalytic applications
• Nanomaterials applied to adsorption of heavy metals
• Geopolymer for water treatment
• Nanomaterials applied to dye degradation
• Nanomaterials applied to degradation of emerging contaminants

Experience

• 2024: Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMÜ), Tartu, Estonia.
• 2022 – 2024: Postdoctoral Fellow, South African Medical Research Council, South Africa
• 2018 – 2022: Senior Environmental Scientist, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, Nigeria
• 2014 – 2018: Environmental Scientist 1, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency

Present Projects

• 2024-2028 “Glass and sand nanocomposites investigations toward water and soil remediation”, Senior research staff (PRG2115)
• 2024-2028 “Development of nano-additives to optimize jet fuel combustion and reduce carbon footprint”, Participant as researcher (TEMTA144)

Honor and Awards

Global Excellence Stature (GES) Doctoral Scholarship, University of Johannesburg, South Africa (2020).

Supervision

• Netshitandani Naledzani (2023 – 2024): Synthesis of macadamia porous geopolymer material for removal of crystal violet from water, University of Venda, South Africa

Publications

2024

• Umejuru, E.C., Street, R. and Edokpayi, J.N., 2024. A Comprehensive Review of the Occurrence, Distribution, Characteristics and Fate of Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the African Continent. Chemistry Africa, pp.1-15.
• Chauke, L., Umejuru, E.C., Adeeyo, R.O. and Edokpayi, J.N., 2024. The removal of Rhodamine B from aqueous solution using manganese oxide modified vermiculite. South African Journal of Chemical Engineering, 47(1), pp.159-168.
• Umejuru, E.C., Street, R. and Edokpayi, J.N., 2024. The application of synthesized geopolymer for the removal of cationic dye from industrial wastewater. Results in Materials, 22, p.100572.

2023

• Umejuru, E.C., Prabakaran, E. and Pillay, K., 2023. Coal fly ash decorated with graphene and polyaniline nanocomposites for effective adsorption of hexavalent chromium and its reuse for photocatalysis. ACS omega, 8(20), pp.17523-17537.
• Umejuru, E.C., Mashifana, T., Kandjou, V., Amani-Beni, M., Sadeghifar, H., Fayazi, M., Karimi-Maleh, H. and Sithole, N.T., 2023. Application of zeolite based nanocomposites for wastewater remediation: Evaluating newer and environmentally benign approaches. Environmental research, 231, p.116073. 

2021

• Umejuru, E.C., Prabakaran, E. and Pillay, K., 2021. Coal fly ash decorated with graphene oxide–tungsten oxide nanocomposite for rapid removal of Pb2+ ions and reuse of spent adsorbent for photocatalytic degradation of acetaminophen. Acs Omega, 6(17), pp.11155-11172.

2020

• Umejuru, E.C., Prabakaran, E. and Pillay, K., 2020. Coal fly ash coated with carbon hybrid nanocomposite for remediation of cadmium (II) and photocatalytic application of the spent adsorbent for reuse. Results in Materials, 7, p.100117.