Denny Gunawan

Academic Qualifications
2019 – present: PhD Candidate, Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
2013 – 2017: BEng, Chemical Engineering, The University of Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia

Project: Photocatalytic biomass valorisation to produce valuable chemicals and hydrogen fuel

Conversion of biomass into chemicals and energy has received significant attention to reduce the world’s reliance on fossil fuels as well as to cut global carbon dioxide emissions. Photocatalysis offers a promising approach for biomass valorisation at ambient conditions by harnessing solar energy to drive the reactions. Unfortunately, the applications remain in the laboratory sphere due to the lack of high-performance photocatalysts. Therefore, this project aims to develop a hybrid photocatalyst with excellent activity, selectivity, and stability for the simultaneous production of valuable chemicals and hydrogen fuel from biomass. Furthermore, the active sites and the reaction mechanism will be investigated in depth using ex situ, in situ, and operando characterisation techniques combined with a theoretical perspective. Ultimately, the findings of this project will enable the development of a solar biorefinery system where waste biomass is transformed into material and energy products in sun-rich remote areas, thereby combating the issues of sustainable chemical synthesis, renewable energy, and environmental remediation.

Supervisors
Prof Rose Amal
Assoc Prof Jason Scott

Awards and Achievements
2019: Tuition Fee Scholarship, The University of New South Wales
2016: Silver Medal in Chemistry at National Olympiad of Mathematics and Natural Science 2016, DIKTI
2015: Silver Medal in Chemistry at National Olympiad of Mathematics and Natural Science 2015, DIKTI
2013: Merit Scholarship, The University of Surabaya

Publications
Gunawan D, Kuswadi VB, Sapei L, Riadi L. Yarn dyed wastewater treatment using hybrid electrocoagulation-Fenton method in a continuous system: Technical and economical viewpoint. Environ Eng Res. 2018;23(1):114-119.

Links
Check out my research via ResearchGate and ORCID