Dr Estephane research has been and is still focused on trending Chemical Engineering fields. She mainly works on designing novel catalytic materials for the production of alternative fuels and the protection of the environment.
Dr Estephane has developed at the Chemical Engineering Department a new research axis which is an extremely challenging and interesting topic nowadays. She works in the waste valorization field turning waste cooking oils into biodiesel, and non-recycled plastic wastes into syngas. In addition, another field of interest is hydrogen production from renewable resources such as biogas and bio-alcohols via catalytic steam and dry reforming.
Finally, Dr Estephane is also interested in air pollution remediation, with a focus on the catalytic removal of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are emitted from industrial chimneys and car exhausts. All these topics fall under the umbrella of ”Heterogeneous Catalysis”. Dr Estephane has published a review book chapter, many conference proceedings and several peer reviewed papers in high impact factor international journals from several projects (BS projects, MS projects, MS theses and PhD theses), some of which were granted distinguished awards. Several projects were the result of bilateral collaborations between UOB and foreign universities such as Université du Littoral Côte d’Opale (France) and the University of Oulu (Finland).
Research Interests
1. Nanomaterials and Heterogeneous Catalysis
2. Alternative Biofuels and Hydrogen Production
3. Pollution Remediation
4. Waste valorization
Selected Works
Journal Publications
1. E. Dahdah, J. Estephane, C. Gennequin, B. El Khoury, E. Abi Aad, S. Aouad; “A comparative study of zirconia supported nickel and/or ruthenium catalysts for glycerol steam reforming”, Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy, 2023, 32, 101019.
2. L. Nahas, E. Dahdah, S. Aouad, B. El Khoury, C. Gennequin, E. Abi Aad, J. Estephane; “Highly efficient scallop seashell-derived catalyst for biodiesel production from sunflower and waste cooking oils: Reaction kinetics and effect of calcination temperature studies”; Renewable Energy, 2023, 202, 1086-1095.
3. A. Younis, J. Estephane, C. Gennequin, L. Tidahy, B. El Khoury, S. Aouad, E. Abi-Aad; “Influence of promoting Ni-based catalysts with ruthenium in the dry reforming of polypropylene plastics for syngas production” Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 2022, 47, 40204-40217.
4. E. Dahdah, J. Estephane, L.M. Chalouhi, S. Sammoury, B. El Khoury, C. Gennequin, E. Abi-Aad, S. Aouad; “Transesterification of Refined Sunflower Oil to Biodiesel Using CaO/ZSM-5 Powder Catalyst”; Chem. Eng. Technol., 2022, 45 (1), 51-57.
5. N. Elia, J. Estephane, C. Poupin, B. El Khoury, L. Pirault-Roy, S. Aouad, E. Abi Aad; “A Highly Selective and Stable Ruthenium-Nickel Supported on Ceria Catalyst for Carbon Dioxide Methanation”; ChemCatChem, 2021, 13 (6), 1559-1567.
6. E. Dahdah, J. Estephane, Y. Taleb, B. El Khoury, J. El Nakat, S. Aouad; “The role of rehydration in enhancing the basic properties of Mg–Al hydrotalcites for biodiesel production”; Sustain. Chem. Pharm., 2021, 22, 100487.
7. N. Ishak, J. Estephane, E. Dahdah, L.M. Chalouhi, S. Nassreddine, B. El Khoury, S. Aouad; “Outstanding activity of a biodiesel coated K2O/fumed silica catalyst in the transesterification reaction”; J. Environ. Chem. Eng., 2021, 9 (1), Article 104665.
8. R. Mahfouz, J. Estephane, C. Gennequin, L. Tidahy, S. Aouad, E. Abi Aad; “CO2 reforming of methane over Ni and/or Ru catalysts supported on mesoporous KIT-6: Effect of promotion with Ce”; J. Environ. Chem. Eng., 2021, 9 (1), Article 104662.
Book Chapter
1. S. Aouad, M. Labaki, S. Ojala, P. Seelam, E. Turpeinen, C.Gennequin, J.Estephane, E.Abi-Aad, “A Review on the Dry Reforming Processes for Hydrogen Production: Catalytic Materials and Technologies”; Frontiers in Ceramic Science, Vol. 2, 60- 128, 2018.