UFAZ Students Contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals through Research Projects

Within the framework of a research collaboration between the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (ASOIU) and the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), one of the leading higher education institutions in the UAE, five joint research projects dedicated to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been launched. These projects focus on SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

In each research project, scientists and students from both universities are working together to combine their scientific potential, implement innovative solutions, and achieve practical outcomes for the future. Two of these projects are led by students from the French-Azerbaijani University (UFAZ).

The first project is dedicated to the topic named “The Advantages of Biogenic Catalysts in Biodiesel Production.” The team, consisting of Aliya Kurmayeva and Sara Malik-Aslanova, is supervised by Zumrud Yunusova, a Laboratory assistant at UFAZ, and Dr. Zafar Said Sher, Associate Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UAEU. Their research has revealed that biogenic CaO catalysts derived from eggshells are more efficient and accessible than synthetic alternatives. As a result, a biodiesel yield of 94.8% was achieved. The project is considered highly promising in terms of industrial application.

The second project focuses on “Remediation of Gamma-Irradiated Contaminated Soils.” The team, composed of Javidan Nasirli and Nazrin Alihumbatova, is supervised by Samir Karimov, Chemistry teacher at UFAZ, and Prof. Mohammad Jawaid Ziaur Rahman from the Department of Chemical and Petroleum at UAEU. Their experiments demonstrated that persistent organic pollutants such as HCB and DDT were degraded up to 100% through gamma irradiation. The results were confirmed through GC-MS and HPLC analyses.

Results of these projects will be presented at a joint symposium to be held at ASOIU in November this year. The event will bring together researchers from both universities, industry representatives, and government agencies to exchange ideas on sustainability and innovation.