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Zenamarkos Bantie Sendekie
Academic Rank
Associate Professor in Process Engineering

Zenamarkos Bantie Sendekie, PhD

Associate Professor 

Department of Chemical/ Faculty of Chemical and Food Engineering 

Biography/Profile Summary

Dr. Zenamarkos Bantie is an Associate Professor of Process Engineering at Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia, with over 18 years of experience in teaching, research, and academic leadership. He earned his BSc in Chemical Engineering from Bahir Dar University in 2007 and subsequently pursued advanced studies through prestigious European Union-funded Erasmus Mundus programs. He completed the European Master in Engineering Rheology at KU Leuven, Belgium, and the University of Minho, Portugal, before obtaining his PhD in Fluid Dynamics through the European Doctorate in Membrane Engineering (EUDIME) in 2016. His doctoral research involved collaboration among Université Paul Sabatier (France), the University of Twente (Netherlands), and Universidade Nova de Lisboa (Portugal). Throughout his career, he has held several leadership roles, including department chair, program manager, faculty dean, and deputy scientific director. His research focuses on microfluidics, nanofluidics, rheology, membrane engineering, and waste-to-wealth technologies. He has authored more than 40 scholarly publications and actively serves as a reviewer for international scientific journals.

Educational Background

  • PhD in Chemical Engineering –Université Paul Sabatier (France), the 

University of Twente (Netherlands), and Universidade Nova de Lisboa (Portugal)

Specialization: Membrane Engineering (Microfluidics)

  • MSc in Engineering Rheology –KU Leuven (Belgium) and the University of Minho (Portugal)
  • BSc in Chemical Engineering – Bahir Dar University

Core Expertise & Research Interests

  • Membrane Science and Water Treatment
  • Waste-to-Energy conversion pathways and Sustainable Materials
  • Biopolymer and Packaging Materials
  • Fluid Dynamics and Transport Phenomena
  • Microfluidics, Nanofluidics, and Colloidal Transport

Key Publications & Projects

Project Lead (2024–Present):Extraction and Beneficiation of High-grade Fillers from Locally Available Materials for Import Substitution in Ethiopian Paint Industries (Funded by Bahir Dar University).

Project Co-lead (2024–Present): Valorization of Acokanthera Schimperi Plant Biomass for Co-Production of Bioactive Products (Biopesticide and Biodegradable Food Packaging Materials) (Funded by Bahir Dar University).

Project Co-lead (2024–Present): Potential Assessment, Postharvest Loss Analysis and Utilization of Potato Tubers and its By-products for Value Addition: The case of Amhara Region (Funded by Bahir Dar University).

  • Sendekie, Z. B., & Bacchin, P. (2016). "Colloidal Jamming Dynamics in Microchannel Bottlenecks." Langmuir, 32, 1478–1488.
  • Sendekie, Z. B., Gaveau, A., Lammertink, R. G. H., & Bacchin, P. (2016). "Bacteria Delay the Jamming of Particles at Microchannel Bottlenecks." Scientific Reports, 6, 31471.
  • Mekonnen, K. D., & Sendekie, Z. B. (2021). "NaOH-Catalyzed Methanolysis Optimization of Biodiesel Synthesis from Desert Date Seed Kernel Oil." ACS Omega, 6, 24082–24091.
  • Genet, M. B., Sendekie, Z. B., & Jembere, A. L. (2021). "Investigation and Optimization of Waste LDPE Plastic as a Modifier of Asphalt Mix for Highway Asphalt: Case of Ethiopian Roads." Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, 4, 100150.
  • Admase, A. T., Sendekie, Z. B., & Alene, A. N. (2022). "Biodegradable Film from Mango Seed Kernel Starch Using Pottery Clay as Filler." Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 30, 3431–3446.
  • Addis, L. B., Sendekie, Z. B., & Satheesh, N. (2022). "Degradation Kinetics and Durability Enhancement Strategies of Cellulosic Fiber-Reinforced Geopolymers and Cement Composites." Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, 2022, 1981755.
  • Mersha, D. A., & Sendekie, Z. B. (2022). "High-Temperature Performance Enhancement of Bitumen by Waste PET-Derived Polyurethane." Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, 2022, 9567197.
  • Addis, L. B., Sendekie, Z. B., Habtu, N. G., de Ligny, D., Roether, J. A., & Boccaccini, A. R. (2023). "Optimization of Process Parameters for the Synthesis of Class F Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Binders." Journal of Cleaner Production, 415, 137849.
  • Addis, L. B., Sendekie, Z. B., Habtu, N. G., Schubert, D. W., Roether, J. A., & Boccaccini, A. R. (2024). "False Banana Fiber Reinforced Geopolymer Composite: A Novel Sustainable Material." Ceramics International, 50, 24442–24450.
  • Han, M., Zhang, H., Hu, Y., Zhou, L., Bian, C., Yu, Y., Yao, J., Yang, C., Sendekie, Z., & Liang, H. (2024). "Engineering Electrified Hydrophobic Membranes toward Superior Fouling Resistance." Journal of Water Process Engineering, 59, 105037.
  • Sendekie, Z. B., Bacchin, P., Lammertink, R. G. H., & Crespo, J. G. (2024). "Streamer Formation Dynamics with Mixed Bacterial Species: Effects of Cultivation Conditions, Hydrodynamics, and Species." AIP Advances, 14.
  • Mersha, D. A., Gesese, T. N., Sendekie, Z. B., Admase, A. T., & Bezie, A. J. (2024). "Operating Conditions, Products and Sustainable Recycling Routes of Aminolysis of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET): A Review." Polymer Bulletin, 81, 11563–11579.
  • Checol, C. N., & Sendekie, Z. B. (2025). "Effect of Alkali Treatment on Physicochemical and Microstructural Properties of False Banana Fiber." Scientific Reports, 15, 25446.
  • Addis, L. B., Sendekie, Z. B., Habtu, N. G., Roether, J. A., Schubert, D. W., & Boccaccini, A. R. (2025). "Evaluation of the Durability and Ageing of False Banana Fiber in Different Chemical Environments." Industrial Crops and Products, 236, 122092.
  • Kassaye, G., Gabbiye, N., Getahun, E., Akizuki, S., Bantie, Z., Bhatia, P., Fujiwara, M., Addisu, S., & Sato, S. (2025). "Enhancing Biogas Production from Water Hyacinth Juice through Biochar Addition in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor." Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology, 100, 2289–2298.

Teaching & Academic Duties

  • Undergraduate Courses: Introduction to Chemical Engineering (ChEg2082), Separation Technology (ChEng5181), Introduction to Polymer Science and Engineering (ChEg5171), Process Dynamics and Control (ChEg4121)
  • Postgraduate Courses (MSc): Advanced Transport Phenomena, Polymer Science and Engineering, Advanced Process Dynamics and Control, Advanced Fluid Mechanics and Machineries, Environment and Energy, Energy Management in Textile Industries, Food Packaging Technology, Materials in Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste management, Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics, Non-electric Applications of Nuclear Energy, Particulate Technology and Mineral Processing, Sugar and By-product Diversification, Sugar Technology lab and Chemical Control
  • Postgraduate Courses (PhD): Model-based Process Control, Polymer Science and Chemistry, Polymer Processing Technology and Applications, Graduate Seminar, Turbulent and Multiphase Transport Phenomena
  • Institutional Roles: Member of Promotion Standing Committee of the institute, Member of Program Review and Reorganization Central Committee of the of BDU, Member of Student Cases Standing Committee of the institute, Member of Postgraduate Guideline Preparation Committee of BDU, Member of International Students Admission, Recruitment, and Support Framework Committee of BDU, Member of Promotion Committee of the FCFE, Dean of School of Graduate Studies of BiT