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Surafel Aregahegn Agdew
Academic Rank
Lecturer

Surafel Aregahegn Agdew

Lecturer, Chemical Engineering & Process Engineering Course Chair

Bahir Dar University — Department of Chemical Engineering

                  ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Surafel-Aregahegn/research

Biography / Profile Summary

Surafel Aregahegn Agdew is a Chemical Engineering lecturer and Process Engineering Course Chair at Bahir Dar University, where he teaches and mentors B.Sc. students while leading curriculum review and research initiatives. His work centers on biogas production and upgrading, anaerobic digestion, and the valorization of agricultural and municipal waste into sustainable materials and energy. He holds an M.Sc. in Process Engineering (Excellent thesis result) from Bahir Dar University, including an exchange period at the University of South-Eastern Norway, studying waste-to-energy conversion. He has authored ten peer-reviewed publications with Wiley, Springer, and IntechOpen, and actively presents his research at national and international conferences.

Educational Background

  • M.Sc. in Process Engineering — Bahir Dar University (Final grade: 3.93/4)

Thesis: Upgrading of biogas via combined removal of impurities using tailor-made adsorbent materials in a fixed-bed adsorption column (Result: Excellent)

  • B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering — Bahir Dar University (Final grade: 3.61/4)

Thesis: Production and characterization of ink from Ficus Vasta and Euphorbia Abyssinica (Result: A)

  • Higher Diploma in Teaching (HDP) — Bahir Dar University
  • Master Class for Teaching Online — Arizona State University (OpenedX)

Core Expertise & Research Interests

  • Biogas production, purification, and upgrading (fixed-bed adsorption)
  • Anaerobic digestion and biofilm reactor systems for waste treatment
  • Bio-based and eco-friendly composite materials for sustainable packaging and insulation
  • Biopesticide and bio-product formulation from agricultural and industrial waste
  • Computational modeling and simulation (MATLAB, ADM1) of bioenergy systems

Key Publications & Projects

  • Project Lead (2025–Present): Computational Modeling of Anaerobic Digestion Enhanced by Photosynthetic Algae for Biogas Production and Carbon Sequestration.
  • Project Lead (2024–Present): Harnessing of sesame stalk in the integrated production of bioethanol, bio-hydrogen and biogas.
  • Upgrading of biogas via combined removal of impurities using tailor-made adsorbent materials in a fixed-bed adsorption column. Wiley
  • Treatment of water hyacinth juice in an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor with biofilm carriers. Springer
  • Evaluation and optimization of sustainable eco-friendly bio-based micro-composites for smart packaging using micro-clay particles. Springer

Full publication list (10 peer-reviewed works) available on ResearchGate.

Teaching & Academic Duties

  • Current Role: Chemical Engineering Lecturer & Process Engineering Course Chair (2024–Present)
  • Responsibilities: Teaching and mentoring B.Sc. Chemical Engineering students; writing research papers, mega-projects, and community service reports; curriculum review; weekly seminars and international conferences
  • Institutional Roles: Curriculum Review Board Certification (2025); Lead Trainer, Soap and Detergent Production (2025)