Emmanuel Unuabonah

Emmanuel Iyayi Unuabonah
Professor Emmanuel Unuabonah
Born(1975-01-16)January 16, 1975
Benin City
DiedMarch 26, 2025(2025-03-26) (aged 50)
Known forWater treatment technologies, Environmental sustainability research
AwardsTWAS-ROSSA Prize (2012)
Academic background
Alma materUniversity of Ibadan
Academic work
InstitutionsRedeemer's University, Bells University of Technology, Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun

Emmanuel Iyayi Unuabonah (January 16, 1975 – March 26, 2025) was a Nigerian academic, environmental scientist and professor of Industrial chemistry.[1] Known for his researches on water treatment and environmental sustainability, he was the founding director of the African Centre of Excellence for Water and Environmental Research (ACEWATER) in Redeemer's University in Nigeria. He also served as the president of the Nigerian Young Academy.

Biography

Unuabonah obtained his B.Sc. degree in industrial chemistry from the University of Benin in 1999, and M.Sc. and PhD degrees in industrial chemistry from the University of Ibadan in 2003 and 2007, respectively.[2] During his teaching career at Redeemer's University in Osun State, Nigeria, he served as director of the Directorate of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance[3] and the African Centre of Excellence for Water and Environmental Research.[4] He also served as the president of the Nigerian Young Academy.[5]

Unuabonah died in March 2025.[6]

Publications

Unuabonah was a researcher with well over 100 peer-reviewed publications, with over 5500 citations and an h-index of 41,[7] most of them focused on water treatment technologies, environmental contaminants, and sustainable materials research. His research group developed low-cost, locally sourced composite adsorbents for removal of antibiotics, endocrine disruptors, microplastics, and phenolic compounds from contaminated waters.[8]

He co-edited the Springer Water volume Strategic Management of Wastewater from Intensive Rural Industries (2025),[9] contributing chapters on wastewater from dyeing, textile, oil‑palm processing, and other rural sectors. Selected research highlights include: Clay-based photocatalytic membranes, low‑cost alternative materials for water treatment,[10] Sustainable biomass-clay combos for the abatement of benzenediols, Process optimization and dynamics for water purification,[11] Risk assessment and photo-disinfection of antibiotic residues and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in water sources from Ede, Nigeria,[12] Evaluating the feasibility of creating a zero waste discharge aquaculture system (April 2025),[13] A critial review of toxicity and removal of parabens from water,[14] Regeneration strategies for spent solid matrices used in adsorption of organic pollutants from surface water: a critical review (2016),[15] and Multistage Optimization of the Adsorption of Methylene Blue Dye onto Defatted Carica papaya Seeds (2009).[16]

Influence and citations in scientific literature

His 2013 paper on hybrid clay prepared from Carica papaya seeds and Kaolinite has been cited as an efficient low‑cost alternative for heavy‑metal removal in later reviews of water‑treatment composites.[17] The research was also covered by international science media, which highlighted potential cost savings for clean water in low‑resource settings.[18][19] A 2016 critical review on regeneration strategies for adsorbents has been used as a touchstone in subsequent literature surveying regeneration and reusability of low‑cost adsorbents.[20][21] Broader reviews of clay‑based adsorbents similarly cite and contextualize regeneration approaches relevant to his contributions.[22] Subsequent reviews survey papaya seed as an adsorbent/coagulant and discuss modified papaya‑seed/clay composites, referencing and extending the approach pioneered in HYCA studies.[23][24] Later experimental studies and technology variants build on the original hybrid‑clay concept to expand performance to anionic pollutants and microbial disinfection, indicating methodological diffusion.[25]

Media coverage

A profile by the World Academy of Sciences described his low‑cost purification research using clay and papaya seeds and noted his TWAS grant support.[26] Multiple Nigerian newspapers covered his Nigerian Academy of Science Gold Medal Prize, including Vanguard, The Guardian, and The Punch.[27][28][29] Global coverage of his hybrid clay innovation appeared on notable media emphasizing affordability and impact potential for developing countries.[30] Agência FAPESP reported on a Brazil–Nigeria collaboration led by researchers, including Unuabonah, combining low‑cost composites and solar energy for water decontamination.[31][32]

Leadership and Fellowships

As the founding President of the Nigerian Young Academy (2010–2014).[33] He was affiliated with several academic societies, including: African Science Leadership Program (Alumnus),[34] Global Young Academy (Alumnus),[35] Nigerian Academy of Science (Fellow),[36] and the African Academy of Sciences (Fellow-elect).[37]

References

  1. ^ Africasti (April 2, 2025). "First winner of NAS Gold Medal in Physical Sciences Passes at 50". Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  2. ^ Global Young Academy (2025). "Emmanuel Iyayi Unuabonah". Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  3. ^ "Brief History". August 5, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  4. ^ "About ACEWATER". August 5, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  5. ^ Nigerian Young Academy. "In Loving Memory of Professor Emmanuel Iyayi Unuabonah, Founding President, Nigerian Young Academy (NYA)". Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  6. ^ "In memoriam". The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). Retrieved 2025-09-08.
  7. ^ "Emmanuel Iyayi Unuabonah". Google Scholar. August 5, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  8. ^ PositiveNaija (October 24, 2022). "Emmanuel Iyayi Unuabonah Wins 2017 NAS Gold Medal Prize". Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  9. ^ Oladoja, Nurudeen (July 22, 2025). Strategic Management of Wastewater from Intensive Rural Industries (1st ed.). Switzerland: Springer Cham. ISBN 978-3-031-90313-7.
  10. ^ Ugwuja, Chidinma; Olorunnisola, Damilare (August 5, 2025). "Clay-based Photocatalytic Membranes: Low-cost Alternative Materials for Water Treatment". Royal Society of Chemistry.
  11. ^ Alfred, Moses; Ibeh, Samson; Adesina, Morenike (August 5, 2025). "Sustainable biomass-clay-ZnWO4 combos for the abatement of benzenediols: Process optimization and dynamics for water purification". Journal of Water Process Engineering. 76 108242. doi:10.1016/j.jwpe.2025.108242.
  12. ^ Taylor, Gloria; Ogunlaja, Aemere; Olukanni, Olumide (August 5, 2025). "Risk assessment and photo-disinfection of antibiotic residues and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in water sources from Ede, Nigeria". Heliyon. 11 (1) e41538. Bibcode:2025Heliy..1141538T. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e41538. PMC 11759553. PMID 39866425.
  13. ^ Oladoja, NA; Ogunniyi, JA (2025). "Evaluating the feasibility of creating a zero waste discharge aquaculture system". Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology. 11 (5): 1325–1338. doi:10.1039/D4EW01080A.
  14. ^ Bolujoko, Nathaniel (September 20, 2021). "Toxicity and removal of parabens from water: A critical review". Science of the Total Environment. 792 148092. Bibcode:2021ScTEn.79248092B. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148092. PMID 34147811.
  15. ^ Omorogie, Martins; Babalola, Jonathan (August 1, 2016). "Regeneration strategies for spent solid matrices used in adsorption of organic pollutants from surface water: a critical review". Desalination and Water Treatment. 57 (2): 518–544. Bibcode:2016DWatT..57..518O. doi:10.1080/19443994.2014.967726.
  16. ^ Unuabonah, Emmanuel; Adie, Gilbert; Onah, Lora; Adeyemi, Olalere (December 15, 2009). "Multistage optimization of the adsorption of methylene blue dye onto defatted Carica papaya seeds". Chemical Engineering Journal. 155 (3): 567–579. Bibcode:2009ChEnJ.155..567U. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2009.07.012.
  17. ^ Jaspal, Dipika; Malviya, Arti (2020-05-01). "Composites for wastewater purification: A review". Chemosphere. 246 125788. Bibcode:2020Chmsp.24625788J. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125788. ISSN 0045-6535. PMID 31918098.
  18. ^ American Chemical Society (June 12, 2013). "Papaya-clay combo could cut cost of water purification in developing countries". Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  19. ^ Bernstein, Michael (June 12, 2013). "Papaya-clay combo could cut cost of water purification in developing countries". Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  20. ^ Omorogie, Martins (2016). "Regeneration strategies for spent solid matrices used in adsorption of organic pollutants from surface water: a critical review". Desalination and Water Treatment. 57 (2): 518–544. Bibcode:2016DWatT..57..518O. doi:10.1080/19443994.2014.967726.
  21. ^ El Messaoudi, Noureddine; Mohammed, El Khomri (2024). "Regeneration and reusability of non-conventional low-cost adsorbents to remove dyes from wastewaters in multiple consecutive adsorption–desorption cycles: a review". Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery. 14 (11): 11739–11756. Bibcode:2016DWatT..57..518O. doi:10.1080/19443994.2014.967726.
  22. ^ Momina, Mohammad Shahadat; Isamil, Suzylawati (July 10, 2018). "Regeneration performance of clay-based adsorbents for the removal of Industrial dyes: a review". Royal Society of Chemistry. 8 (43): 24571–24587. Bibcode:2018RSCAd...824571M. doi:10.1039/C8RA04290J. PMC 9082090. PMID 35539168.
  23. ^ Khee, Y.L; Kiew, P.L (2023). "Valorizing papaya seed waste for wastewater treatment: a review". International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. 20 (2): 2327–2346. Bibcode:2023JEST...20.2327K. doi:10.1007/s13762-022-04178-9.
  24. ^ Bayode, Ajibola (May 2, 2023). "A review on the versatility of Carica papaya seed: an agrogenic waste for the removal of organic, inorganic and microbial contaminants in water". Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology. 98 (9): 2095–2109. Bibcode:2023JCTB...98.2095B. doi:10.1002/jctb.7415.
  25. ^ Jun An, Hyung; Jong, Min Park (April 8, 2020). "Adsorptive removal of bulky dye molecules from water with mesoporous polyaniline-derived carbon". Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology. 11: 597–605. doi:10.3762/bjnano.11.47. PMC 7155913. PMID 32318320.
  26. ^ Serra, Cristina (August 27, 2015). "Clean water for Nigeria". Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  27. ^ Eyoboka, Sam (February 25, 2018). "Unuabonah wins 2017 NAS Gold Medal Prize". Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  28. ^ Egbejule, Michael (February 15, 2018). "Unuabonah wins 2017 NAS Gold Medal Prize". Guardian. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  29. ^ PUNCHNG (February 21, 2018). "Unuabonah wins science academy's gold prize". Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  30. ^ American Chemical Society (June 12, 2013). "Papaya-clay combo could cut cost of water purification in developing countries". American Chemical Society.
  31. ^ Agencia FAPESP (April 28, 2021). "Novel Water Decomination Method Combines Low-Cost Composites and Solar Energy". Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  32. ^ "TWAS Directory". August 5, 2025.
  33. ^ Nigerian Young Academy (2025). "In Loving Memory of Professor Emmanuel Iyayi Unuabonah". Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  34. ^ Africa Science Leadership Programme (2015). "Africa Science Leadership Programme 2015". Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  35. ^ Global Young Academy (2014). "Alumni of the GYA - Emmanuel Iyayi Unuabonah". Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  36. ^ Africasti (April 2, 2025). "First winner of NAS Gold Medal in Physical Sciences Passes at 50". Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  37. ^ "The African Academy of Sciences Welcomes 88 Newly Elected Fellows". The African Academy of Sciences. April 2, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
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