The contamination of water resources with toxic heavy metals is a major environmental concern, particularly in industrial sectors such as oil and gas, petrochemicals, and manufacturing. The development of sustainable and environmentally friendly materials for wastewater treatment has therefore become an important research direction. Cellulose-based composites have attracted considerable attention due to their renewable origin, availability, biodegradability, and potential for functional modification to enhance their pollutant removal capabilities.
This presentation explores the application of cellulose-based composite materials for the removal of heavy metals from contaminated water. Particular attention is given to the development of functional composites incorporating biomass-derived materials and inorganic components, and their potential to improve adsorption performance and facilitate the treatment process. The role of material composition, surface functional groups, and structural properties in heavy metal removal is also discussed.
Furthermore, the potential of these materials for sustainable industrial wastewater treatment, including applications in the oil and gas and petrochemical industries, is highlighted. The integration of agricultural waste-derived resources into advanced composite materials represents a promising approach towards more sustainable water treatment technologies and contributes to the principles of circular economy and environmental protection.
Dr. Rima Guliyeva is the Head of the Chemical Engineering Department at Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS), SOCAR, Azerbaijan. She holds a PhD in Technical Sciences from the Institute of Petrochemical Processes of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan. She also pursued academic studies in Chemical Engineering at the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Portugal, and holds a Master’s degree in Chemistry and Technology of Basic Organic Synthesis from Qafqaz University.
Dr. Guliyeva has extensive academic and managerial experience in higher education, having held several positions at Baku Higher Oil School, including Deputy Dean of the Engineering Faculty and Head of the Educational and Methodological Department. Her academic activities include teaching chemical engineering, process simulation, chemical reaction engineering, and process design, as well as supervising student research projects.
Her research interests include petroleum chemistry, catalytic processes, wastewater treatment, adsorption technologies, and the development of sustainable materials for environmental applications. Her recent research focuses particularly on cellulose-based composites, biochar-derived adsorbents, and advanced materials for the removal of heavy metals and other pollutants from industrial wastewater. She has authored and co-authored scientific publications in the fields of petroleum processing, catalysis, adsorption, and environmental technologies.
Cellulose-Based Composites for Heavy Metal Removal