Tarek Rashwan

Contact

• workRoom B14 Coates Building
  University Park
  Nottingham
  NG7 2RD
  UK
• Tarek.Rashwan@nottingham.ac.uk

Biography

I completed my PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a specialization in Environment & Sustainability from the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada under the supervision of Dr. Jason Ian Gerhard. I am concurrently an Honorary Lecturer at University College London and Visiting Academic at the Open University and I am a registered professional engineer in Ontario, Canada.

Expertise Summary

My key expertise is in

• Environmental engineering - primarily in fate and transport of pollutants in the environment
• Waste management - primarily in thermal treatment processes, with a focus on contaminant destruction alongside energy and resource recovery
• Heat and mass transfer analyses - including scalability analyses, local thermal non-equilibrium analyses, and analytical and numerical modelling

Research Summary

Alongside students and collaborators, I'm currently researching a range of environmental engineering topics that support a low-carbon, clean, and circular economy - such as assessing hydrogeological… read more

Recent Publications

• WANG, JIAHAO, ZANONI, MARCO A. B., RASHWAN, TAREK L., TORERO, JOSÉ L. and GERHARD, JASON I., 2026. Approximating local thermal non-equilibrium in water-sand-gas phases within wet smoldering processes via a two-energy equation model: International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 255, 127723
• XAVIER, ANDRÉ V., RASHWAN, TAREK L., BITTENCOURT, FLÁVIO L. F. and MARTINS, MARCIO FERREIRA, 2026. Heat penetration in reactive porous beds: Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science Experimental thermal and fluid science. 171, 111631
• KHODAPARASTAN, FATEMEH, BOWEN, JAMES, SWITZER, CHRISTINE, GRANT, GAVIN P., BROWN, JOSHUA K., ZANONI, MARCO A. B. and RASHWAN, TAREK L., 2025. Oxygen dynamics in smouldering combustion: Impacts on reaction zones and biochar production: Proceedings of the Combustion Institute Proceedings of the Combustion Institute. 41, 105850
• KLIPPEL, MIRIAM S., XAVIER, ANDRE V., BITTENCOURT, FLÁVIO L. F., RASHWAN, TAREK L. and MARTINS, MARCIO F., 2025. On the design of smoldering reactors for out-of-bed heat recovery Chemical Engineering Research and Design. 220, 438-449

• View all publications

Current Research

Alongside students and collaborators, I'm currently researching a range of environmental engineering topics that support a low-carbon, clean, and circular economy - such as assessing hydrogeological conditions for safe used nuclear fuel storage, large-scale hydrogen storage and transport systems, and furthering the scientific understanding of a novel thermochemical waste-to-energy technique based on smouldering combustion. These projects primarily focus on understanding mass and energy balance dynamics - often in porous media systems - via experimental, analytical, and numerical methods.

• WANG, JIAHAO, ZANONI, MARCO A. B., RASHWAN, TAREK L., TORERO, JOSÉ L. and GERHARD, JASON I., 2026. Approximating local thermal non-equilibrium in water-sand-gas phases within wet smoldering processes via a two-energy equation model: International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 255, 127723
• XAVIER, ANDRÉ V., RASHWAN, TAREK L., BITTENCOURT, FLÁVIO L. F. and MARTINS, MARCIO FERREIRA, 2026. Heat penetration in reactive porous beds: Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science Experimental thermal and fluid science. 171, 111631
• KHODAPARASTAN, FATEMEH, BOWEN, JAMES, SWITZER, CHRISTINE, GRANT, GAVIN P., BROWN, JOSHUA K., ZANONI, MARCO A. B. and RASHWAN, TAREK L., 2025. Oxygen dynamics in smouldering combustion: Impacts on reaction zones and biochar production: Proceedings of the Combustion Institute Proceedings of the Combustion Institute. 41, 105850
• KLIPPEL, MIRIAM S., XAVIER, ANDRE V., BITTENCOURT, FLÁVIO L. F., RASHWAN, TAREK L. and MARTINS, MARCIO F., 2025. On the design of smoldering reactors for out-of-bed heat recovery Chemical Engineering Research and Design. 220, 438-449
• MORALES, RYAN B., RASHWAN, TAREK L., ZANONI, MARCO A. B., DEGROOT, CHRISTOPHER T. and GERHARD, JASON I., 2025. Exploring waste heat recovery from applied smouldering systems: Energy Energy. 338, 138527
• RASHWAN, TAREK L., FOURNIE, TARYN and SWITZER, CHRISTINE, 2025. Applied Smouldering Combustion for Supporting a Circular Economy. In: TUDOR, TERRY, ed., Resources Management: Global Perspectives and Initiatives 52. Royal Society of Chemistry. 176-219
• WILLIAMS, HARRI A., HEINEMANN, NIKLAS, MOLNAR, IAN L., DE MESQUITA L VELOSO, FERNANDA, GLADDING, TONI and RASHWAN, TAREK L., 2025. Hydrogen storage in depleted gas reservoirs with carbon dioxide as a cushion gas: Exploring a lateral gas separation strategy to reduce gas mixing: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 102, 1116-1129
• ASAD, MD ABDULLAH, RASHWAN, TAREK L., MOLNAR, IAN L., BEHAZIN, MEHRAN, KEECH, PETER G. and KROL, MAGDALENA M., 2025. Exploring the cycle of H2 gas using numerical modelling in the context of a deep geological repository: Results in Engineering Results in Engineering. 27, 106008
• ASAD, MD ABDULLAH, RASHWAN, TAREK L., MOLNAR, IAN L., BEHAZIN, MEHRAN, KEECH, PETER G. and KROL, MAGDALENA M., 2024. Modelling key reactive processes relevant to bisulfide transport through highly compacted bentonite: Results in Engineering Results in Engineering. 24, 103486
• BROWN, JOSHUA K., RASHWAN, TAREK L. and GERHARD, JASON I., 2024. Hydrogen-rich syngas derived from smouldering biomass and hydrocarbon wastes: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 72, 839-849
• CHOWDHURY, F., RASHWAN, T. L., MONDAL, P., BEHAZIN, M., KEECH, P. G., SHARMA, J. S. and KROL, M., 2024. Effect of compaction on bisulfide diffusive transport through MX-80 bentonite: Journal of Contaminant Hydrology Journal of Contaminant Hydrology. 264, 104341
• HOU, FEI, ZHONG, XIAOXING, ZANONI, MARCO A. B., RASHWAN, TAREK L. and TORERO, JOSÉ L., 2024. Multi-step scheme and thermal effects of coal smouldering under various oxygen-limited conditions: Energy Energy. 299, 131421
• HOU, FEI, ZHONG, XIAOXING, ZANONI, MARCO A. B., RASHWAN, TAREK L. and TORERO, JOSÉ L., 2024. Quantifying oxygen diffusion during thermal degradation of combustible porous media: Applied Thermal Engineering 257, 124219
• MIRY, SEYED ZIAEDIN, ZANONI, MARCO A. B., RASHWAN, TAREK L., KINSMAN, LAURA, TORERO, JOSÉ L. and GERHARD, JASON I., 2024. Fuel mobility dynamics and their influence on applied smouldering systems: Combustion and Flame Combustion and Flame. 270, 113789
• PAPRY, SIFAT AZAD, RASHWAN, TAREK L., MONDAL, PULIN, BEHAZIN, MEHRAN, KEECH, PETER G. and KROL, MAGDALENA, 2024. Investigating Bisulphide Sorption onto Bentonite: Methodology Development and Design of Batch Experiments At: Cham
• WANG, JIAHAO, ZANONI, MARCO A. B., RASHWAN, TAREK L., TORERO, JOSÉ L. and GERHARD, JASON I., 2024. Smoldering ignition of wet combustible materials: Proceedings of the Combustion Institute Proceedings of the Combustion Institute. 40(1), 105448
• WANG, JIAHAO, ZANONI, MARCO A. B., RASHWAN, TAREK L., TORERO, JOSÉ L. and GERHARD, JASON I., 2024. Downward water mobility in applied smoldering: Proceedings of the Combustion Institute Proceedings of the Combustion Institute. 40(1), 105234
• CHOWDHURY, F., RASHWAN, T. L., PAPRY, S. A., BEHAZIN, M., KEECH, P. G., MONDAL, P., SHARMA, J. and KROL, M., 2023. Measuring Key Parameters Governing Anion Transport Through Mx-80 Bentonite At: Singapore
• FOURNIE, T., RASHWAN, T. L., SWITZER, C. and GERHARD, J. I., 2023. Smouldering to treat PFAS in sewage sludge: Waste Management Waste Management. 164, 219-227
• MIRY, SEYED ZIAEDIN, ZANONI, MARCO A. B., RASHWAN, TAREK L., TORERO, JOSÉ L. and GERHARD, JASON I., 2023. Investigation of applied smouldering in different conditions: The effect of oxygen mass flux: Fuel Processing Technology Fuel Processing Technology. 250, 107849
• PAPRY, SIFAT AZAD, RASHWAN, TAREK L., MONDAL, PULIN K., BEHAZIN, MEHRAN, KEECH, PETER G. and KROL, MAGDALENA M., 2023. Investigating bisulfide sorption onto bentonite through laboratory batch experiments: Applied Geochemistry 152, 105626
• RASHWAN, TAREK L., FOURNIE, TARYN, GREEN, MEGAN, DUCHESNE, ALEXANDRA L., BROWN, JOSHUA K., GRANT, GAVIN P., TORERO, JOSÉ L. and GERHARD, JASON I., 2023. Applied smouldering for co-waste management: Benefits and trade-offs: Fuel Processing Technology Fuel Processing Technology. 240, 107542
• RASHWAN, TAREK L., ZANONI, MARCO A. B., WANG, JIAHAO, TORERO, JOSÉ L. and GERHARD, JASON I., 2023. Elucidating the characteristic energy balance evolution in applied smouldering systems: Energy Energy. 273, 127245
• SONG, ZEYANG, ZANONI, MARCO A. B. and RASHWAN, TAREK L., 2023. Modelling oxygen-limited and self-sustained smoldering propagation: Thermochemical treatment of food waste in an inert porous medium: Chemical Engineering Journal Chemical Engineering Journal. 468, 143539
• ASAD, MD ABDULLAH, RASHWAN, TAREK, MOLNAR, IAN and KROL, MAGDALENA, 2022. Modelling bisulfide transport through the engineered barrier system under repository conditions: Coupling unsaturated flow and refining boundary conditions
• FOURNIE, T., RASHWAN, T. L., SWITZER, C. and GERHARD, J. I., 2022. Phosphorus recovery and reuse potential from smouldered sewage sludge ash: Waste Management Waste Management. 137, 241-252
• FOURNIE, T., RASHWAN, T. L., SWITZER, C., GRANT, G. P. and GERHARD, J. I., 2022. Exploring PCDD/Fs and potentially toxic elements in sewage sludge during smouldering treatment: Journal of Environmental Management Journal of Environmental Management. 317, 115384
• MIRY, SEYED ZIAEDIN, ZANONI, MARCO A. B., RASHWAN, TAREK L., TORERO, JOSÉ L. and GERHARD, JASON I., 2022. Investigation of multi-dimensional transfer effects in applied smouldering systems: A 2D numerical modelling approach: Combustion and Flame Combustion and Flame. 246, 112385
• RASHWAN, TAREK L., ASAD, MD ABDULLAH, MOLNAR, IAN L., BEHAZIN, MEHRAN, KEECH, PETER G. and KROL, MAGDALENA M., 2022. Exploring the governing transport mechanisms of corrosive agents in a Canadian deep geological repository: Science of The Total Environment Science of the Total Environment. 828, 153944
• RASHWAN, TAREK L., FOURNIE, TARYN, TORERO, JOSÉ L., GRANT, GAVIN P. and GERHARD, JASON I., 2021. Scaling up self-sustained smouldering of sewage sludge for waste-to-energy: Waste Management Waste Management. 135, 298-308
• RASHWAN, TAREK L., TORERO, JOSÉ L. and GERHARD, JASON I., 2021. The improved energy efficiency of applied smouldering systems with increasing scale: International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 177, 121548
• RASHWAN, TAREK L., TORERO, JOSÉ L. and GERHARD, JASON I., 2021. Heat losses in applied smouldering systems: Sensitivity analysis via analytical modelling: International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 172, 121150
• RASHWAN, TAREK L., TORERO, JOSÉ L. and GERHARD, JASON I., 2021. Heat losses in a smouldering system: The key role of non-uniform air flux: Combustion and Flame Combustion and Flame. 227, 309-321
• GRANT, GAVIN, MAJOR, DAVID, SCHOLES, GRANT, GERHARD, JASON, BROWN, JOSHUA, TORERO, JOSE and RASHWAN, TAREK, 2020. Method for generating or recovering materials through smoldering combustion 01/01/2020 00:00:00
• TORERO, JOSÉ L., GERHARD, JASON I., MARTINS, MARCIO F., ZANONI, MARCO A. B., RASHWAN, TAREK L. and BROWN, JOSHUA K., 2020. Processes defining smouldering combustion: Integrated review and synthesis: Progress in Energy and Combustion Science Progress in Energy and Combustion Science. 81, 100869
• RASHWAN, TAREK L., GERHARD, JASON I. and GRANT, GAVIN P., 2016. Application of self-sustaining smouldering combustion for the destruction of wastewater biosolids: Waste Management Waste Management. 50, 201-212