Staff Profile

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Dr. Tan Kai Qi

Lecturer
PhD (Chem. Eng.), Universiti Sains Malaysia
BEng (Hons) (Chem. Eng.), Universiti Sains Malaysia

Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science

Room No: E315
Email: [email protected]
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Biography

Dr. Tan obtained her Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering) (Honours) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemical Engineering from Universiti Sains Malaysia. Her PhD topic focused on the upcycling of plastic waste into carbon nanotubes using an integrated pyrolysis system. One of her reactor designs for energy-efficient pyrolysis has received a certificate of copyright from MyIPO.

Upon the completion of her doctoral degree, she joined the Furukawa Laboratory at The University of Osaka, Japan for a plastic-to-gasoline research project. This experience strengthens her background in heterogeneous catalysis and sustainable energy production. Subsequently, she joined Sphere Corporation and contributed to the development of breakthrough technologies in the field of rubber machinery industries.

Dr. Tan is currently a Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak. Her research interests include sustainable waste-to-resources solutions, heterogeneous catalysis and carbon nanomaterials production.

Research Interests

  • Sustainable waste-to-resources solutions
  • Heterogeneous catalysis
  • Carbon nanomaterials production

Professional Membership

  • Graduate Engineer, Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), Malaysia

PhD/Master by Research Opportunities

Potential higher degree research candidates are welcome to enquire about postgraduate opportunities in the areas listed above.

Please e-mail [email protected] for more information.

Awards

  • Sanggar Sanjung Award in Journal Publication, 2023, USM, Malaysia.
  • Best Presenter Award in 5th SChE Postgraduate Colloquium, 2023, USM, Malaysia.
  • Certificate of Copyright “Evolutionary Reactor Design: Energy-efficient Pyrolysis for Enhanced Gas Production”, 2023, MyIPO, Malaysia.

Selected Publications

  • Kai Qi Tan, Duanxing Li, Siew Chun Low, Shinya Furukawa (2026). Low-Temperature Upcycling of Polyethylene into Fuel-Range Hydrocarbons: An Innovative Approach on the Feed-Catalyst Bed Design. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 14(7), 3282-3290.
  • Kai Qi Tan, Xiu Xian Lim, Arunkumar Marimuthu, Wen Da Oh, Mohd Azmier Ahmad, Siew Chun Low (2025). Upcycling polymeric wastes into multi-walled carbon nanotubes via dual-stage pyrolysis: advancing sustainable resource recovery. Waste Management, 206, 115071.
  • Xiu Xian Lim, Siew Chun Low, Kai Qi Tan, Kun-Yi Andrew Lin, Chao He, Tao Zhou, Wen Da Oh (2024). Impact of nickel and alkaline earth metals interaction on sustainable carbon nanotubes generation from plastic face masks via catalytic pyrolysis. Chemical Engineering Journal, 497, 154693.
  • Kai Qi Tan, Mohd Azmier Ahmad, Wen Da Oh, Siew Chun Low (2023). Valorization of hazardous plastic wastes into value-added resources by catalytic pyrolysis-gasification: a review of techno-economic analysis. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 182, 113346.