Godknows Dziva, a 2020 Chemical Engineering Master's student from Zimbabwe, received the “Excellent Dissertation of Tianjin University” award.
This honor not only recognizes Godknows' exceptional research contributions but also reflects the School of Chemical Engineering and Technology's growing influence to nurture top-tier students from around the world, reinforcing its reputation as a leader in global chemical engineering education.
Under the guidance and support of his supervisor, Associate Professor Liang Zeng, Godknows actively conducted laboratory research, developing thermodynamic and kinetic models for moving bed sorption-enhanced reforming as well as techno-economic analysis for green hydrogen and ammonia production from biomass gasification. His master’s thesis, titled “Reactor modeling and process simulation of biomass-to-hydrogen via moving bed sorption-enhanced reforming”, proposed a novel process for enhancing hydrogen production through sorption-enhanced reforming of syngas. This process utilizes the selective sorption and catalytic properties of calcium oxide to integrate multiple reactions within an autothermal moving bed system, reducing energy losses typically associated with conventional processes. His research laid a crucial theoretical foundation for intensifying green hydrogen production.
While pursuing a Master’s degree at Tianjin University, Godknows published three SCI papers inFuel, theInternational Journal of Hydrogen Energyand theChemical Engineering Journalas the first author, as well as one EI paper inSpringer Proceedings in Physics. He delivered three oral presentations at international academic conferences, earning two best oral presentation awards. Additionally, he contributed to two R&D projects on modular gasification and carbon sequestration. He is currently pursuing a PhD at the Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Godknows credits his success to the support and guidance from the School of Chemical Engineering and Technology of Tianjin University. Reflecting on his experiences, Godknows said, "I owe this achievement to the careful guidance of my supervisor, Prof. Liang Zeng. His extensive research background, expertise and experience make him an exceptional mentor. His humility, integrity, and work ethic inspire me as I continue my academic journey. The confidence to pursue a PhD is thanks to the sound training I got from Tianjin University".
In recent years, Tianjin University has expanded its internationalization efforts, leading to a significant rise in international students at the School of Chemical Engineering and Technology and improved training quality. Establishing an all-English graduate curriculum and enhancing teaching, research, and management systems have been vital in cultivating top-tier international chemical engineering talent. These efforts are important for China's national strategic initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative.
Associate Professor Liang Zeng, Graduate office of School of Chemical Engineering and Technology
Editor: Sun Xiaofang
