Khonekeo Kingkhambang

Scientific interests

Materials science, environmental chemistry, and chemical engineering (integrated chemical and environmental technology).

Introduction

Khonekeo joined SusMatLab in 2023 and completed his doctorate in 2026 with a dissertation on the thermochemical co-processing of marine biomass and plastic waste into functional adsorbents for water cleaning. His research showed that marine biomass acts as an active reactive agent rather than a passive carbon precursor during hydrothermal treatment and co-pyrolysis with plastics, and he applied the resulting hydrochars and biochars to the removal of pharmaceuticals and heavy metal ions from water. He holds a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering and has worked in environmental administration in Laos throughout his studies.

Education

Sep. 2023 - Sep. 2026: Dr. Eng., Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University
Sep. 2018 - Aug. 2020: MSc in Chemical Engineering (Integrated Chemical and Environmental Technology), Hankyong National University, Republic of Korea
Sep. 2013 - Sep. 2015: BSc in Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Laos

Career

2014 - present: Deputy Director, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Laos.

Publications

K. Kingkhambang, H. Ahmad, K. Chan, N. Shibata, H. Hayashi, and A. Zinchenko. Enhancement of the heavy metal adsorption properties of crab shell waste-derived biochar by co-pyrolysis with PET plastic waste. J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 2026, 14(3), 122645.

K. Kingkhambang, K. Chan, and A. Zinchenko. Hydrochars of mixed marine biomass and plastic wastes: carbonization scenarios and the performance as ketoprofen adsorbents. Waste Manag. 2025, 198, 66-76.

X. Lin, K. Chan, K. Kingkhambang, H. Hayashi, and A. Zinchenko. Hydrothermal preparation of pharmaceuticals adsorbents from chitin and chitosan: optimization and mechanism. Bioresour. Technol. 2024, 414C, 131583.

J.-K. Kang, K. Kingkhambang, C.-G. Lee, and S.-J. Park. Optimization of the preparation conditions of aluminum-impregnated food waste biochar using RSM with an MLP and its application in phosphate removal. Water 2023, 15, 2997.

Conferences

K. Kingkhambang, K. Chan, and A. Zinchenko. Removal of ketoprofen pharmaceutical by hydrochars prepared by hydrothermal co-treatment of mixed marine biomass and plastic waste. 8th International Conference on Materials Engineering and Applications (ICMEA 2025), 15-18 January 2025, Bangkok, Thailand (oral presentation).

K. Kingkhambang and S.-J. Park. Optimization of the preparation conditions of aluminum-impregnated food waste biochar using RSM with an MLP and its application in phosphate removal. International Environmental Engineering Conference & International Conference on Biological Waste as Resource, 10-13 December 2019, Busan, South Korea (poster presentation).