Prof. Alicia K.J. AN

Education
PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, MHKIE, Registered Korea Civil Engineer, Member of the Association of Energy Engineers (MAEE), Certified Carbon Auditor
Staff title
Associate Professor

Dr. Alicia An is a Professor in the School of Energy and Environment at City University of Hong Kong, where she leads the water and membrane research group. Alicia obtained her PhD from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. She began her academic career at the University of Tokyo, Japan, before joining City University of Hong Kong.

With over 20 years of experience in the field of membrane-based water and wastewater treatment, she has published more than 140 peer-reviewed journal articles on emerging technologies such as Membrane Distillation, Forward Osmosis, and hybrid Reverse Osmosis systems, with a focus on the removal of emerging pollutants and resource recovery.

Other Information

Awards and Recognitions

  • Top 2% of the world’s most highly cited scientists from the report published by Elsevier and Stanford University since 2020.
  • Awarded “RGC Research Fellow” through the Research Fellow Scheme (RFS) by HKRGC in 2022/23
  • CityU Outstanding Research Award for 2023 in the Junior Faculty Category
  • Associate Editor for the journal of Process Safety and Environmental Protection
  • Editorial Board member for Desalination and the Journal of Water Process Engineering.
  • Advisory board member for XPRIZE Water Scarcity 2024~ https://www.xprize.org/prizes/water/people/board

On Going External Project

Project Title

 

Funding Source
(HK$)
Project
Period
1)    Development of dual ammonia removal/recovery from reject liquor using a novel hollow fiber/flat sheet membrane distillation PI ITF $1,362,112 2024/06/01~ 2025/05/30
2)    Green Hydrogen-Powered Off-Grid Energy-Water Station (Micro-Grid) PC ITF $12,000,000 2024/05/01~ 2027/04/30
3)    Thermally-integrated water desalination — electrolysis system for clean hydrogen generation PC Green Tech Fund (GTF) S4,142,300 2024/03/01~ 2026/02/28
4)    Enhancing membrane distillation's potential for water reuse and zero liquid discharge: An energy-efficient and hypersaline-stable membrane PI Research Fellow Scheme (RFS) $5,155,380 01/01/2023~ 31/12/2027
5)    Omniphobic nanofibrous membrane with bio-inspired nano-flower on-nanoneedle double re-entrant structure for enhanced performance in membrane distillation PI GRF $1,115,452 01/01/2023~ 31/12/2025
6)    Facile fabrication of a bioinspired omniphobic-slippery membrane for robust membrane distillation with real time monitoring for wetting, fouling, and scaling PI GRF $911,317 01/01/2022~ 31/12/2024
7)    A Paradigm-shifting, Fully-integrated, Compact Wastewater-to-resource Facility (WWRF) Co-PI Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) $35,555,000 An’s portion $3,840,000        01/01/2020~ 31/12/2025
Research Outcomes

 

Group Members

Visiting Assistant Professor Research Title
Dr. Muhammad Usman Farid Enhancing membrane distillation's potential for water reuse and zero liquid discharge: An energy-efficient and hypersaline-stable membrane

 

Postdocs Research Title
Dr. Bowen Pak Wai Wong Development of dual ammonia removal/recovery from reject liquor using a novel hollow fiber/flat sheet membrane distillation
Dr. Gitack Bang Green Hydrogen-Powered Off-Grid Energy-Water Station (Micro-Grid)
Dr. Wentao Shang Facile fabrication of a bioinspired omniphobic-slippery membrane for robust membrane distillation with real time monitoring for wetting, fouling, and scaling
Dr. Adil Riaz Development of low cost and high performance bifunctional electrocatalyst for hydrogen production from water splitting under practical conditions

 

Research Assistant Research Title
Gigi Au Wing Chi A Paradigm-shifting, Fully-integrated, Compact Wastewater-to-resource Facility (WWRF)

 

Ph D Students Duration Research Title
1.      Ying BI 1/09/23 ~ Enhancing membrane distillation's potential for water reuse and zero liquid discharge: An energy-efficient and hypersaline-stable membrane
2.      Xiaolu LI 1/09/23 ~ Development of dual ammonia removal/recovery from reject liquor using a novel hollow fiber/flat sheet membrane distillation
3.      Po Hong Vincent LEE 1/06/22 ~ Development of dual ammonia removal/recovery from reject liquor using a novel hollow fiber/flat sheet membrane distillation
4.      Min Wei BOEY 1/11/21~ Photothermal-catalytic desalination
5.      Mingyi JIA, HKPFS 1/09/21 ~ Nanobubble in water and wastewater treatment systems: small bubbles making a big difference
6.      Xinning ZHANG 1/09/20 ~ Highly permeable chlorine-resistant forward osmosis membrane by grafting novel sulfonamide monomers
7.      Jiawei SUN 1/09/20 ~ MXene-based multifunctional membrane materials for integrated photothermal and photocatalytic water treatment
8.      Zhenyu HU 1/09/20 ~ The photo-assisted membrane distillation for VOCs interception and self-cleaning

 

Position(s) Available

Postdoctoral Fellow

Candidates should demonstrate outstanding qualities of academic performance, research potential in the area of advanced membrane techniques such as membrane distillation (MD), forward osmosis (FO), and hybrid system for seawater desalination hydrogen generation, and CO2 RR.

Strong oral and written communication skills in English and the ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team are essential. Interested students are welcomed to contact Prof. Alicia An at alicia.kjan@cityu.edu.hk.

Journal Publications for the last three years (2021~ current)

Full paper list is available from Google Scholar | Scopus | Orchid

[1]  Scopus:
        a. h-index = 42
        b.
Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) = 2.49
[2]  Google Scholar:
         a. h-index = 44
         b.
i10-index = 101

 
2024
  1. G.S. Cassol, C. Shang, A.K. An, N.K. Khanzada, F. Ciucci, A. Manzotti, P. Westerhoff, Y. Song, L. Ling, Ultra-fast green hydrogen production from municipal wastewater by an integrated forward osmosis-alkaline water electrolysis system, Nat. Commun. 15 (2024) 1–10.
  2. P.J. Choi, X. Zhang, N.K. Khanzada, D. Wu, L. Li, A. Jang, A.K. An, Utilization of unrejected ammonium for fouling prevention in a forward osmosis process tested with real primary wastewater from Hong Kong, Desalination. 576 (2024) 1–10.
  3. M.U. Faridc, J.A. Kharraz, S. Sharma, R.J. Khan, N.K. Khanzada, B.J. Deka, M.K. Nallapaneni, S.S. Chopra, S.-Y. Leu, S.W. Hasan, N. Hilal, An, A. K.*, Technological advancements in water heating approaches for membrane distillation desalination process: From bulk to localized heating, Desalination. 574 (2024). [Impact factor: 9.9; Citation: 0]
  4. Gao, P. Wai, J. Huang, S. Eyley, L.A.J. Rutgeerts, W. Thielemans, W. Dehaen, A. Kyoungjin, X. Yang, Design of anti-fouling membranes via prebiotic chemistry-inspired aminomalononitrile ( AMN ) coating strategy : Aldehyde-mediated chemical immobilization of pseudo-zwitterionic compounds, J. Memb. Sci. 699 (2024) 122672.
  5. G. Lu, S. Lu, J. Sun, M.W. Boey, W. Shang, J. Wu, A.K. An, Nano-confined Supramolecular Assembly of Ultrathin Crystalline Polymer Membranes for High-Performance Nanofiltration, Adv. Funct. Mater. 34 (2024) 1–9.
  6. G. Vaghela, A. Pushkar, A. Kyoungjin, B. Jyoti, Reinforced PS-PVDF-WO 3 superhydrophobic antiwetting membrane for membrane distillation, Desalination. 575 (2024) 117265. [Impact factor: 9.9; Citation: 0]
  7. S. Byun, S. Park, E. jong Lee, A.K. An, S. Jeong, Joule-heating electrospun reduced-graphene oxide nanoribbon-coated reusable polymeric sorbent with an excellent sorption/desorption of high-viscosity oils, Carbon N. Y. 219 (2024) 118826.
  8. P.W. Wongc, M. Jia, M.W. Boey, P.H. Lee, S. Mang, B.J. Deka, J. Guo, M.U. Farid, S. Shao, X. Yang, An, A. K.*, Evaluating and predicting surfactant-induced hydrophilization of pore channels in membrane distillation, J. Memb. Sci. 691 (2024) 122242. [Impact factor: 9.5; Citation: 0]
  9. P. Jungwon, S. Ju, S. Ryu, B. Jung, E.M. V Hoek, D. Jassby, An, A. K.*, Hybrid multi-chamber system for enhanced removal of boron during water treatment / desalination without chemical usage, J. Memb. Sci. 694 (2024) 122419. [Impact factor: 9.5; Citation: 0]
  10. H. Wan, F. Zeng, H. Yu, Z. Zhuang, A. Kyoungjin, S. Shao, F. Qu, Crossflow-induced membrane vibration and its effects on fouling and scaling in direct contact membrane distillation, J. Memb. Sci. 694 (2024) 122410. [Impact factor: 9.5; Citation: 1]
  11. Z. Hu, T. Liu, Y. Wang, J. Wu, M.U. Farid, K.M. Liew, A.K. An, W.W. Li, Dense Thiourea-Graphene Oxide Wetting-Resistant Membrane for Photothermal Distillation, ACS ES T Water. 4 (2024) 190–197.
  12. J.A. Kharraz, M. Jia, M.U. Farid, N.K. Khanzada, N. Hilal, S.W. Hasan, An, A. K.* Determination of microplastic pollution in marine ecosystems and its effective removal using an advanced nanobubble flotation technique, J. Water Process Eng. 57 (2024) [Impact factor: 7; Citation: 0]
  13. S. Jeong, B. Gu, S. Park, K. Cho, A.K. An, S. Jeong, Mechanism elucidation and scaling control in membrane distillation using 3D printed carbon nanotube spacer, Npj Clean Water. 6 (2023).
  14. R.J. Khan, C.Y. Lau, M.U. Farid, M.K. Islam, A.K. An, J. Yi, S.Y. Leu, Woody biomass derived nano lignin-enabled membrane with high structural stability for efficient wastewater treatment, Process Saf. Environ. Prot. 182 (2024) 595–607. [Impact factor: 7.8; Citation: 0]
2023
  1. Farid, M. U.c, Kharraz, J. A.c, Sun, J. a, Boey, M. W. a, Riaz, M. A. c, Wong, P. W. c, Jia, M. a, Zhang, X. a, Deka, B. J., Khanzada, N. K., Guo, J., & An, A. K.*. (2023). Advancements in Nano-enabled Membrane Distillation for A Sustainable Water/Energy/Environment Nexus. Advanced Materials. [Impact factor: 4; Citation: 1]
  2. S. Jeong, B. Gu, S. Park, K. Cho, A.K. An, S. Jeong, Mechanism elucidation and scaling control in membrane distillation using 3D printed carbon nanotube spacer, Npj Clean Water. 6 (2023). [Impact factor: 12.19; Citation: 0]
  3. Jia, M. a, Farid, M.U. c, Kharraz, J.A c., Kumar, N.M., Chopra, S.S., Jang, A., Chew, J., Khanal, S.K., Chen, G., An, A. K.* Nanobubbles in water and wastewater treatment systems: Small bubbles making big difference. Water Res., 2023, 245, 120613. [Impact factor: 8; Citation: 2]
  4. Zhang, X a. Choi, P.J c. Khanzada, N.K c. Wong, P.W c. An, A. K.* Highly permeable chlorine-resistant forward osmosis membrane by grafting novel sulfonamide monomers. Desalination, 2023, 564, 116754. [Impact factor: 9; Citation: 2]
  5. Khanzada, N.K.c, Rehman, S., Kharraz, J.A. c, Farid, M.U c., Khatri, M., Hilal, N., An, A.K.*, Reverse osmosis membrane functionalized with aminated graphene oxide and polydopamine nanospheres plugging for enhanced NDMA rejection and anti-fouling performance. Chemosphere 338, 139557. [Impact factor: 8.8; Citation: 2]
  6. Hu, X., Guo, J., An, A.K., Chopra, S.S., 2023. Electrospun nanofibrous membranes for membrane distillation application—A dynamic life cycle assessment (dLCA) approach. Water Res. 243, 120376. [Impact factor: 8; Citation: 0]
  7. Sun, J. a; Farid, M. U. c; Boey, M. W. a; Sato, Y.; Chen, G.; An, A. K.* MXene-PVA-TiO2-Based Photothermal-Catalytic Membrane with High Structural Stability for Efficient Desalination and Photodegradation. Chem. Eng. J. 2023, 468, 143744. [Impact factor: 1; Citation: 7]
  8. Wan, H.; Li, X.; Luo, Y.; Shi, D.; Gong, T.; An, A. K.; Shao, S. Early Monitoring of Pore Wetting in Membrane Distillation Using Ultrasonic Time-Domain Reflectometry (UTDR). Water Res. 2023, 240, 120081. [Impact factor: 8; Citation: 30]
  9. Deka, B. J. c; Vaghela, G.; Guo, J c.; An, A. K.* Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy for Non-Destructive Detection of Wetting, Fouling and Scaling in Membrane Distillation. J. Water Process Eng. 2023, 53, 103608. [Impact factor: 7; Citation: 2]
  10. Sharma, S. K.; Truong, D. Q.; Guo, J. c; An, A. K.; Naidu, G.; Deka, B. J. Recovery of Rubidium from Brine Sources Utilizing Diverse Separation Technologies. Desalination 2023, 556, 116578. [Impact factor: 9; Citation: 0]
  11. Shang, W c.; Liu, W.; Wang, W.; Khanzada, N. K.c; Guo, J c.; Li, M.; Li, X.; Lao, J.-Y.; Jeong, S. Y.; Tso, C. Y.; Sun, F.; An, A. K.* Facile Synthesis of Micro-Eggette Patterned Nanofiltration Membrane with Enhanced Anti-Fouling and Rejection Performance. Desalination 2023, 555, 116524. [Impact factor: 9; Citation: 1]
  12. Jung, B.; Ma, S.; Miang Khor, C.; Khalid Khanzada, N.c; Anvari, A.; Wang, X.; Im, S.; Wu, J.; Rao, U.; An, A. K.; Hoek, E. M. V.; Jassby, D.* Impact of Polarity Reversal on Inorganic Scaling on Carbon Nanotube-Based Electrically-Conducting Nanofiltration Membranes. Chem. Eng. J. 2023, 452, 139216. [Impact factor: 1; Citation: 7]
  13. von Eiff, D.; Yeo, J.; An, A. K.*; Chopra, S. S.* Comparative Economic and Life Cycle Analysis of Future Water Supply Mix Scenarios for Hong Kong – A Water Scarce City. J. Environ. Manage. 2023, 325, 116370. [Impact factor: 8.7; Citation: 1]
2022
  1. Kharraz, J. A. c; Farid, M. U. c; Jassby, D.; An, A. K.* A Systematic Study on the Impact of Feed Composition and Substrate Wettability on Wetting and Fouling of Omniphobic and Janus Membranes in Membrane Distillation. J. Memb. Sci. 2022, 641, 119894.
  2. Kumar, M.; Mukherjee, S.; Thakur, A. K.; Raval, N.; An, A. K.; Gikas, P.* Aminoalkyl-Organo-Silane Treated Sand for the Adsorptive Removal of Arsenic from the Groundwater: Immobilizing the Mobilized Geogenic Contaminants. J. Hazard. Mater. 2022, 425,127916.
  3. Sun, J. a; Jia, W. c; Guo, J. c; Khanzada, N. K. c; Jin, P.; Wong, P. W. a; Zhang, X. a; An, A. K.* Amino-Embedded Carbon Quantum Dots Incorporated Thin-Film Nanocomposite Membrane for Desalination by Pervaporation. Desalination 2022, 533, 115742.
  4. Yeo, J. a; Chopra, S. S.; von Eiff, D. c; Jeong, S.; Zhang, L.; An, A. K.* An Integrated Techno-Economic Analysis on Wastewater Reclamation in Hong Kong: A Comprehensive Cost – Benefit Analysis with Life Cycle Assessment. J. Clean. Prod. 2022, 357, 131838.
  5. Jang, Y.; Lee, J.-G.; Fortunato, L.; Lee, J.-G.; Lee, Y.; An, A. K.; Ghaffour, N.; Lee, S.; Jeong, S. Colloidal Silica Fouling Mechanism in Direct-Contact Membrane Distillation. Desalination 2022, 527, 115554.
  6. Khanzada, N. K. c; Jassby, D.; An, A. K.* Conductive Reverse Osmosis Membrane for Electrochemical Chlorine Reduction and Sustainable Brackish Water Treatment. Chem. Eng. J. 2022, 435, 1134858.
  7. Park, M. J.; Akther, N.; Phuntsho, S.; Naidu, G.; Razmjou, A.; An, A. K.; Shon, H. K.* Development of Highly Permeable Self-Standing Nanocomposite Sulfonated Poly Ether Ketone Membrane Using Covalent Organic Frameworks. Desalination 2022, 538, 115935.
  8. Khanzada, N. K. c; Deka, B. J.; Kharraz, J. A. c; Wong, P. W. a; Jassby, D.; Rehman, S.; Leu, S.-Y.; Kumar, M.; An, A. K.* Elucidating the Role of Graphene Oxide Layers in Enhancing N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) Rejection and Antibiofouling Property of RO Membrane Simultaneously. J. Memb. Sci. 2022, 643, 120043.
  9. Zhang, X. a; Choi, P. J. c; Khanzada, N. K. c; Sun, J. a; Wong, P. W. a; Guo, J. c; Ling, L.; Wu, D.; Jang, A.; An, A. K.* FO Membrane Fabricated by Layer-by-Layer Interfacial Polymerisation and Grafted Sulfonamide Group for Improving Chlorine Resistance and Water Permeability. J. Memb. Sci. 2022, 663, 121042.
  10. Kumar, M.; Vithanage, M.; An, A. K.; Weber, K. A.; Bhattacharya, P.* Geogenic and Pathogenic Contamination: Issues and Innovation in the Post-COVID-Anthropocene. J. Hazard. Mater. 2022, 429, 127501.
  11. Farid, M. U. c; Choi, P. J. c; Kharraz, J. A. c; Lao, J.-Y.; St-Hilaire, S.; Ruan, Y.; Lam, P. K. S.; An, A. K.* Hybrid Nanobubble-Forward Osmosis System for Aquaculture Wastewater Treatment and Reuse. Chem. Eng. J. 2022, 435, 135164.
  12. Ismail, R. A.; Kumar, M.; Khanzada, N. K. c; Thomas, N.; Sreedhar, N.; An, A. K.; Arafat, H. A.* Hybrid NF and UF Membranes Tailored Using Quaternized Polydopamine for Enhanced Removal of Salts and Organic Pollutants from Water. Desalination 2022, 539, 115954.
  13. Choi, P. J. c; Lim, S.; Shon, H.; An, A. K.* Incorporation of Negatively Charged Silver Nanoparticles in Outer-Selective Hollow Fiber Forward Osmosis (OSHF-FO) Membrane for Wastewater Dewatering. Desalination 2022, 522, 115402.
  14. Guo, J. c; Wong, P. W. a; Deka, B. J.; Zhang, B. c; Jeong, S.; An, A. K.* Investigation of Fouling Mechanism in Membrane Distillation Using In-Situ Optical Coherence Tomography with Green Regeneration of Fouled Membrane. J. Memb. Sci. 2022, 641, 119894.
  15. Kharraz, J. A. c; Khanzada, N. K. c; Farid, M. U. c; Kim, J.; Jeong, S.; An, A. K.* Membrane Distillation Bioreactor (MDBR) for Wastewater Treatment, Water Reuse, and Resource Recovery: A Review. J. Water Process Eng. 2022, 47, 102687.
  16. Farid, M. U. c; Kharraz, J. A. c; Lee, C.-H.; Fang, J. K.-H.; St-Hilaire, S.; An, A. K.* Nanobubble-Assisted Scaling Inhibition in Membrane Distillation for the Treatment of High-Salinity Brine. Water Res. 2022, 209, 117954.
  17. Wong, P. W. a; Yim, V. M.; Guo, J. c; Chan, B. S. b; Deka, B. J.; An, A. K.* Noninvasive Real-Time Monitoring of Wetting Progression in Membrane Distillation Using Impedance Spectroscopy. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2022, 56 (1), 535–545.
  18. Zhang, B. c; Wong, P. W. a; An, A. K.* Photothermally Enabled MXene Hydrogel Membrane with Integrated Solar-Driven Evaporation and Photodegradation for Efficient Water Purification. Chem. Eng. J. 2022, 430, 133054.
  19. Zhao, Y.; Guo, J. c; Li, Y.; Zhang, X. a; An, A. K.; Wang, Z.* Superhydrophobic and Superoleophilic PH-CNT Membrane for Emulsified Oil-Water Separation. Desalination 2022, 526, 115536.
  20. Zhang, B. c; Wong, P. W. a; Guo, J. c; Zhou, Y.; Wang, Y.; Sun, J.; Jiang, M.; Wang, Z.; An, A. K.* Transforming Ti3C2Tx MXene’s Intrinsic Hydrophilicity into Superhydrophobicity for Efficient Photothermal Membrane Desalination. Nat. Commun. 2022, 13 (1), 3315.
  21. Shang, W.; Yang, S.; Liu, W.; Wong, P. W. a; Wang, R.; Li, X.; Sheng, G.; Lau, W.; An, A. K.; Sun, F.* Understanding the Influence of Hydraulic Conditions on Colloidal Fouling Development by Using the Micro-Patterned Nanofiltration Membrane: Experiments and Numerical Simulation. J. Memb. Sci. 2022, 654, 120559.
2021
  1. Deka, B. J.; Guo, J. c; Wong, P. W. a; Khanzada, N. K. a; Kharraz, J. A. a; Tsang, C.-W.; An, A. K.* A Conductive Hydrophobic Polyaniline Sandwiched Polyvinylidene Fluoride Membrane for Early Detection of Surfactant-Induced Wetting in Membrane Distillation Using Impedance. ACS Appl. Polym. Mater. 2021, 3 (2), 679–690.
  2. Li, W.; von Eiff, D. c; An, A. K.* Analyzing the Effects of Institutional Capacity on Sustainable Water Governance. Sustain. Sci. 2021, 16 (1), 169–181.
  3. An, A. K.; Tyagi, V. K.; Kumar, M.; Cetecioglu, Z.* Clean Energy and Resource Recovery: Wastewater Treatment Plants as Biorefineries, Volume 2; 2021.
  4. Li, W.; von Eiff, D. c; An, A. K.* Correction to: Analyzing the Effects of Institutional Capacity on Sustainable Water Governance (Sustainability Science, (2021), 16, 1, (169-181), 10.1007/S11625-020-00842-6). Sustain. Sci. 2021, 16 (1), 341.
  5. Shang, W. a; Li, X.; Liu, W.; Yue, S.; Li, M.; von Eiff, D. c; Sun, F.; An, A. K.* Effective Suppression of Concentration Polarization by Nanofiltration Membrane Surface Pattern Manipulation: Numerical Modeling Based on LIF Visualization. J. Memb. Sci. 2021, 622, 119021.
  6. Guo, J. c; Deka, B. J. c; Wong, P. W. a; Sun, J. a; An, A. K.* Fabrication of Robust Green Superhydrophobic Hybrid Nanofiber-Nanosphere Membrane for Membrane Distillation. Desalination 2021, 520, 115314.
  7. Jia, W. c; Kharraz, J. A. a; Sun, J. a; An, A. K.* Hierarchical Janus Membrane via a Sequential Electrospray Coating Method with Wetting and Fouling Resistance for Membrane Distillation. Desalination 2021, 520, 115313.
  8. Khanzada, N. K. a; Choi, P. J. a; An, A. K.* Hybrid Forward/Reverse Osmosis (HFRO): An Approach for Optimized Operation and Sustainable Resource Recovery; 2021.
  9. Wong, P. W. a; Guo, J. c; Khanzada, N. K. a; Yim, V. M. W. a; An, A. K.* In-Situ 3D Fouling Visualization of Membrane Distillation Treating Industrial Textile Wastewater by Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging. Water Res. 2021, 205, 117668.
  10. Hu, X.; An, A. K.; Chopra, S. S.* Life Cycle Assessment of the Polyvinylidene Fluoride Polymer with Applications in Various Emerging Technologies. ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng. 2021.
  11. Choi, P. J. a; Lao, J.-Y.; Lam, P. K. S.; Im, S.-J.; Jang, A.; An, A. K.* Low-Pressure Volume Retarded Osmosis for Removal of per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. Water Res. 2021, 194, 116929.
  12. Ismail, R. A.; Kumar, M.; Thomas, N.; An, A. K.; Arafat, H.* A. Multifunctional Hybrid UF Membrane from Poly(Ether Sulfone) and Quaternized Polydopamine Anchored Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanohybrid for Water Treatment. J. Memb. Sci. 2021, 639, 119779.
  13. Guo, J. c; Hanif, A.; Shang, J.; Deka, B. J. c; Zhi, N.; An, A. K.* PAA@ZIF-8 Incorporated Nanofibrous Membrane for High-Efficiency PM2.5 Capture. Chem. Eng. J. 2021, 405, 126584.
  14. Farid, M. U. c; Kharraz, J. A. a; An, A. K.* Plasmonic Titanium Nitride Nano-Enabled Membranes with High Structural Stability for Efficient Photothermal Desalination. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2021, 13 (3), 3805–3815.
  15. Deka, B. J. c; Guo, J. c; An, A. K.* Robust Dual-Layered Omniphobic Electrospun Membrane with Anti-Wetting and Anti-Scaling Functionalised for Membrane Distillation Application. J. Memb. Sci. 2021, 624, 119089.
  16. Zhang, B. c; Gu, Q.; Wang, C.; Gao, Q.; Guo, J. c; Wong, P. W. a; Liu, C. T.; An, A. K.* Self-Assembled Hydrophobic/Hydrophilic Porphyrin-Ti3C2Tx MXene Janus Membrane for Dual-Functional Enabled Photothermal Desalination. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2021, 13 (3), 3762–3770
  17. Tran, V. H.; Lim, S.; Choi, P. J. a; An, A. K.; Han, D. S.; Phuntsho, S.; Shon, H.* Submerged versus Side-Stream Osmotic Membrane Bioreactors Using an Outer-Selective Hollow Fiber Osmotic Membrane for Desalination. Desalination 2021, 515, 115196.
  18. von Eiff, D. c; Wong, P. W. a; Gao, Y.; Jeong, S.; An, A. K. Technical and Economic Analysis of an Advanced Multi-Stage Flash Crystallizer for the Treatment of Concentrated Brine. Desalination 2021, 503, 114925.
  19. Rehman, S.; Khairul Islam, M.; Khalid Khanzada, N. a; An, A. K.; Chaiprapat, S.; Leu, S.-Y. Whole Sugar 2,3-Butanediol Fermentation for Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches Biorefinery by a Newly Isolated Klebsiella Pneumoniae PM2. Bioresour. Technol. 2021, 333, 125206.

Book Chapters

  1. Khanzada, N.K.c, Choi, P.J.cAn, A.K.* Hybrid forward/reverse osmosis (HFRO): An approach for optimized operation and sustainable resource recovery, Clean Energy and Resource Recovery: Wastewater Treatment Plants as Biorefineries, Volume 2, 2021, pp. 69–94, Elsevier
  2. Kharraz, J.A.c, Farid, M.U.c, von Eiff, D.c, Shi, Z., An, A.K.* Hybrid configuration of membrane distillation: Vacuum multi-effect membrane distillation, Membrane Distillation: Materials and Processes, 2020, pp. 213–236, Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
  3. Jiaxin Guo (SEE), #Bhaskar Jyoti Deka (SEE), Alicia Kyoungjin An, (SEE), "Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes for Membrane Distillation", Membrane Distillation - Membranes, Hybrid Systems, and Pilot Studies, Chung Tai-Shung and Lu Kang-Jia (eds), Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 9780367254476 ,9780429287879, 28 October 2019, pp 107-140. Taylor & Francis Group
  4. Lalit Borana, #Bhaskar Jyoti Deka (SEE), Jiaxin Guo (SEE), Alicia Kyoungjin, An (SEE), "Environment Modeling for Sustainable Development", Sustainability, - Fundamentals and Applications, Brar Satinder K., Goyal Manish Kumar, Surampalli Rao Y., Tyagi R. D. and Zhang Tian C. (eds), Wiley, ISBN: 9781119433965,9781119434016, Hoboken, N.J., 27 March 2020, pp 229-253., Wiley

 

Book

Clean Energy and Resource Recovery An,  A.K., Tyagi, V.K., Kumar, M., Cetecioglu, Z. Clean Energy and Resource Recovery: Wastewater Treatment Plants as Biorefineries, Volume 2, Clean Energy and Resource Recovery: Wastewater Treatment Plants as Biorefineries, Volume 2, 2021, pp. 1–460, Elsevier


 

Patents

  • A Fluid Treatment Apparatus, Patent No.: US11,577,973, United States, 14 February 2023. US Patent (No.: US 11,577,973)
  • Method for fabricating Reusable Visible-light Driven Anit-virus Photocatalytic ZIF-8 Loaded Fabric for Air Cleaning, United States. US Provisional Patent (No.: 63/495,737)
Staff Image
Alicia K.J. AN
Contact Information
Office: YEUNG-B5425
Phone: +(852)-3442-9626
Fax: +(852)-3442-0688
Email: alicia.kjan@cityu.edu.hk
Web: Water and Membrane Technologies

Time slots for consultation

Research Interests

Prof. An's research emphasizes the development of emerging membrane technologies and innovative approaches to solve pressing water quality and quantity issues.   

  • Seawater desalination using membrane technology: Reverse osmosis (RO), membrane distillation (MD), forward osmosis (FO), and hybrid process.
  • Emerging technologies such as MD, FO, and Crystallizer for wastewater treatment and resource recovery.
  • Membrane fabrication and characterization.
  • Membrane-based technologies for removing emerging pollutants.
  • Water-energy-environmental nexus