Thursday, April 25, 2024
Profile

Dr. Muhammad Afzal

manibge@yahoo.com; afzal@nibge.org


Dy. Chief Scientist
Work Phone: +92-41-9201258 Ext.3301 		Dr. Muhammad Afzal

Qualification:

  • PhD. 2011 (Molecular Biology/Phytotechnology) University of Natural Resources & Life Sciences, Austria

Research Interest:

  • Beneficial plant-microbe interactions for improving phytoremediation activity in floating treatment wetlands and constructed wetlands, particularly the diversity and metabolic activities of rhizo- and endophytic bacteria
  • Soil remediation, soil microbial ecology, linking diversity with function, microbes involved in contaminated soil and water remediation 

Research Activities:

Scope of bacterial assisted phytoremediation:

Release of untreated or partially treated sewage and industrial wastewater, contaminates drinking water, food and soil that are a biggest source in the spread of diseases. In Pakistan and many other developing countries, wastewater is not being treated properly due to lack of infrastructure, and high capital and operational costs. NIBGE has developed floating wetlands using indigenous plants, microbes and floating mats for the remediation of sewage and industrial wastewater. While utilizing the power of nature and sunlight, polluted water can be cleaned in a sustainable way, with minimum maintenance and operational cost. Moreover, constructed wetlands were also developed for the remediation of industrial wastewater using specific plants and microbes. The consortium of specific hydrocarbon degrading bacteria was successfully applied for the remediation of crude oil contaminated sea shore and soil. Plant-bacteria synergism was applied for the maximum phytoremediation of crude oil contaminated soil and water.

 

 

Projects Awarded as Principal Investigator (10)

1)      To explore plant-endophyte partnerships in constructed wetland for the treatment for textile wastewater.International Foundation of Science (IFS), Sweden, (10,800 US$) (2012-2013), Completed.

2)      To explore plant-microbe interactions for the remediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soil.Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, (Rs. 4.2 Million) (2012-2016), Completed.

3)      Application of floating treatment wetlands in the sewage stabilization ponds of Faisalabad city, Faisalabad-Pakistan to improve sewage effluent quality. Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA), Faisalabad, Pakistan, (Rs. 4.0 Millions), (2014-2016), Completed.

4)      A plant-bacterial synergistic strategy to improve degradation of synthetic textile dyes in constructed wetlands. International Foundation of Science (IFS), Sweden, (11,800 US$) (2014-2017), Completed.

5)      Application of bacterial assisted floating treatment wetlands for the remediation of oil well produced wastewater in one of the stagnant pits at Rajian Oil Field, Chakwal, Pakistan. Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Pakistan (Rs. 2.0 Million), (2016-2017), Completed.

6)      Application of floating island technology for the treatment of oil industry effluent. Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, (Rs. 5.76 Million) (2015-2019), Ongoing.

7)      Application of bacterial assisted constructed wetland in the industry for the cleanup of textile effluent. Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, (Rs. 1.02 Million) (2015-2019), under University Industry Technology Support Program (UITSP), Ongoing.

8)      Application of floating treatment wetlands in the wastewater stabilization ponds of Faisalabad city. WASA, Faisalabad, (Rs. 8.8 Millions), (2017-2019), Ongoing.

9)      Application of constructed and floating treatment wetlands at Dakhni Gas Processing Plant of OGDCL for the remediation of crude oil contaminated wastewater. OGDCL, (Rs. 4.0 Million), (2017-2019), Ongoing.

10)  Monitoring the quality of water and wastewater of Faisalabad city. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Japan (Rs. 2.0 Million), (completed). (2016-2017).

11)  Application of floating and constructed wetlands for the treatment of wastewater of service station of Toyota Lyallpur Motors, Faisalabad (Rs. 1.0 Million) (2019-2020).

 

As Co-PI 

12)     Pilot scale treatment of textile effluent using integrated treatment technology and its potential reuse for irrigation purpose. PI: Amer Jamal Hashmat and Co-PI: Dr. M. Afzal. Agriculture Linkage Program (ALP),Pakistan Agricultural Research Council. (Rs. 3.66 Million), Ongoing (2017 - 2019).

13)     Integrated strategies for treatment and reuse of chromium-laced tannery wastewater through innovative constructed wetland (CW) technology. PI: Dr. IrshadBibi and Co-PI: Dr. M. Afzal, Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, (Rs. 3.7 Million), (2018-2021), Ongoing.

 

International Publications 65 (Impact Factor 171, Citation 2100)

Last five years

  1. Fahid, M., Ali S., Shabir, G., Ahmad, S.R., Yasmeen, T., Hussain, A., Arslan, M., Afzal M., Hashem, A., Abdallah, E.F., Alyemeni, M.N., Ahmad, A., (2020). Cyperuslavigatus enhances diesel oil remediation in synergism with bacterial inoculation in floating treatment wetlands. Sustainability 2020, 12, 2353; doi:10.3390/su12062353 (I.F. 2.576).
  2. Ummara, U., Noreen, S., Afzal, M. and Ahmad, P. (2020), Bacterial bioaugmentation enhances hydrocarbon degradation, plant colonization and gene expression in diesel-contaminated soil. PhysiolPlantarum. Accepted. doi:10.1111/ppl.13171. (I.F. 4.148).
  3. Wei, F., Shahid, M.J., Alnusairi, G.S.H., Afzal, M., Khan, A., El-Esawi, M., Abbas, Z., Wei, K., Zaheer, A.E., Rizwan, M., Ali, S., (2020). Implementation of floating treatment wetlands for textile wastewater management. Sustainability (accepted).
  4. Shahid, M.J., AL-Surhanee, A.A., Kouadri, F., Ali S., Nawaz, N., Afzal, M., Rizwan, M., Ali, B., Soliman, M., (2020). Role of microorganisms in remediation of wastewater in floating treatment wetlands. Sustainability.12, 5559; doi:10.3390/su12145559(I.F. 2.576).
  5. Ashraf, S., Naveed, M., Afzal, M., Ashraf, S., Ahmad, S.R., Rehman, K., Zahir, Z.A., Núñez-Delgado, A. (2020). Evaluation of toxicity on Ctenopharyngodonidella due to tannery effluent remediated by constructed wetland technology. Processes 2020, 8, 612; doi:10.3390/pr8050612 (I.F. 2.753).
  6. Nawaz, N., Ali S., Shabir, G., Rizwan, M., Shakoor, M.B., Shahid, M.J., Afzal, M., Arslan, M., Hashem, A., Alyemeni, MN., Ahmad, P., (2020). Bacterial augmented floating treatment wetlands for efficient treatment of synthetic textile dye wastewater. Sustainability. (in press) (I.F. 2.576).
  7. Akram, A., Tara, N., Khan, M.A., Arslan, M., Irfan, M., Afzal, M. (2020). Enhanced remediation of Cr6+ in bacterial assisted floating wetlands. Water and Environment Journal (I.F. 1.426).
  8. Ashraf, S., Naveed M., Afzal, M., Seleiman, M.F., Al-Suhaibani, N., Zahir, Z.A., Mustafa, A., Refay, Y., Alhammad, B.A., Ashraf, S., Alotaibi, M., Abdella, K.A. (2020). Unveiling the potential of novel macrophytes for the treatment of tannery effluent in vertical flow pilot constructed wetlands. Water 2020, 12, 549; doi:10.3390/w12020549 (I.F. 2.544).
  9. Afzal, M*., Arslan, M., Müller, J.A., Shabir, G., Islam, E., Tahseen, R., Anwar-ul-Haq, M., Hashmat, A.J., Iqbal, S., Khan, Q.M. (2019). Floating treatment wetlands as a suitable option for large-scale wastewater treatment. Nature Sustainability. 2(9):863-871. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-019-0350-y. (I.F. 12.080).
  10. Afzal, M*., Rehman, R., Shabir, G., Tahseen, R., Ijaz, A., Hashmat, A.J., Brix, H. 2019. Large-scale remediation of oil-contaminated water using floating treatment wetlands. npjClean Water-Nature2(1), 3. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41545-018-0025-7. (I.F. 4.87).
  11. Fahid, M., Arslan, M., Younus, S., Shabir, G., Yasmeen, T., Rizwan, M., Siddique, K., Ahmad, S.R., Tahseen, R., Iqbal, S., Ali, S., Afzal, M*. (2019). Phragmites australis in combination with hydrocarbons degrading bacteria is a suitable option for remediation of diesel-contaminated water in floating wetlands. Chemosphere (in press). (I.F. 5.778).
  12. Hussain, Z., Arslan, M., Malik, M.H., Mohsin, M., Iqbal, S., Afzal, M*. (2019). Remediation of textile bleaching effluent by bacterial augmented horizontal flow and vertical flow constructed wetlands: a comparison at pilot scale. Science of the Total Environment. 685:370-379. (I.F. 6.551).
  13. Saleem, H., Arslan, M., Rahman, K., Tahseen, R., Afzal, M*. (2019). Phragmites australis — a helophytic grass — can establish successful partnership with phenol-degrading bacteria in a floating treatment wetland. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences. 26:1179–1186. (I.F. 2.802).
  14. Rehman, K., Ijaz, A., Arslan, M., Afzal, M*. 2019. Floating treatment wetlands as biological buoyant filters for wastewater reclamation. International Journal of Phytoremediation. 21:1273-1289. (I.F. 2.528).
  15. Shahid, M. J., Ali, S., Shabir, G., Siddique, M., Rizwan, M., Seleiman, M.F., Afzal, M*. (2019) Comparing the performance of four macrophytes in bacterial assisted floating treatment wetlands for the removal of trace metals (Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Cr) from polluted river water. Chemosphere (in press). (I.F. 5.778).
  16. Nguyen, P.N., Afzal, M., Ullah, I., Shahid, N., Baqar, M., Arslan, M. 2019. Removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products using constructed wetlands: effective plant-bacteria synergism may enhance degradation efficiency. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 26:21109–21126. (I.F. 3.056).
  17. Ahsan, M.T., Tahseen, R., Ashraf, A., Mahmood, A., Najam-ul-haq, M., Arslan, M., Afzal, M. (2019). Effective plant-endophyte interplay can improve the cadmium hyperaccumulation in Brachiaria mutica.World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology (I.F. 2.477).
  18. Shahid, M.J., Arslan, M., Saddique, M., Ali, S., Tahseen, R., Afzal, M. 2019.Potentialities of floating wetlands for the treatment of polluted water of river Ravi, Pakistan. Ecological Engineering. 133:167-176. (I.F. 3.512).
  19. Tara, N., Arslan, M., Hussain, Z., Iqbal, M., Khan, Q.M., Afzal, M*. 2019. On-site performance of floating treatment wetland macrocosms augmented with dye-degrading bacteria for the remediation of textile industry wastewater. Journal of Cleaner Production. 217:541-548. (I.F. 7.246).
  20. Rehman, K., Imran, A., Amin, I., Afzal, M*. 2019. Enhancement of oil field-produced wastewater remediation by bacterially-augmented floating treatment wetlands. Chemosphere. 217:576-583. (I.F. 5.778).
  21. Hussain, F., Tahseen, R., Arslan M., Iqbal, S., Afzal, M*. (2019). Removal of hexadecane by hydroponic root mats in partnership with alkane-degrading bacteria: bacterial augmentation enhances system's performance. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. 16:4611-4620. (I.F. 2.54).
  22. Hashmat, A.J., Afzal, M*., Fatima, K., Anwar-ul-Haq, A., Khan, Q.M., Arias, C.A., Brix. H., (2019). Characterization of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria in constructed wetland microcosms used to treat crude oil polluted water. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 102:358–364. (I.F. 1.657).
  23. Tahseen, R., Arslan, M., Iqbal, S., Khalid, Z.M., Afzal, M. (2019). Enhanced degradation of hydrocarbons by gamma ray induced mutant strain of Pseudomonas putida. Biotechnology Letter. 41:391–399. (I.F. 1.977).
  24. Tara, N., Iqbal, M., Khan, Q, M., Afzal, M*. (2019). Bioaugmentation of floating treatment wetlands for the remediation of textile effluent. Water and Environment Journal 33:124-134. (I.F. 1.426).
  25. Tara, N., Arslan, M., Hussain, Z., Iqbal, M., Khan, Q.M., Afzal, M. 2019. On-site performance of floating treatment wetland macrocosms augmented with dye-degrading bacteria for the remediation of textile industry wastewater. Journal of Cleaner Production. 217:541-548.
  26. Afzal, M., Rehman, R., Shabir, G., Tahseen, R., Ijaz, A., Hashmat, A.J., Brix, H. 2019. Large-scale remediation of oil-contaminated water using floating treatment wetlands. npjClean Water-Nature2(1), 3. doi: 10.1038/s41545-018-0025-7.
  27. Rehman, K., Imran, A., Amin, I., Afzal, M. 2019. Enhancement of oil field-produced wastewater remediation by bacterially-augmented floating treatment wetlands. Chemosphere. 217:576-583.
  28. Hussain, F., Tahseen, R., Arslan M., Iqbal, S., Afzal, M. (2019). Removal of hexadecane by hydroponic root mats in partnership with alkane-degrading bacteria: bacterial augmentation enhances system's performance. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology (in press). Hashmat, A.J., Afzal, M., Fatima, K., Anwar-ul-Haq, A., Khan, Q.M., Arias, C.A., Brix. H., (2019). Characterization of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria in constructed wetland microcosms used to treat crude oil polluted water. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. (in press).
  29. Tahseen, R., Arslan, M., Iqbal, S., Khalid, Z.M., Afzal, M. (2019). Enhanced degradation of hydrocarbons by gamma ray induced mutant strain of Pseudomonas putida. Biotechnology Letter. (In press).
  30. Tara, N., Iqbal, M., Khan, Q, M., Afzal, M. (2018). Bioaugmentation of floating treatment wetlands for the remediation of textile effluent. Water and Environment Journal 33:124-134.
  31. Ashraf, S., Naveed, M., Afzal, M., Ashraf, S., Rehman, K., Hussain, A., Zahir, Z.A. (2018). Bioremediation of tannery effluent by Cr- and salt-tolerant bacterial strains. Environment Monitoring and Assessment. 190:716.
  32. Hussain, Z., Arslan, M., Malik, M.H., Mohsin, M., Iqbal, S., Afzal, M. (2018). Integrated perspectives on the use of bacterial endophytes in horizontal flow constructed wetlands for the treatment of liquid textile effluent: Phytoremediation advances in the field. Journal of Environment Management. 224:387-395.
  33. Hussain, Z., Arslan, M., Malik, M.H., Mohsin, M., Iqbal, S., Afzal, M. (2018). Treatment of the textile industry effluent in a pilot-scale vertical flow constructed wetland system augmented with bacterial endophytes. Science of the Total Environment. 645:966-973.
  34. Ashraf, S., Afzal, M., Naveed, M., Tahseen. R., Zahir, Z.A. (2018). Enhanced remediation of tannery effluent in constructed wetlands augmented with endophytic bacteria. Desalination and Water Treatment. 102:93-100.
  35. Rehman, K., Imran, A., Amin, I., Afzal, M. (2018). Inoculation with bacteria in floating treatment wetlands positively modulates the phytoremediation of oil field wastewater. Journal of Hazardous Materials.349:242–251.
  36. Ahsan, M.T., Najam-ul-haq, M., Saeed, A., Mustafa, T., Afzal, M. (2018). Augmentation with potential endophytes enhances phytostabilization of Cr in contaminated soil.Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 25: 7021-7032.
  37. Saleem, H., Rehman, K., Arslan, M., Afzal, M. (2018). Enhanced degradation of phenol in floating treatment wetlands by plant-bacterial synergism. International Journal of Phytoremediation 20:692–698. 
  38. Ashraf, S., Afzal, M., Naveed, M., Shahid, M., Zahir, Z.A. (2018). Endophytic bacteria enhance remediation of tannery effluent in constructed wetlands vegetated with Leptochloafusca. International Journal of Phytoremediation. 20:121-128.
  39. Ashraf, S., Afzal, M., Rahman, K., Naveed, M., Zahir, Z.A. (2018). Plant-endophyte synergism in constructed wetlands enhances the remediation of tannery effluent. Water Science and Technology. 77:1262-1270.
  40. 16.  Fatima, K., Imran, A., Amin, I., Khan, Q.M., Afzal M. (2018). Successful phytoremediation of crude-oil contaminated soil at an oil exploration and production company by plants-bacterial synergism. International Journal of Phytoremediation 20:675-681. (I.F. 1.886).
  41. Shahid, M.J., Tahseen, R., Siddique, M., Ali1, S., Iqbal, S., Afzal, M. 2018. Remediation of polluted river water by floating treatment wetlands. Water Science and Technology-Water Supply (in press).
  42. Saleem, H., Arslan, M., Rahman, K., Tahseen, R., Afzal, M. (2018). Phragmitesaustralis — a helophytic grass — can establish successful partnership with phenol-degrading bacteria in a floating treatment wetland. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences (in press).
  43. 19.  Shahid, M.J., Arslan, M., Ali, S., Siddique, M., Afzal, M. 2018. Floating wetlands: An innovative tool for wastewater treatment. Clean – Soil, Air, Water. (in press).
  44. 20.  Qaiser, M.S.H., Ahmad, I., Ahmad, S.R., Afzal, M.,Qayyum, A. (2018). Assessment of heavy metal contamination in oil and gas well drilling waste and soil at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies. (in press).
  45. Haq, M.A., Hashmat, A. J., Islam, E., Afzal, M., Mahmood, A., Ibrahim, M., Khan, Q. M. (2018).Pilot-scale electrochemical treatment of textile effluent and its toxicological assessment for Tilapia (Oreochromisniloticus L.) culture. Pakistan Journal of Zoology (in press).
  46. Fatima K., Imran, A., Naveed, M., Afzal1, M. (2017). Plant-bacteria synergism: An innovative approach for the remediation of crude oil-contaminated soils. Soil and Environment. 36:93-113.
  47. Arslan, A., Imran, A., Khan, Q.M., Afzal, M. (2017). Plant-bacteria partnerships for the remediation of persistent organic pollutants. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 24:4322-4336.
  48. Ahsan, M.T., Najam-ul-haq M., Idrees, M., Ullah, I., Afzal, M. (2017). Bacterial endophytes enhance phytostabilization in soils contaminated with uranium and lead. International Journal of Phytoremediation. 19:937-946.
  49. Ijaz, A., Iqbal, Z., Afzal, M. (2016). Remediation of sewage and industrial effluent using bacterially-assisted floating treatment wetlands vegetated with Typhadomingensis. Water Science and Technology. 74:2192-2201.
  50. Athar, H.-u.-R., Ambreen, S., Javed, M., Hina, M., Rasool, S., Zafar, Z. U., Manzoor, H., Ogbaga, C. C., Afzal, M., Al-Qurainy, F., and Ashraf, M. (2016). Influence of sub-lethal crude oil concentration on growth, water relations and photosynthetic capacity of maize (Zea mays L.) plants. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 23:18320–18331.
  51. Shehzadi, M., Fatima, K., Imran, A., Mirza, M.S., Khan, Afzal, M. (2016). Ecology of bacterial endophytes associated with wetland plants growing in textile effluent for pollutant-degradation and plant growth-promotion potentials. Plant Biosystems 150:1261-1270.
  52. Tahseen, R., Afzal, M., Iqbal, S., Shabir, G., Khan, Q.M., Khalid, ZZM., Banat, IM. (2016). Rhamnolipids and nutrients boost remediation of crude oil-contaminated soil by enhancing bacterial colonization and metabolic activities. International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation. 115:192-198.
  53. Ijaz, A., Imran, A., Anwar-ul-Haq, M., Khan, Q.M., Afzal, M. (2016). Phytoremediation: Recent advances in plant-endophytic synergistic interactions. Plant and Soil. 405:179–195.
  54. Fatima, K., Imran, A., Amin, I., Khan, Q.M., Afzal, M. (2016). Plant species affect colonization patterns and metabolic activity of associated endophytes during phytoremediation of crude oil-contaminated soil. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 23:6188-6196.
  55. Jabeen, H., Samina, I., Ahmad, F., Afzal, M., Firdous, S. (2016). Enhanced remediation of chlorpyrifos by ryegrass (Loliummultiflorum) and a chlorpyrifos degrading bacterial endophyteMezorhizobium sp. HN3. International Journal of Phytoremediation. 18:126-133.
  56. Shabir, G., Arslan, M., Fatima, K., Amin, I., Khan, Q.M., Afzal, M. (2016). Effects of inoculum density on plant growth and hydrocarbon degradation. Pedosphere 26:774–778.
  57. Ijaz, A., Shabir, G., Khan, Q.M., Afzal, M. (2015). Enhanced remediation of sewage effluent by endophyte-assisted floating treatment wetlands. Ecological Engineering. 84:58–66.
  58. Fatima, K., Imran, A., Khan, Q.M., Afzal, M. (2015). Bacterial rhizosphere and endosphere populations associated with grasses and trees to be used for phytoremediation of crude oil contaminated soil. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 94:314-20.
  59. Khan, M.U., Sessitsch, A., Harris, M., Fatima, K., Imran, A., Arslan, M., Shabir, G., Khan, Q., and Afzal, M. (2015). Cr-resistant rhizo-and endophytic bacteria associated with Prosopisjuliflora and their potential as phytoremediation enhancing agents in metal-degraded soils. Frontiers in Plant Science. 5, 755.
  60. Shehzadi, M., Afzal, M., Khan, M.U., Islam E., Mobin, A., Anwar, S., Khan, Q.M. (2014). Enhanced degradation of textile effluent in constructed wetland system using Typhadomingensis and textile effluent-degrading endophytic bacteria. Water Research. 58:152-159.
  61. Afzal, M., Shabir, G., Tahseen, R., Islam, E., Iqbal, S., Khan, Q.M., Khalid Z.M. (2014). EndophyticBurkholderiasp. Strain PsJN improves plant growth and phytoremediation of soil irrigated with textile effluent. Clean Soil Air and Water. 42:1304-1310.
  62. Afzal, M., Khan, Q.M., Sessitsch, A. (2014). Endophytic bacteria: Prospects and applications for the phytoremediation of organic pollutants. Chemosphere. 117:232-242.
  63. Arslan, M., Afzal, M., Amin, I., Iqbal, S., Khan, QM. (2014). Nutrients can enhance the abundance and expression of alkane hydroxylase CYP153 gene in the rhizosphere of ryegrass planted in diesel-contaminated soil. Plos One. 9, e111208
  64. Afzal, M., Shabir, G., Iqbal, S., Mustafa, T., Khan, Q.M., Khalid, Z.M. (2014). Assessment of heavy metal contamination in soil and groundwater at leather industrial area of Kasur, Pakistan. Clean Soil, Air, Water. 42:1133-1139. (I.F. 1.338).
  65. Tara, N., Afzal, M., Ansari, T.M., Tahseen, R., Iqbal, S., Khan Q.M. (2014). Combined use of alkane-degrading and plant growth-promoting bacteria enhanced phytoremediation of diesel contaminated soil. International Journal of Phytoremediation. 16:1268-1277.
  66. Naveed, M., Yousaf, S., Afzal, M., Sessitsch, A. (2014). The endophyteEnterobacter sp. FD17: A maize growth enhancer selected based on rigorous testing of plant beneficial traits and colonization characteristics. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 50:249-262.
  67. Shabir, G., Afzal, M., Anwar, F., Khalid, Z. M., Khan, Q. M., Khan M. U., Sajid Z. I. (2014). Removal of methylene blue dye from aqueous solution by sorption onto leaves, flowers and bark of Delonixregia. Journal of ChemXpress. 3:52-60.

 
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