Dr. KEHINDE AWOKOYA

Email Address: knawokoya@oauife.edu.ng

Staff: Academic Staff

Rank in the department: Senior Lecturer

Short Bio, Academic, and Research Activities:

Dr. Awokoya Kehinde Nurudeen is presently a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry (Core Area: Industrial Chemistry). He specializes in Polymer chemistry, Nanotechnology, Adsorption, Electrospinning and Industrial Chemistry. He is a seasoned Industrial Chemist, distinguished scholar and researcher of high repute. He holds a Ph.D in Industrial Chemistry of Rhodes Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Dr Awokoya is an outstanding international scholar and widely travelled.
He is an active member of the Chemical Society of Nigeria (CSN). Dr Awokoya is also a member of the Polymer Institute of Niger (PIN) as well as the Institute of Chattered Chemists of Nigeria (ICCON). He is also a professional member, Materials Science and Technology Society of Nigeria (MSN). He has made excellent research output in hybrid nanofibre composites, nanoporous membrane technology, polymeric materials and biomaterials, adsorption of metals in crops, acetylated cellulose, nanoparticles, nanomaterials for photo-catalysis, green nanotechnology, nanobiotechnology, sustainable water treatment, colorimetric sensor, biosensor materials, renewable energy, advanced waste water treatment, e.t.c.
Furthermore, his professional accomplishments as an academic and a researcher is centered on teaching and researching in industrial/polymer chemistry, which is his major focus area. As a polymer chemist, he reported for the first time, the development of molecularly imprinted polymer for selective removal of vanadyl tetraphenylporphyrin and nickel-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphine from crude oil. Furthermore, he was able to establish that polymer adsorbent exhibited excellent reusability in complex organic medium such as crude oil. Also, he fabricated multiple template crosslinked molecularly imprinted electrospun nanofibers using electrospinning technique. His research findings on molecular imprinted polymer materials have provided information which was not previously available in the field of polymer science. Additionally, first-ever report on natural polymer such as breadfruit starch crosslinked with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate was investigated by him. His research outputs have produced over thirty (30) publications in both local and international journals and have been cited in numerous reputable journals. He has participated and organized several international and conferences within and outside Africa.
Dr Awokoya has mentored thirteen (13) postgraduate students (both Master & Doctoral students). He is an alumnus of University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo-State, Nigeria and Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria. He is a reviewer for Journal of Adsorption Science and Technology, UK; reviewer for International Journal of Biotechnology and Food Science, UK. Reviewer for African Journal of Science and Nature, Nigeria; reviewer for Journal Chemical Society of Nigeria, Nigeria; reviewer for Asian Journal of Applied Chemistry Research, India; reviewer for Nigerian Journal of Materials Science and Engineering, Nigeria; reviewer for Chemical Science International Journal, Nigeria; reviewer for International Research Journal of Pure and Applied Chemistry, UK etc. He is currently the Chairman, Chemical Society of Nigeria (CSN), Osun Chapter.

Office/Room Number: Room 101 (1st Floor, Yellow house).

Area of Specialization: Industrial Chemistry (Polymer Chemistry, Adsorption, Method Development, Electrospinning and Nanotechnology)

Current Research Projects for Postgraduate Students:

(i) Graft copolymerization of itaconic acid onto cellulose isolated from plantain (Musa paradisiaca) trunk for the removal of dyes from simulated wastewater.
(ii) Experimental and computational studies of the adsorption of methylene blue onto cellulose-g-itaconic acid copolymer.
(iii) Sequestration of malachite green and methylene blue by grafted oil-palm-calyx – methacrylic-acid co-polymer.
(iv) Synthesis and characterization of styrene-based molecularly imprinted polymer for removal of thiophene and dibenzothiophene from crude oil.
(v) Investigation of the mechanism of malachite green removal by cellulose-g-itaconic acid copolymer – experimental and computational studies.
(vi) Graft copolymerization of methacrylic acid onto Garcinia kola pod: synthesis, optimization, characterization, and utilization as an adsorbent for malachite green and methylene blue removal.
(vii) Synthesis and surface characterization of the co-polymer of itaconic acid grafted onto cellulose isolated from plantain tree trunk – experimental and computational approach.
(viii)Synthesis and characterizations of plantain-peel – methacrylic-acid co-polymer for the removal of cationic dyes from wastewater mimic.
(ix) Novel conjugated molecularly imprinted polymer for efficient crystal violet and malachite green capturing from aqueous medium.
(x) A ligand anchored conjugate imprinted polymer adsorbent for effective dyes reomoval from simulated wastewater.
(xi) Synthesis of activated carbon-based molecularly imprinted polymer and activated carbon from low-density polyethylene for removal of catechol and resorcinol from aqueous medium.

List of Selected Publications (with DOI Number or a Hyperlink):
(i) Lawal, O.S., Ogundiran, O.O., Awokoya, K. and Ogunkunle, A.O. (2008). The low-substituted propylene oxide etherified plantain (Musa paradisiaca normalis) starch: Characterization and functional parameters. Carbohydrate Polymers, 74:717-724. (The Netherlands).
(ii) Awokoya, K.N., Batlokwa, B.S., Morokonla, B.A., Chigome, S., Ondigo, D.A., Tshentu, Z. and Torto, N. (2013). Development of a styrene based molecularly imprinted polymer and its molecular recognition properties of vanadyl tetraphenylporphyrin in organic media. International Journal of Polymeric Materials and Polymeric Biomaterials, 63: 107 -113. (United Kingdom).
(iii) Awokoya, K.N., Morokonla, B.A., Chigome, S., Ondigo, D.A., Tshentu, Z. and Torto, N. (2013). Molecularly imprinted electrospun nanofibers for adsorption of nickel-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphine (NTPP) in organic media. Journal of Polymer Research, 20: 148. (Germany).
(iv)Momodu, A.S., Aransiola, E.T., Okunade, I.D., Ogunlusi, G.O., Awokoya, K.N., Ogundari, I.O., Falope, O.T., Makinde, O.W. and Akinbami, J.F.K (2019). Greening Nigeria’s economy for industrial and environmental sustainability: Polyurethane production as a test case. A review. Natural Resources Forum, 43(2): 73-81. (United States of America).
(v) Awokoya, K.N., Oninla, V.O., Babalola, J.O., Mbaeyi, N.N., Folorunso, F.T., and Ndukwe, N.A (2019). Adsorption of malachite green onto styrene-methacrylate based molecularly imprinted polymer. Ife Journal of Science, 21(3): 67-80. (Nigeria).
(vi)Awokoya, K.N., Oninla, V.O., and Bello, D.J (2021). Corrigendum to “Synthesis of oxidized Dioscorea dumentorum starch nanoparticles for the adsorption of lead (II) and cadmium (II) ions from wastewater” [Environ. Nanotechnol. Monit. Manage. 15 (May) (2021) 100440]. Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring & Management, 16: 100489. pg 1-11 (The Netherlands).
(vii) Ogundare, S.A., Moodley, V., Amaku, J.F., Ogunmoye, A.O., Atewolara-Odule, O.C., Olubomehin, O.O., Awokoya, K.N., Sanyaolu, N.O., Ibikunle, A.A., and van Zyl, W.E (2021). Nanocrystalline cellulose derived from melon seed shell (Citrullus colocynthis L.) for reduction and stabilization of silver nanoparticles: Synthesis and catalytic activity. Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies & Applications, 2: 100134. pg 1-8. (The Netherlands).
(viii)Awokoya, K.N., Okoya, A.A., and Elujulo, O (2021). Preparation, characterization and evaluation of a styrene-based molecularly imprinted polymer for capturing pyridine and pyrrole from crude oil. Scientific African, 13: e00947. pg 1-10. (The Netherlands).
(ix) Oninla, V.O., Awokoya, K.N., Babalola, J.O., Abimbola, A.A., and Adesokan, T.B (2022). Comparison of methylene blue sequestration potentials of unmodified and Fenton’s modified plantain (Musa paradisiaca) peels biomass. International Journal of Energy and Water Resources, https://doi.org/10.1007/s42108-022-00185-1. (Switzerland).
(x) Awokoya, K.N., Oninla, V.O., Adeyinka, G.C., Ajadi, M.O., Chidimma, O.T., Fakola, E.G., and Akinyele, O.F (2022). Experimental and computational studies of microwave-assisted watermelon rind- styrene based molecular imprinted polymer for removal of malachite green from aqueous solution. Scientific African, 16: e01194. pg 1-12. (The Netherlands).
(xi) Awokoya, K.N., Oninla, V.O., Ndukwe, N. A., Abiodun, O. M., Babatunde, T. C., Oyebode, B.A., Elujulo, O., and Oyemakinde, E. M (2022). Succinylation of potato (ipomoea batatas) starch: effect of varying ethanol concentration on pasting, structural, morphological, and functional properties. Ife Journal of Science, 24(2): 211 – 226. (Nigeria).
(xii) Oninla, V.O., Awokoya, K.N., Babalola, J.O., Balogun, K. I., and Ismail, O. S (2022). Optimization of synthesis conditions for graft copolymerization of methacrylic acid onto Garcinia kola pods and use in the sequestration of cationic dyes from simulated wastewaters. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-022-03443-8 (Switzerland).

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