Kang Kang, Lakehead University

Research

Biomass Lignin Thermochemical conversion Carbon material Catalysis Clean energy Hydrogen Process optimization

Latest papers

Solar-Driven Photocatalytic Degradation of Dye Pollutant Using MnO2-Modified Biochar via Fenton-like Reactions.
Polymers · 2026 · senior author
Microwave-assisted valorization of black soldier fly pupal and shrimp shells into chitin and chitosan: A rapid biopolymer recovery approach.
International journal of biological macromolecules · 2026
Solvent-Driven Nanostructural Tuning of Lignin/Poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) Hydrogels.
Gels (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026

All 15 publications

Latest funding

Coordinated experimental-computational engineering of biomass-derived quantum carbon dots for critical mineral sensing
NSERC · 2025 · Principal investigator
$25,000
Advanced Tool for Investigating Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass into Renewable Energy and High-Value Chemicals
NSERC · 2025 · Principal investigator
$147,855
Biomass-to-Hydrogen Conversion: Innovative Processing and Societal Implications
NSERC · 2024 · Co-investigator
$25,000

All 6 grants and awards

15 publications.

01

Solar-Driven Photocatalytic Degradation of Dye Pollutant Using MnO2-Modified Biochar via Fenton-like Reactions.

Sandoval JAS, Ragib AA, Kozinski J, Rakshit SK, Kang K

Polymers2026Senior author

DOI: 10.3390/polym18091119 PMID: 42122743

02

Microwave-assisted valorization of black soldier fly pupal and shrimp shells into chitin and chitosan: A rapid biopolymer recovery approach.

Foong SY, Liew RK, Yek PNY, Du Laing G, Kasan NA, Kang K, Alomairy S, Lam SS

International journal of biological macromolecules2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.151644 PMID: 41895485

03

Solvent-Driven Nanostructural Tuning of Lignin/Poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) Hydrogels.

Jiang X, You X, Li X, Tian R, Wang X, Fatehi P, Kang K, Zhu X, Zhang H

Gels (Basel, Switzerland)2026

DOI: 10.3390/gels12040277 PMID: 42042114

04

Process optimization and techno-economic analysis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) depolymerization in a non-aqueous alkaline environment for monomer recovery and reuse.

Chakraborty A, Castillo-Preciado DJ, Moges B, Mahal Z, Kang K, Sanchez A, Rakshit SK

Waste management (New York, N.Y.)2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115229 PMID: 41207207

05

Mapping global microplastic pollution: Integrating advanced detection and monitoring in aquatic ecosystems.

Solayman HM, Robby MDA, Satriaji FV, Hossain MK, Kang K, Aziz AA, Shiu RF, Jiang JJ

Marine pollution bulletin2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118685 PMID: 40972321

06

Production of Hydrogen-Rich Syngas via Biomass-Methane Co-Pyrolysis: Thermodynamic Analysis.

Guo H, Wang Z, Kang K, Li D

Polymers2025

DOI: 10.3390/polym17192695 PMID: 41096340

07

Valorization of red mud and biomass waste via pre-pyrolysis activation for high-performance magnetic biochar in heavy metal remediation.

Chakma S, Hasan M, Hu Y, Rakshit SK, Kang K

Waste management (New York, N.Y.)2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2025.114970 PMID: 40578049

08

Advancing agricultural efficiency and sustainability: Bio-inspired superabsorbent hydrogels for slow and controlled release fertilizers.

Djafaripetroudy S, Fatehi P, El Idrissi A, Kang K, Abidi N, McLaren B

The Science of the total environment2025

DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179366 PMID: 40215637

09

Microwave-assisted synthesis of biomass-derived N-doped carbon dots for metal ion sensing.

Hasan M, Baheerathan B, Sutradhar S, Shahbandinejad R, Rakshit S, Kozinski J, Li D, Hu Y, Kang K

Carbon research2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1007/s44246-025-00215-7 PMID: 40607164

10

Optimization of syngas production from co-gasification of palm oil decanter cake and alum sludge: An RSM approach with char characterization.

Abioye KJ, Harun NY, Sufian S, Yusuf M, Jagaba AH, Waqas S, Ayodele BV, Kamyab H, Alam M, Gupta M, Gill HS, Rezania S, Chelliapan S, Kang K

Environmental research2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.118027 PMID: 38159670

Coordinated experimental-computational engineering of biomass-derived quantum carbon dots for critical mineral sensing

Principal investigatorNSERC2025International - Catalyst - Quantum - G7

Principal investigators: Kang, Kang

Keywords: Alternative energy resources; Energy resources (including production, exploration, processing, distribution and use)

$25,000

Advanced Tool for Investigating Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass into Renewable Energy and High-Value Chemicals

Principal investigatorNSERC2025Research Tools and Instruments

Principal investigators: Kang, Kang

Keywords: biomass; pyrolysis mechanism; carbon material; thermochemical conversion; hydrogen; process optimization; catalysis; clean energy; lignin; waste plastic

$147,855

Biomass-to-Hydrogen Conversion: Innovative Processing and Societal Implications

Co-investigatorNSERC2024Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Kozinski, Janusz JA

Keywords: biomass; clean energy; conversion; hydrogen; supercritical water

$25,000

Development of lignin-based carbon dots and their composites for photocatalytic hydrogen production

Principal investigatorNSERC2023Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Kang, Kang

Keywords: biomass; lignin; hydrogen; catalysis; hydrothermal process; carbon material; process optimization; thermochemical conversion; clean energy; techno-economic analysis

$64,000

A collaborative effort to develop biomass-based graphene quantum dots for metal ion sensing

Principal investigatorNSERC2023Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Kang, Kang K

Keywords: biomass; carbon nanoparticles; carbon quantum dots; lignin; material characterization; metal ion sensing; quantum materials; quantum sensing; sustainable chemistry; thermochemical conversion

$25,000

Development of lignin-based carbon dots and their composites for photocatalytic hydrogen production

Principal investigatorNSERC2023Discovery Launch Supplement

Principal investigators: Kang, Kang

$12,500

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Biorefining Research Institute (BRI)
chemical engineeing
Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Department of Engineering
Chemical Engineering - Lakehead University

Co-authors at Lakehead University, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Pedram Fatehi

chemical engineeing

3 shared papers, latest 2026

Yulin Hu

Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering

3 shared papers, latest 2025

Janusz Kozinski

Chemical Engineering

2 shared papers, latest 2026

Sudip Rakshit

Chemical Engineering - Lakehead University

1 shared papers, latest 2025

Sonil Nanda

Department of Engineering

1 shared papers, latest 2023

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2025

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Biomass Dear Professor Kang, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Solar-Driven Photocatalytic Degradation of Dye Pollutant Using MnO2-Modified Biochar via Fenton-like Reactions." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "Coordinated experimental-computational engineering of biomass-derived quantum carbon dots for critical mineral sensing" (2025), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]