The Center of Research in Environmental Science & Technology (CREST), located within the College of Engineering at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Oman, serves as a leading hub for advanced research and consultancy with a particular focus on waste studies and nanotechnology applications in environmental systems.
The center places strong emphasis on Waste research, exploring innovative methods to convert municipal, industrial, and agricultural waste into valuable resources such as biogas, syngas, and biochar. It also investigates the characterization, reuse, and valorization of waste to support sustainable environmental solutions.
In the field of Nanotechnology, CREST conducts cutting-edge research on the innovative development of nanostructured materials with fundamental application of nanoparticles and nano thin film technology in the environmental, corrosion control, wastewater treatment, desalination, aiming to improve efficiency and reduce adverse environmental impact by minimizing the waste and the continual use of resources in order to give emphasis to economical and sustainable solutions.
The center is also at the forefront of Green hydrogen research, exploring novel pathways for hydrogen production from organic waste, wastewater, and biochar-based catalysts, supporting Oman’s transition toward a clean hydrogen economy and aligning with global decarbonization efforts.
Beyond waste, nanotechnology, and hydrogen, the center engages in broader environmental research areas such as renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency, atmospheric and climate studies, sustainable development, and circular economy practices. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and access to state-of-the-art laboratories, CREST contributes significantly to national sustainability goals, energy diversification strategies, and environmental conservation in the Sultanate of Oman.
Establishment Year: 2018
The Center of Research in Environmental Science & Technology (CREST) has successfully developed innovative and research-driven products that address key environmental challenges. These products are the result of interdisciplinary collaboration and are designed to support sustainability, resource recovery, and national priorities.
Key Products Developed:
Vision
To achieve excellence in environmental studies and research, particularly in the fields of environmental science and technology, contributing to sustainable development at national and global levels in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG-2030) and Oman Vision 2040 for a sustainable environment, circular economy, and innovative knowledge-based society.
Mission
To offer sustainable solutions through advanced research and innovation in key environmental areas, including Desalination and Wastewater treatment, Nanotechnology applications in water, renewable energy and energy optimization, atmospheric and climate studies, sustainable development, and the circular economy, while supporting the environmental and economic pillars of Oman Vision 2040.
Objectives
Dr.Shabib Alrashdi
Dr Geetha Devi
Dr Santosh Madhav Walke
Dr. Syed Murtuza Ali
Dr.Varghese Manappallil Joy
Dr Ganesh Nagraj
Dr Mutlag Shafi Alaythee
Prof. Sohrab B Hossain (UTP-Malaysia)
Prof. Dr.Huzairy Hassan (UNIMAP, Malaysia)
Prof. Dr. Sabu Thomas (MG University, India)
Dr. Patrick Isibor (Covenant University, Nigeria, Africa)
Prof.Dr. Robert Thomas Bachmann(UNIKL-Malaysia)
Prof. Dr.Anirban Sur (Symbiosis International University -India)
The Center of Research in Environmental Science & Technology (CREST) actively supports innovation and intellectual property development through impactful research. Below is a list of patents registered by CREST researchers, reflecting advancements in sustainability, clean energy, and environmental technologies:
| No. | Patent Title | Inventors | Patent No. |
| 1 | Enhanced Aluminum Scrap for Concrete Column Reinforcement and Mechanical Performance | Shabib Al Rashdi, Jawaher Al Yaarubi | PT7132598 |
| 2 | Innovative System for Industrial Wastewater Treatment and Green Hydrogen Production | Al-Muntasir Al-Maamari, Hiba Al-Qanai, Abrar Al-Hashmi, Shabib Al Rashdi | OM/P/2025/189 |
| 3 | Biodegradable Lignin-Based Coatings for Sustainable Aluminum Packaging | Reem Al Qassabi, Shabib Al Rashdi, Alyaqeen Al Sooti | OM/P/2025/190 |
| 4 | Innovative System for Leachate Treatment Using Natural Tannins and Advanced Oxidation | Eqlima Al Hinai, Hala Al Zaabi, Shabib Al Rashdi | PT7112592 |
| 5 | Green Carbon Innovation: Sustainable Biochar for Climate, Energy & Agriculture | Sharifa Al Hinai, Shabib Al Rashdi | OM/P/2024/719 |
| 6 | Recovery of High-Purity Calcium Carbonate from Desalination Waste Using Electrodialysis | Bayan Al Khudhuri, Alaa Al Ghilani, Shabib Al Rashdi | PT7132696 |
The following table provides a comprehensive overview of the scientific output of the Center of Research in Environmental Science & Technology (CREST) at the College of Engineering, National University of Science and Technology. The listed publications reflect CREST’s multidisciplinary contributions in key areas such as industrial and oilfield wastewater treatment, green hydrogen production, nanomaterials and composite development, bio-based agricultural technologies, and waste-to-energy innovations. Each entry documents the research title, authors, publication source, research focus, and key findings—demonstrating the center’s active role in advancing Oman Vision 2040 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) through research and innovation.
The Center of Research in Environmental Science & Technology (CREST) operates two major specialized research laboratories namely Waste-to-Energy Research Laboratory and Solar water research & Nanotechnology Laboratory equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and analytical instruments to support multidisciplinary research in environmental engineering, corrosion control, bioenergy, and sustainable resource recovery. The tables below summarize the core laboratory infrastructure and essential analytical equipment used for experimental work, material characterization, and process optimization.
| Name of Equipment | Quantity | Specialization | Purpose |
| X-Ray Diffractometer | 1 | A device for analyzing and measuring the structure of materials | Crystal structure, chemical composition, and physical properties of a material |
| Total Organic carbon analyzer | 1 | Analysis of total organic Carbon | measure the amount of organic compounds contained in a water sample |
| Hydrogen gas generator | 1 | Hydrogen generation system | On-demand hydrogen supply for laboratory experiments |
| Magnetic stirrer | 14 | Laboratory-grade | Mixing and agitation |
| Sieve shaker | 1 | Analytical lab equipment | Sieve analysis |
| Vacuum oven | 3 | Vacuum-sealed environment | Sample drying |
| Drying oven | 2 | Heat-based drying systems | Moisture removal |
| Vacuum filtration | 2 | Vacuum filtration | Sample separation |
| Aerobic digester | 4 | Aerobic digestion systems | Biodegradability experiments |
| Soxhlet extractor | 1 | Soxhlet apparatus | Solvent extraction |
| Digital balance | 2 | High-precision balance | Sample weighing |
| Nano centrifuge | 1 | Nano-level centrifugation | Particle separation |
| Furnace | 3 | Furnace operations | Material carbonization |
| Mechanical shaker | 1 | Mechanical shaking | Mixing samples |
| Heater | 2 | General heater | Heating solutions |
| Digital colorimeter (Multi-parameter photometer) | 1 | Colorimetric analysis | Measuring chemical parameters |
| UV Spectrophotometer | 1 | Spectroscopic analysis | Analyzing light absorbance in UV range |
| Digital pH conductivity meter | 1 | Digital probes | Chemical property analysis |
| UV-Visible Spectroscopy | 1 | spectrophotometers | Measure the light absorbed, transmitted, or reflected by the sample at each wavelength |
| Galvanostat/Potentiostat | 1 | Potentiostat | Corrosion test |
| Vacuum pump | 2 | Vacuum pumps | Reduced pressure applications |
| Moisture analyzer | 1 | Analytical tool | Drying and moisture measurement |
| Autoclave | 1 | Autoclave sterilizer | Microbial studies |
| Incubator (155 L) | 1 | Large-capacity incubator | Culturing and incubation |
| Freezer | 2 | Laboratory freezers | Freezing samples |
| Fridge | 2 | Fridge | Sample storage |
| Rotary evaporator | 1 | Rotary evaporators | Concentration of solutions |
| Ice maker | 1 | Laboratory ice makers | Sample cooling |
| Test tube heater | 1 | Test tube heater | Small-scale heating |
| Lab scale bioreactor | 1 | Bioreactor systems | Bioprocess development |
| Heating mantle | 2 | Heating mantles | Controlled heat application |
| Mechanical grinder | 5 | Mechanical grinders | Particle size reduction |
| Digital clamp-on meter | 1 | Clamp-on digital meter | Current and voltage testing |
| Dolphin FI200 (Internal filter) | 1 | Dolphin filter systems | Internal filtration |
| Manometer (Authorized distributor) | 4 | Manometers | Pressure measurement |
| CO2 probe | 1 | CO2 probes | Gas analysis |
| Hydrogen conductivity meter | 1 | Hydrogen-specific analyzer | Measuring hydrogen concentration |
| Humidity and temperature meter | 1 | Digital meter | Environmental conditions |
| Multi-temperature probe (Thermal comfort meter) | 1 | Multi-temperature probes | Thermal comfort testing |
| Gas monitor (detector) | 5 | Gas monitoring systems | Safety and gas monitoring |
| Thermometer | 1 | Standard thermometer | Temperature measurements |
| Nano centrifuge | 1 | Centrifuge machine | Separation of samples |
The table below presents a structured overview of funded research projects under the Center of Research in Environmental Science & Technology (CREST). These projects span key areas such as bioenergy, green hydrogen, biodegradable materials, circular economy, and advanced wastewater treatment—contributing to national sustainability goals and Oman Vision 2040.
| No. | Project Code | Project Title |
| 1 | BFP/RGP/EI/23/348 | Green Hydrogen Production using Hybrid Solar Energy |
| 2 | BFP/GRG/EI/23/076 | Mitigation of Global Warming by Stabilized Biochar from AD |
| 3 | BFP/GRG/EI/23/089 | Strengthening Aluminum Scrap with Omani Marble Waste |
| 4 | BFP/GRG/EI/23/051 | Solar-Fenton Process for Petroleum Refinery Effluent |
| 5 | BFP/GRG/EBR/23/125 | Biodegradable LDPE Polybags Using Green Waste Biochar |
| 6 | NUSRG/23/CE/0011 | Biochar from AD to Mitigate Global Warming |
| 7 | NUSRG/23/CE/0016 | LDPE Polybags from Biochar of Green Waste |
| 8 | NUFRG/23/CE/0031 | Recovery of Calcium Carbonate from RO Brine |
| 9 | BFP/URG/EBR/24/032 | Eco-friendly Bio-Pesticides from Custard Apple |
| 10 | BFP/URG/EBR/24/056 | Bioplastics from Recycled Waste Wood Dust |
| 11 | BFB/URG/EI/24/033 | Circular Economy for MSW via AD in Oman |
| 12 | BFP/URG/EBR/24/074 | Polymer with Additives to Protect Metal from Corrosion |
| 13 | BFP/URG/EI/24/083 | Mathematical Modeling for Waste-to-Energy Systems |
| 14 | BFP/URG/EBR/24/082 | CO2 Conversion to Solid Carbon via Bubble Column |
| 15 | BFP/URG/EBR/24/061 | Bio-composite Coating from Date Palm Waste |
| 16 | BFP/GRG/EI/24/182 | Anaerobic Degradation of Phoenix Lignin Biochar |
| 17 | BFP/GRG/EBR/24/075 | Eco-Biofilms from Chicken & Agri Waste Biochar |
| 18 | NUFRG/24/CE/0035 | Sustainable Biofilm Management via Poultry Biochar |
| 19 | NUFRG/24/CE/0037 | Iron Oxide-Driven Hydrogen Generation from Food Waste |
| 20 | NUSRG/24/CE/0044 | Anaerobic Digestion for Biogas from F&V Waste |
| 21 | NUSRG/24/CE/0041 | Kinetics of Biochar in Digesters for Renewable Energy |
| 22 | NUSRG/24/CE/0043 | Biodegradable Bioplastics from Palm Waste |
| 23 | BFP/URG/EBR/23/008 | Statistical Modeling for Treatment of Stabilized Leachate |
| 24 | BFP/GRG/EBR/22/096 | Anaerobic Biogas from Hemicellulose A & B Biochar (KOH Extracted) |
| 25 | BFB/RGP/EBR/20/217 | Development of Noble Membrane Biofilm Fuel Cell (MBfFC) for Oilfield Water Treatment and Electricity Generation |
| 26 | BFP/RGP/EI/24/403 | Development and Application of Novel Nano Materials for the Corrosion Control of RC Beam Steel Reinforcements. |
| 27 | BFP/RGP/HSS/23/397 | Lipid–polymer hybrid nanoparticles encapsulating olaparib (poly (adp-ribose) polymerase (parp) enzyme inhibitor) for the targeted delivery to colorectal cancer. |
| 28 | BFP/GRG/EBR/23/083 | Synthesis of Functionalized Mesoporous Silicon Dioxide Nanoparticles for Efficient Treatment of refinery Wastewater for responsible water consumption). |
| 29 | BFP/URG/EBR/23/025 | Eco-friendly synthesis and characterization of aluminium oxide nanoparticles from waste aluminum foil for antibacterial and antifungal activity study |
| 30 | BFP/URG/EBR/24/032 | Green Hydrogen Production from Waste Car Batteries and its potential application in Cleaning of Paraffin Deposits from Oil Pipelines |
| 31 | NUFRG/22/CE/0018 | Development and characterization of novel nanocomposite material in the treatment of oil-produced water for Sustainable Water Management |
| 32 | NUSRG/22/CE/0007 | Facile Synthesis of Copper oxide Nanoparticles Using Jatropha curcas Leaf Extract and Their Antimicrobial Activity Study |
| 33 | BFP/URG/EBR/22/082 | Fabrication and characterization of novel graphene oxide (GO) – CdS nanocomposite coating for corrosion control application |
| 34 | NUFRG/22/CE/0022 | Design and modelling of an Integrated primary pre-treatment system to reduce membrane accelerated mitigate bio fouling during red tide occurrence in Oman |