Varenyam Achal
Professor, Deputy Dean of Undergraduate Studies
Environmental Science and Engineering Research Group
Office: R421, North Campus
Prof. Varenyam Achal is a distinguished figure in environmental science and engineering, serving as a Tenured Professor and Deputy Dean of Undergraduate Studies at Guangdong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT), Shantou. Prior to joining GTIIT, he was professor at East China Normal University, Shanghai. Graduating with a PhD in environmental engineering in 2010, he has dedicated his career to pioneering research in environmental remediation and bio-based building materials, driving sustainability initiatives. Leading numerous projects, including those funded by NSFC, Prof. Achal has contributed extensively to scholarly literature, with over 100 journal articles, two books, and two patents to his name. He is serving as associate editor for journal Frontiers in Marine Sciences and is in editorial board of journals International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation and Environmental Technology. His global recognition is highlighted by his listing among the top 2% of most-cited scientists by Stanford University.
- Environmental Microbiology
- Bioremediation of Organics and Inorganics from Soil and Water
- Soil Heavy Metal Pollution
- Ecological Restoration and Environmental Sustainability
- Microbial-Based Sustainable Building Materials
Li W., Cai Y., Li Y., Achal V.*(2024) Mobility, speciation of cadmium, and bacterial community composition along soil depths during microbial carbonate precipitation under simulated acid rain. Journal of Environmental Management 353: 120018.
Fang C., Achal V.* (2024) Enhancing Carbon Neutrality: A Perspective on the Role of Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP). Biogeotechnics.
Li J., Achal V.*(2023) Self-assembled silk fibroin cross-linked with genipin supplements microbial carbonate precipitation in building materials. Environmental Microbiology Reports 15: 797-808.
Li W., Yang Y., Achal V.*(2022) Biochemical composite material using corncob powder as a carrier material for ureolytic bacteria in soil cadmium immobilization. Science of The Total Environment 802: 149802.
Li W., Zhang Y., Achal V.*(2022) Mechanisms of cadmium retention on enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) of Ca/Mg: Nucleation, chemisorption, and co-precipitation. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 10: 107507.
Li W., Fishman A., Achal V.*(2022) Whole cell evaluation and the enzymatic kinetic study of urease from ureolytic bacteria affected by potentially toxic elements. Microbiological Research 265: 127208.
Li W., Fishman A., Achal V.*(2021) Ureolytic bacteria from electronic waste area, their biological robustness against potentially toxic elements and underlying mechanisms. Journal of Environmental Management 289: 112517.
Fang C., Mi T., Achal V.*(2022) Sustainable bio-bricks prepared with synthetic urine enabled by biomineralisation reactions. Letters in Applied Microbiology 73: 793-799.
Chen X., Achal V.*(2020) Effect of simulated acid rain on the stability of calcium carbonate immobilized by microbial carbonate precipitation. Journal of Environmental Management 264, 110419.
Chen X., Achal V.*(2019) Biostimulation of carbonate precipitation process in soil for copper immobilization. Journal of Hazardous Materials 368: 705-713.