Prof. Irene Man Chi LO 勞敏慈

Irene Man Chi
LO
勞敏慈

PhD in Civil Engineering
Chair Professor
Senior Fellow of HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study
Research Area
Environmental
Research Interests
Fate and transport of nanoparticles
Nanotechnology for environmental application
Soil and groundwater remediation
Solid waste treatment and disposal
Wastewater treatment
Profile

PhD, University of Texas-Austin

Recent Funded Research Projects

Photoelectrochemical technology for emerging pollutant degradation and bacteria photodisinfection with hydrogen evolution for treatment of secondary wastewater effluents (1/1/2019-31/12/2021)
Source: General Research Fund (GRF), RGC
Project No.: 16200918

Simultaneous Endocrine Disruptor Photodegradation and Sewage Disinfection using Magnetically Separable Photocatalysts Activated by Visible Light(01/01/ 2018 – 31/12/ 2020)
Source: General Research Fund (GRF), RGCProject No.: 16200117

Environmental Behaviors of Arsenic-loaded Zero-Valent Iron Nanoparticles in Subsurface System (01/01/2017 - 31/12/2020)
Source: National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ Research Grants Council (RGC) Joint Research Scheme
Project No.: N_HKUST603/16

Development and application of highly efficient bismuth oxyhalide-based visible-light-driven magnetic photocatalysts for PPCP removal from sewage (1/11/2016-30/04/2018)
Source: Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF)
Project No.: ITS_024-16

Selected Publications

J Wan, B Wu, IMC Lo (2020). Development of Fe0/Fe3O4 composites with tunable properties facilitated by Fe2+ for phosphate removal from river water. Chemical Engineering Journal. 388, 124242.

M Khan, A Kumar, J He, IMC Lo (2020). Elucidating the Predominant Role of Crystal Disorders in Hierarchical Photocatalysts Governing their Charge Carrier Separation and Associated Activity in Photocatalytic Water. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science.

A Kumar, M Khan, J He, IMC Lo (2020). Visible-light-driven Magnetically Recyclable Terephthalic Acid Functionalized g-C3N4/TiO2 Heterojunction Nanophotocatalyst for Enhanced Degradation of PPCPs. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 118898.

B Wu, IMC Lo (2020). Surface Functional Group Engineering of CeO2 Particles for Enhanced Phosphate Adsorption. Environmental Science & Technology.

VJL Gan, IMC Lo, J Ma, KT Tse, JCP Cheng, CM Chan (2020). Simulation Optimisation towards Energy Efficient Green Buildings: Current Status and Future Trends. Journal of Cleaner Production, 120012.

MAH Badsha, IMC Lo (2020) An innovative pH-independent magnetically separable hydrogel for the removal of Cu (II) and Ni (II) ions from electroplating wastewater. Journal of hazardous materials, 381, 121000.

RA Rather, IMC Lo (2020). Photoelectrochemical sewage treatment by a multifunctional g-C3N4/Ag/AgCl/BiVO4 photoanode for the simultaneous degradation of emerging pollutants and hydrogen production. Water research. 168, 115166.

B Wu, J Wan, Y Zhang, BC Pan, IMC Lo (2019). Selective Phosphate Removal from Water and Wastewater using Sorption: Process Fundamentals and Removal Mechanisms. Environmental Science & Technology.

A Kumar, M Khan, J He, IMC Lo (2019). Recent developments and challenges in practical application of visible–light–driven TiO2–based heterojunctions for PPCP degradation: A critical review. Water Research, 115356

M Khan, CSL Fung, A Kumar, J He, IMC Lo (2019). Unravelling mechanistic reasons for differences in performance of different Ti-and Bi-based magnetic photocatalysts in photocatalytic degradation of PPCPs. Science of the total environment, 686, 878-887.

VJL Gan, CL Wong, KT Tse, JCP Cheng, IMC Lo, CM Chan (2019). Parametric modelling and evolutionary optimization for cost-optimal and low-carbon design of high-rise reinforced concrete buildings. Advanced Engineering Informatics, 42, 100962.

J Huang, S Yi, C Zheng, IMC Lo (2019). Persulfate activation by natural zeolite supported nanoscale zero-valent iron for trichloroethylene degradation in groundwater. Science of The Total Environment, 684, 351-359.

VJL Gan, HK Wong, KT Tse, JCP Cheng, IMC Lo, CM Chan (2019). Simulation-based evolutionary optimization for energy-efficient layout plan design of high-rise residential buildings. Journal of cleaner production, 231, 1375-1388.

VJL Gan, JCP Cheng, IMC Lo (2019). A comprehensive approach to mitigation of embodied carbon in reinforced concrete buildings. Journal of Cleaner Production, 229, 582-597.

W Zhang, Z Yu, P Rao, IMC Lo (2019). Uptake and toxicity studies of magnetic TiO2-Based nanophotocatalyst in Arabidopsis thaliana. Chemosphere, 224, 658-667.

CSL Fung, M Khan, A Kumar, IMC Lo (2019). Visible-light-driven photocatalytic removal of PPCPs using magnetically separable bismuth oxybromo-iodide solid solutions: Mechanisms, pathways, and reusability in real sewage. Separation and Purification Technology, 216, 102-114.

A Kumar, M Khan, L Fang, IMC Lo (2019). Visible-light-driven N-TiO2@ SiO2@ Fe3O4 magnetic nanophotocatalysts: synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic degradation of PPCPs. Journal of hazardous materials 370, 108-116.

Y Wang, D O’Connor, Z Shen, IMC Lo, DCW Tsang, S Pehkonen, S Pu (2019). Green synthesis of nanoparticles for the remediation of contaminated waters and soils: Constituents, synthesizing methods, and influencing factors. Journal of cleaner production.

M Khan, CSL Fung, A Kumar, IMC Lo (2019). Magnetically separable BiOBr/Fe3O4@ SiO2 for visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of ibuprofen: Mechanistic investigation and prototype development. Journal of hazardous materials, 365, 733-743.

J He, X Zeng, S Lan, IMC Lo (2019). Reusable magnetic Ag/Fe, N-TiO2/Fe3O4@ SiO2 composite for simultaneous photocatalytic disinfection of E. coli and degradation of bisphenol A in sewage under visible light. Chemosphere, 217, 869-878.

Z Yu, L Hu, IMC Lo (2019). Transport of the arsenic (As)-loaded nano zero-valent iron in groundwater-saturated sand columns: Roles of surface modification and As loading. Chemosphere, 216, 428-436.

X Zeng, S Lan, IMC Lo (2019). Rapid disinfection of E. coli by a ternary BiVO 4/Ag/gC3N4 composite under visible light: photocatalytic mechanism and performance investigation in authentic sewage. Environmental Science: Nano, 6 (2), 610-623.

S Lan, X Zeng, RA Rather, IMC Lo (2019). Enhanced trimethoxypyrimidine degradation by piezophotocatalysis of BaTiO 3/Ag 3 PO 4 using mechanical vibration and visible light simultaneously. Environmental Science: Nano, 6 (2), 554-564.

Z Yu, J Huang, L Hu, W Zhang, IMC Lo (2019). Effects of geochemical conditions, surface modification, and arsenic (As) loadings on As release from As-loaded nano zero-valent iron in simulated groundwater. Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, 5 (1), 28-38.

A Kumar, M Khan, X Zeng, IMC Lo (2018). Development of g-C3N4/TiO2/Fe3O4@ SiO2 heterojunction via sol-gel route: a magnetically recyclable direct contact Z-scheme nanophotocatalyst for enhanced photocatalytic removal. Chemical Engineering Journal, 353, 645-656.

 RA Rather, M Khan, IMC Lo (2018). High charge transfer response of g-C3N4/Ag/AgCl/BiVO4 microstructure for the selective photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CH4 under alkali activation. Journal of Catalysis, 366, 28-36.

VJL Gan, M Deng, KT Tse, CM Chan, IMC Lo, JCP Cheng (2018). Holistic BIM framework for sustainable low carbon design of high-rise buildings. Journal of Cleaner Production, 195, 1091-1104.

MU Hossain, CS Poon, YH Dong, IMC Lo, JCP Cheng (2018). Development of social sustainability assessment method and a comparative case study on assessing recycled construction materials. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 23 (8), 1654-1674.

R Akbarzadeh, CSL Fung, RA Rather, IMC Lo (2018). One-pot hydrothermal synthesis of g-C3N4/Ag/AgCl/BiVO4 micro-flower composite for the visible light degradation of ibuprofen. Chemical Engineering Journal, 341, 248-261.

W Zhang, IMC Lo, L Hu, CP Voon, BL Lim, WK Versaw (2018). Environmental Risks of Nano Zerovalent Iron for Arsenate Remediation: Impacts on Cytosolic Levels of Inorganic Phosphate and MgATP2– in Arabidopsis thaliana. Environmental science & technology, 52 (7), 4385-4392.

SLH Chiu, IMC Lo (2018). Identifying key process parameters for uncertainty propagation in environmental life cycle assessment for sewage sludge and food waste treatment. Journal of Cleaner Production, 174, 966-976.

P Fan, Y Sun, J Qiao, IMC Lo, X Guan (2018). Influence of weak magnetic field and tartrate on the oxidation and sequestration of Sb (III) by zerovalent iron: Batch and semi-continuous flow study. Journal of hazardous materials, 343, 266-275.

L Fang, B Wu, JKM Chan, IMC Lo (2018). Lanthanum oxide nanorods for enhanced phosphate removal from sewage: a response surface methodology study. Chemosphere, 192, 209-216.

H Sun, HY Yip, Z Jiang, L Ye, IMC Lo, PK Wong (2018). Facile synthesis of oxygen defective yolk–shell BiO 2− x for visible-light-driven photocatalytic inactivation of Escherichia coli. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 6 (12), 4997-5005.

P Zhang, IMC Lo, D O'Connor, S Pehkonen, H Cheng, D Hou (2017). High efficiency removal of methylene blue using SDS surface-modified ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles. Journal of colloid and interface science, 508, 39-48.

B Wu, L Fang, JD Fortner, X Guan, IMC Lo (2017). Highly efficient and selective phosphate removal from wastewater by magnetically recoverable La (OH) 3/Fe3O4 nanocomposites. Water research, 126, 179-188.

VJL Gan, CM Chan, KT Tse, JCP Cheng, IMC Lo (2017). Sustainability analyses of embodied carbon and construction cost in high-rise buildings using different materials and structural forms. HKIE Transactions, 24 (4), 216-227.

VJL Gan, CM Chan, KT Tse, IMC Lo, JCP Cheng (2017). A comparative analysis of embodied carbon in high-rise buildings regarding different design parameters. Journal of Cleaner Production, 161, 663-675.

JYK Cheng, SLH Chiu, IMC Lo (2017). Effects of moisture content of food waste on residue separation, larval growth and larval survival in black soldier fly bioconversion. Waste management, 67, 315-323.

MU Hossain, CS Poon, IMC Lo, JCP Cheng (2017). Comparative LCA on using waste materials in the cement industry: A Hong Kong case study. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 120, 199-208.

M Khan, IMC Lo (2017). Removal of ionizable aromatic pollutants from contaminated water using nano γ-Fe2O3 based magnetic cationic hydrogel: Sorptive performance, magnetic separation and reusability. Journal of hazardous materials, 322, 195-204.

VJL Gan, JCP Cheng, IMC Lo, CM Chan (2017). Developing a CO2-e accounting method for quantification and analysis of embodied carbon in high-rise buildings. Journal of cleaner production, 141, 825-836.

B Wu, DYS Yan, M Khan, Z Zhang, IMC Lo (2017). Application of magnetic hydrogel for anionic pollutants removal from wastewater with adsorbent regeneration and reuse. Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste, 21 (1), 04016008.

Fang, Liping; Shi, Qiantao; Nguyen, Jessica; WU, Baile; Wang, Zimeng; Lo, I.M.C. (2017). Removal Mechanisms of Phosphate by Lanthanum Hydroxide Nanorods: Investigations using EXAFS, ATR-FTIR, DFT, and Surface Complexation Modeling Approaches. Environment Science & Technology. 51(21), 12377-12384.

Fan, Peng; Sun, Yuankui; Qiao, Junlian; Lo, I.M.C.; Guan, Xiaohong (2018). Influence of Weak Magnetic Field and Tartrate on the Oxidation and Sequestration of Sb(III) by Zerovalent Iron: Batch and Semi-continuous Flow Study. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 343, 266-275.

Fang, L.P.; Wu, B. and Lo, I.M.C. (2017) Fabrication of silica-free superparamagnetic ZrO2@ Fe3O4 with enhanced phosphate recovery from sewage: Performance and adsorption mechanism, Chemical Engineering Journal, 319, 258-267.

Zhang, Ping; Lo, I.M.C.; O'Connor, David; Pehkonen, Simo; Cheng, Hefa; Hou, Deyi. (2017) High Efficiency Removal of Methylene Blue Using SDS Surface-Modified ZnFe2O4 Nanoparticles. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 508, 39-48.

Cheng, J.Y.K. and Lo, I.M.C. (2016). Effects of Moisture Content of Food Waste on Residue Separation, Larval Growth and Larval Survival in Black Soldier Fly Bioconversion. Waste Management, 67, 315-32323(8).

Wu, B., Yan, D.Y.S., Khan, M., Zhang, Z., and Lo, I.M.C. (2017). Application of magnetic hydrogel for anionic pollutants removal from wastewater with adsorbent regeneration and reuse. ASCE Journal of Hazardous, Toxic and Radioactive Waste, 21, (1), 1-9. 

Khan, M. and Lo, I.M.C.*(2017) Removal of ionizable aromatic pollutants from contaminated water using nano γ-Fe 2 O 3 based magnetic cationic hydrogel: Sorptive performance, magnetic separation and reusability. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 322, 195-204.

Gan, V.J.L., Cheng, J.C.P., Lo, I.M.C. and Chan, C.M. (2017). Developing a CO2e accounting method for quantification and analysis of embodied carbon in high-rise buildings. Journal of Cleaner Production, 141, 825-836.

Hossain, MU; Poon, CS; Lo, I.M.C. and Cheng, JCP (2017) Comparative LCA on using waste materials in the cement industry: A Hong Kong case study. Resources, Conservation and Recycling.

Khan, M. and Lo, I.M.C. (2016). A holistic review of hydrogel applications in the adsorptive removal of aqueous pollutants: Recent progress, challenges, and perspectives. Water Research, 259–271.

Chiu, S.L.H. and Lo, I.M.C. (2016). Reviewing the anaerobic digestion and co-digestion process of food waste from the perspectives on biogas production performance and environmental impacts. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 23(24), 24435-24450.

Xia, D.H. and Lo, I.M.C. (2016). Synthesis of magnetically separable Bi2O4/Fe3O4 hybrid nanocomposites with enhanced photocatalytic removal of ibuprofen under visible light irradiation. Water Research, 100, 393-404.

Woon, K.S., Lo, I.M.C., Chiu, S.L.H., Yan, D.Y.S. (2016). Environmental assessment of food waste valorization in producing biogas for various types of energy use based on LCA approach. Waste Management, 50, 290-299. 

Cheng, J.Y.K. and Lo, I.M.C. (2016). Investigation of the available technologies and their feasibility for the conversion of food waste into fish feed in Hong Kong. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 23(8), 7169-7177.

Khan, M. and Lo, I.M.C. (2016). Removal of ionizable aromatic pollutants from contaminated water using nano γ-Fe2O3 based magnetic cationic hydrogel: Sorptive performance, magnetic separation and reusability. Journal of Hazardous Materials, In press.

Woon, K.S. and Lo, I.M.C. (2016). An integrated life cycle costing and human health impact analysis of municipal solid waste management options in Hong Kong using modified eco-efficiency indicator. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 107, 104-114.

Hossain, M.U., Poon, C.S., Lo, I.M.C., and Cheng, J.C.P. (2016). Comparative environmental evaluation of aggregate production from recycled waste materials and virgin sources by LCA. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 109, 67-77.

Hossain, M.U., Poon, C.S., Lo, I.M.C., and Cheng, J.C.P. (2016). Evaluation of Environmental Friendliness of Concrete Paving Eco-blocks Using LCA Approach. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 21(1), 70-84.

Chiu, S.L.H., Lo, I.M.C., Woon, K.S., and Yan, D.Y.S. (2016). Life cycle assessment of waste treatment strategy for sewage sludge and food waste in Macau: perspectives on environmental and energy production performance. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 21 (2), 176-189.

Gan, V.J.L., Cheng, J.C.P., and Lo, I.M.C. (2016). Integrating Life Cycle Assessment and Multiobjective Optimization for Economical and Environmentally Sustainable Supply of Aggregate. Journal of Cleaner Production, 113, 76-85.

Lo, I.M.C. and Woon, K.S. (2016). Food Waste Collection and Recycling for Value-added Products: Potential Applications and Challenges in Hong Kong. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 23(8), 7081-7091.

Lo, I.M.C. and Woon, K.S. (2016). A Proposed Framework of Food Waste Collection and Recycling for Renewable Biogas Fuel Production in Hong Kong. Waste Management, 47, 3-10.

Jiang, X.; Qiao, J.; Lo, I.M.C.; Wang, L.; Guan, X.Y.; Lu, Z.; Zhou, G.; and Xu, C. (2015). Enhanced paramagnetic Cu2+ ions removal by coupling a weak magnetic field with zero valent iron. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 283, 880-887.

Zhang, Z., Lo, I. M. C., Yan, D. Y. S. (2015). An integrated bioremediation process for petroleum hydrocarbons removal and odor mitigation from contaminated marine sediment. Water Research, 83, 21-30.

Guan, X.Y.; Sun Y.; Qin, H.J.; Li, J.Z.; Lo, I.M.C.; He D.; Dong H. (2015). The Limitations of Applying Zero-Valent Iron Technology in Contaminants Sequestration and the Corresponding Countermeasures: The Development in Zero-Valent Iron Technology in the Last Two Decades (1994-2014). Water Research, 75, 224-248.

Zhang, Z. and Lo, I.M.C. (2015). Biostimulation of petroleum-hydrocarbon-contaminated marine sediment with co-substrate: involved metabolic process and microbial community. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 99, 5683–5696.

Yan, D.Y.S., Liu, T. and Lo, I.M.C. (2015). Treatment of urban river contaminated sediment with ex situ advanced oxidation processes: technical feasibility, environmental discharges and cost-performance analysis. Environmental Technology, 36 (16), 2060-2068.

Yan, D.Y.S., Tang, Y. and Lo, I.M.C. (2015). Pulverized Fuel Ash Solidification/Stabilization of Waste: Comparison between Beneficial Reuse of Contaminated Marine Mud and Sediment. Journal of Environmental Engineering and Landscape Management, 22(3), 202-210.

Zhang, Z.; Lo, I.M.C.; Zheng, GY.; Woon, K.S.; and Rao, P. (2015). Effect of autotrophic denitrification on nitrate migration in sulfide-rich marine sediments. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 4, 1019-1028.