About

Dr Suren Wijeyekoon is a scientist in Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering with experience in bioenergy production and environmental management. His areas of work include gaseous biofuels focussing on biohydrogen and biomethane production, waste to energy, industrial symbiosis projects looking at process integration for residue valorisation and mixed culture polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymer production.

Qualifications

• PEng (SL) Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka - 2015
• PhD (Environmental Engineering), University of Tokyo, Japan - 2000
• MEng (Environmental Engineering), University of Tokyo, Japan - 1997
• BSc Eng (1st Class Hons) (Chemical Engineering), University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka - 1992

Research capabilities

• Biological and electrochemical technologies
• Biohydrogen, biogas and biofertiliser production
• Industrial Symbiosis
• Lignin based slow release fertilisers
• Biodegradable polymers
• Value added product opportunities from residues and extracts
• Pulp and paper wastewater treatment, biological nutrient removal

Career highlights

• Acting Research Leader, Biofuels and Bioenergy, Scion, New Zealand, 2019-present
• International Professional Engineer, Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka, 2015-present
• Senior Scientist, Clean Technology, Scion, New Zealand, 2012-present
• Member, National Science Foundation (NSF) National Committee on International Council for Science (ICSU), Sri Lanka, 2011–2012
• Professor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 2009–2012
• Member, National Cleaner Production Centre Advisory Committee, Sri Lanka, 2010–2012
• Council Member, Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL), 2008-2009 & 2010–2011
• Chair, Chemical and Process Engineering Sectional Committee, IESL, 2008-2009 & 2010–2011
• Commonwealth Academic Fellow, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom, 2007–2008
• Chartered Engineer, Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL), 2007-present
• National Consultant, Energy Projects to the Designated National Authority on Clean Development Mechanism, a project funded by the World Bank, Sri Lanka, 2006 - 2007
• Senior Lecturer, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 2001–2007
• Research Fellow, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Japan, 2000–2001
• Technical Services Engineer, NALCO South East Asia (Pvt) Ltd, Singapore, 1992–1993

Selected papers

Trolove, S., Wijeyekoon, S. and Tan,Y., 2019. Effect of temperature on the rate of nitrogen release from a controlled release fertiliser. In Nutrient loss mitigations for compliance in agriculture. (Eds. L.D. Currie and C.L. Christensen). Occasional Report No. 32. Fertiliser and Lime Research Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. 9 pages. http://flrc.massey.ac.nz/publications.html

Wijeyekoon S, Carere CR, West M, Nath S, Gapes D (2018) Mixed culture polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthesis from nutrient rich wet oxidation liquors. Water Research 140: 1–11.

Wijeyekoon S, Fisher A. (2017). Pilot scale demonstration of pre-consumer food waste anaerobic digestion for renewable energy and resource production. WasteMINZ Conference.

Isak I, Patel M, Riddell M, West M, Bowers T, Wijeyekoon S, Lloyd J (2016) Quantification of polyhydroxyalkanoates in mixed and pure cultures biomass by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy: comparison of different approaches. Letters in Applied Microbiology 63(2): 139–146.

Andrews J, Smit A-M, Wijeyekoon S, McDonald B, Baroutian S, Gapes D (2014) Application of hydrothermal treatment to affect the fermentability of Pinus radiata pulp mill effluent sludge. Bioresource Technology 170: 100–107.

Baroutian S, Robinson M, Smit A, Wijeyekoon S, Gapes DJ (2013) Transformation and removal of wood extractives from pulp mill sludge using wet oxidation and thermal hydrolysis. Bioresource Technology 146: 294–300.

Suren Wijeyekoon (2006). Trends in Biotechnology Research: Biofilms: Structure, Function, Activity and Control, Edwin C. Hearns (ed), NOVA Publishers (USA), pp 39 - 128.

See full list of publications