Clement Uguna

Contact

• workRoom C03 The Energy Technologies Building
  Innovation Park
  Triumph Road
  Nottingham
  NG7 2TU
  UK
• work0115 74 84458
• clement.uguna@nottingham.ac.uk

Biography

I am a Senior Research Fellow, I began my career at the University of Nottingham in 2008 and held a fellowship position at the British Geological Survey between 2014 and 2017. I obtained a PhD in 2008 and Master of Research (MRes) in 2004 both in Petroleum Geochemistry from the Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham. I hold a NEEBOSH certificate in Environmental Management (2019) and a BSc in Chemistry (2001) from Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. My background is in Chemistry, Petroleum Geochemistry/Geochemistry, Environmental Science and Environmental Management. I am a member of the Low Carbon Energy and Resources Technologies Research Group

Expertise Summary

I am an expert in pyrolysis, in the past 15 years i have developed laboratory high water pressure pyrolysis for use in shale gas reserve estimation and artificial maturation of petroleum source rocks for oil and gas exploration in high pressured conventional petroleum reservoirs.

Research Summary

My research focuses on the application of pyrolysis for low carbon energy production, biochar production, characterisation of biochar for its application to soil for CO2 sequestration from the… read more

Recent Publications

• YANG, F., LIU, X., LI, M., UGUNA, C., WANG, W. and SUN, C., 2023. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) derived microporous carbons prepared via hydrothermal dechlorination and potassium hydroxide activation for efficient CO2 capture: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 180,
• AHMED KHAIRY, WALEED SH. EL DIASTY, CLEMENT N. UGUNA, KENNETH E. PETERS, CHRISTOPHER H. VANE, COLIN E. SNAPE and WILL MEREDITH, 2023. Geochemical assessment and hydrocarbon potential of Oligocene–Pliocene source rocks from northeast onshore Nile Delta, Egypt International Journal of Coal Geology. 274, 104283
• IBRAHIM, A., LIU, X., UGUNA, C. N. and SUN, C., 2023. Selective hydrogenation of levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone over copper based bimetallic catalysts derived from metal-organic frameworks: Materials Today Sustainability Materials Today Sustainability. 23,
• FAROUK, S., KHAIRY, A., SHEHATA, A. M., UGUNA, C. N., EL SHEENNAWY, T., SALAMA, A., AL-KAHTANY, K. and MEREDITH, W., 2023. Geochemical evaluation and hydrocarbon generation potential of the Upper Cretaceous–Pliocene succession, offshore Nile Delta, Egypt: Journal of African Earth Sciences Journal of African Earth Sciences. 205,

• View all publications

Current Research

My research focuses on the application of pyrolysis for low carbon energy production, biochar production, characterisation of biochar for its application to soil for CO₂ sequestration from the atmosphere, and quantification/reconstruction of past natural global warming and, CO₂ and methane emissions events.

We utilise hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) for the conversion of biomass and organic waste to low energy carbon solid products (hydrochar) that can be used directly as solid fuels or pyrolysed further at higher temperature to produce biochar, and for biochar production we use direct carbonisation method (high temperature pyrolysis).

My work on biochar production and characterisation is part of a multidisciplinary greenhouse gas removal (GGR) research (Biochar Demonstrator), applying biochar on land for CO₂ sequestration funded by BBSRC. Biochar comprises both labile carbon and stable carbon fractions, a key element of biochar regarding CO₂ sequestration is based on the fraction of biochar that will be stable over a long timescale when applied on land. Our research uses hydropyrolysis to quantify the stable polycyclic aromatic carbon (SPAC) content of biochar (recalcitrant carbon) that is resistant to decomposition that can store carbon in the form of CO₂ in soil.

I am currently applying our well established multi-step sequential high pressure pyrolysis method on North Atlantic Igneous Province (NAIP) rocks for the simulation of hydrocarbon and CO₂ emitted during past magma intrusion into the NAIP to aid quantification and reconstruction of past natural global warming and, carbon dioxide and methane emissions events from North Atlantic gneous Province. This is multidisciplinary research on global warming reduction led by the University of Birmingham and funded by Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).

Past Research

I have investigated the mechanism of shale gas formation and how gas is stored within shale rocks in unconventional shale gas reservoirs and the effects of pressure on hydrocarbon (oil and gas) generation, source rock maturation and oil cracking to gas in conventional petroleum reservoirs using closed system high liquid water pressure pyrolysis technique, and also investigated biomass conversion to liquid hydrocarbon using liquefied solvent extraction method.

• YANG, F., LIU, X., LI, M., UGUNA, C., WANG, W. and SUN, C., 2023. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) derived microporous carbons prepared via hydrothermal dechlorination and potassium hydroxide activation for efficient CO2 capture: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 180,
• AHMED KHAIRY, WALEED SH. EL DIASTY, CLEMENT N. UGUNA, KENNETH E. PETERS, CHRISTOPHER H. VANE, COLIN E. SNAPE and WILL MEREDITH, 2023. Geochemical assessment and hydrocarbon potential of Oligocene–Pliocene source rocks from northeast onshore Nile Delta, Egypt International Journal of Coal Geology. 274, 104283
• IBRAHIM, A., LIU, X., UGUNA, C. N. and SUN, C., 2023. Selective hydrogenation of levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone over copper based bimetallic catalysts derived from metal-organic frameworks: Materials Today Sustainability Materials Today Sustainability. 23,
• FAROUK, S., KHAIRY, A., SHEHATA, A. M., UGUNA, C. N., EL SHEENNAWY, T., SALAMA, A., AL-KAHTANY, K. and MEREDITH, W., 2023. Geochemical evaluation and hydrocarbon generation potential of the Upper Cretaceous–Pliocene succession, offshore Nile Delta, Egypt: Journal of African Earth Sciences Journal of African Earth Sciences. 205,
• LI, W., STEVENS, L. A., MEREDITH, W., UGUNA, C. N., VANE, C. H., ZHANG, B., CARR, A. D., ZHENG, D. and SNAPE, C. E., 2022. The effect of oil extraction on porosity and methane adsorption for dry and moisture-equilibrated shales: Fuel Fuel. 316,
• WEIR, A., JIMÉNEZ DEL BARCO CARRIÓN, A., QUEFFÉLEC, C., BUJOLI, B., CHAILLEUX, E., UGUNA, C. N., SNAPE, C. and AIREY, G., 2022. Renewable binders from waste biomass for road construction: A review on thermochemical conversion technologies and current developments: Construction and Building Materials Construction and Building Materials. 330,
• MUSA, U., CASTRO-DÍAZ, M., UGUNA, C. N. and SNAPE, C. E., 2022. Effect of process variables on producing biocoals by hydrothermal carbonisation of pine Kraft lignin at low temperatures: Fuel Fuel. 325,
• UGUNA, C. N. and SNAPE, C. E., 2022. Should IQOS Emissions Be Considered as Smoke and Harmful to Health? A Review of the Chemical Evidence: ACS Omega ACS Omega.
• IBRAHIM, A., LIU, X., UGUNA, C. N. and SUN, C., 2022. Hydrodeoxygenation of p-cresol over CuNi@C catalyst derived from metal-organic frameworks precursor: Fuel Fuel. 329,
• LI, W., STEVENS, L. A., UGUNA, C. N., VANE, C. H., MEREDITH, W., TANG, L., LI, Q. and SNAPE, C. E., 2021. Comparison of the impact of moisture on methane adsorption and nanoporosity for over mature shales and their kerogens: International Journal of Coal Geology International Journal of Coal Geology. 237,
• DURAN-JIMENEZ, GABRIELA, KOSTAS, EMILY T, STEVENS, LEE A, MEREDITH, WILL, ERANS, MARIA, HERNANDEZ-MONTOYA, VIRGINIA, BUTTRESS, ADAM, UGUNA, CLEMENT N and BINNER, ELEANOR, 2021. Green and simple approach for low-cost bioproducts preparation and CO₂ capture. Chemosphere. 279, 130512
• RIGBY, SEAN P., JAHAN, HOSNE, STEVENS, LEE, UGUNA, CLEMENT, SNAPE, COLIN, MACNAUGHTON, BILL, LARGE, DAVID J. and FLETCHER, ROBIN S., 2020. Pore structural evolution of shale following thermochemical treatment MARINE AND PETROLEUM GEOLOGY. 112,
• MEREDITH, W., UGUNA, C. N., SNAPE, C. E., CARR, A. D. and SCOTCHMAN, I. C., 2019. Formation of bitumen in the Elgin-Franklin complex, Central Graben, North Sea: implications for hydrocarbon charging Geological Society, London, Special Publications. 484,
• WHITELAW, P, UGUNA, C. N, STEVENS, L. A, MEREDITH, W, SNAPE, C. E, VANE, C. H, MOSS-HAYES, V and CARR, A. D, 2019. Shale gas reserve evaluation by laboratory pyrolysis and gas holding capacity consistent with field data Nature Communications.
• XIE, LIUJUAN, SUN, YONGGE, UGUNA, CLEMENT N., LI, YOUCHUAN, SNAPE, COLIN E. and MEREDITH, WILL, 2019. Thermal Cracking of Oil under Water Pressure up to 900 Bar at High Thermal Maturities: 2. Insight from Light Hydrocarbon Generation and Carbon Isotope Fractionation ENERGY & FUELS. 33(10), 9546-9558
• JAKUB FRĄTCZAK, JOSÉ M. HIDALGO HERRADOR, JAROMÍR LEDERER, LEE STEVENS, CLEMENT UGUNA, COLIN SNAPE, JOSÉ L, GÓMEZ DE LA FUENTE, LUKÁŠ ANDĚL, PETR SVOBODA and FILOMENA PINTO, 2018. Direct primary brown coal liquefaction via non-catalytic and catalytic coprocessing with model, waste and petroleum-derived hydrogen donors Fuel. 234, 364-370
• MONAGHAN, A. A, ARSENIKOS, S, QUINN, M. F, JOHNSON, K. R, VINCENT, C. J, VANE, C. H, KIM, A. W, UGUNA, C. N, HANNIS, S. D, GENT, C. M. A, MILLWARD, D, KEARSEY, T. I and WILLIAMSON, J. P, 2017. Carboniferous petroleum systems around the Mid North Sea High, UK Journal of Marine and Petroleum Geology. 88, 282-302
• CASTRO-DIAZ, M., UGUNA, C. N., FIORENTINO, L., DIAZ-FAES, E., STEVENS, L. A., BARRIOCANAL, C. and SNAPE, C. E., 2017. Evaluation of hydrochars from lignin hydrous pyrolysis to produce biocokes after carbonization JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL AND APPLIED PYROLYSIS. 124, 742-751
• UGUNA C. N, CARR A. D, SNAPE C.E, MEREDITH W, SCOTCHMAN I.C, MURRAY A and VANE C.H, 2016. Impact of high water pressure on oil generation and maturation in Kimmeridge Clay and Monterey source rocks: Implication for petroleum retention and gas generation in shale gas systems Journal of Marine and Petroleum Geology. 73, 72-85
• CASTRO DÍAZ, M., UGUNA, C. N., CHEESEMAN, B., BARKER, J. and SNAPE, C. E., 2016. Investigation of the Fluid Behavior of Asphaltenes and Toluene Insolubles by High-Temperature Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Rheometry and Their Application to Visbreaking Energy and Fuels. 30(3), 2012-2020
• ISA, K. M., SNAPE, C. E., UGUNA, C., MEREDITH, W. and DENG, H., 2016. Pyrolysis oil upgrading in high conversions using sub- and supercritical water above 400°C: Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis. 119, 180-188
• LIUJUAN XIE, YONGGE SUN, CLEMENT N. UGUNA, YOUCHUAN LI, COLIN E. SNAPE and WILL MEREDITH, 2016. Thermal cracking of oil under water pressure up to 900 bar at high thermal maturities 1. Gas compositions and carbon isotopes, Energy & Fuels 30, 2617-2627
• UGUNA, C.N., CARR, A. D., SNAPE, C.E. and MEREDITH, W., 2016. Retardation of oil cracking to gas and pressure induced combination reactions to account for viscous oil in deep petroleum basins: Evidence from oil and n-hexadecane pyrolysis at water pressures up to 900 bar Organic Geochemistry. 97, 61-73
• UGUNA, C.N., CARR, A.D., SNAPE, C.E. and MEREDITH, W., 2015. High pressure water pyrolysis of coal to evaluate the role of pressure on hydrocarbon generation and source rock maturation at high maturities under geological conditions Organic Geochemistry. 78, 44-51
• MARSHALL C, LARGE D J, MEREDITH W, SNAPE C E, UGUNA C, SPIRO B F, ORHEIM A and ORHEIM A, 2015. Geochemistry and petrology of palaeocene coals from Spitsbergen-Part 1: Oil potential and depositional environment International Journal of Coal Geology. 143, 22-33
• DENG, H., MEREDITH, W., UGUNA, C. and SNAPE, C.E., 2015. Impact of solvent type and condition on biomass liquefaction to produce heavy oils in high yield with low oxygen contents Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis. 113, 340-348
• ISA KHAIRUDDIN MD, SNAPE E COLIN, UGUNA CLEMENT and MEREDITH WILL, 2015. High conversions of miscanthus using sub- and supercritical water above 400o C Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis. 113, 646-654
• CARR A. D and UGUNA C. N, 2015. Some Thoughts on the influence of pressure and thermal history assumptions on the petroleum systems modelling Journal of Petroleum Geology. 38(4), 459-465
• UGUNA C. N, AZRI M. H, SNAPE C. E, MEREDITH W and CARR A. D, 2013. A hydrous pyrolysis study to ascertain how gas yields and the extent of maturation for a partially matured source rock and bitumen in isolation compared to their whole source rock Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis. 103, 268-277
• UGUNA, C.N., SNAPE, C.E., MEREDITH, W., CARR, A.D., SCOTCHMAN, I.C. and DAVIS, R.C., 2012. Retardation of hydrocarbon generation and maturation by water pressure in geologic basins: An experimental investigation. In: PETERS, K.E., CURRY, D.J. and KACEWICZ, M., eds., Basin Modeling: New Horizons in Research and Applications: AAPG Hedberg Series 4 19-37
• UGUNA, C.N, CARR, A.D, SNAPE, C.E, MEREDITH, W and CASTRO-DÍAZ, M, 2012. A laboratory pyrolysis study to investigate the effect of water pressure on hydrocarbon generation and maturation of coals in geological basins Organic Geochemistry. 52, 103-113
• SONIBARE, O.O, SNAPE, C.E, MEREDITH, W, UGUNA, C and LOVE, G.D., 2009. Geochemical characterisation of heavily biodegraded oil sand bitumens by catalytic hydropyrolysis. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis. 86, 135-140
• CARR, A.D., SNAPE, C.E., MEREDITH, W., UGUNA, C., SCOTCHMAN, I.C. and DAVIS, R.C., 2009. The effect of water pressure on hydrocarbon generation reactions: some inferences from laboratory experiments Petroleum Geoscience. 15(1), 17-26
• MEREDITH, W, SNAPE, C.E, UGUNA, C and LOVE, G.D., 2008. Maximising the yield of bound aliphatic biomarkers via a convenient two-stage hydropyrolysis procedure. In: LIANG, D, WANG, D and LI, Z, eds., Petroleum Geochemistry and Exploration in the Afro-Asian Region Taylor and Francis. 145-152