Joseph Itodo Emmanuel Defends Innovative Ph.D Research on Green Corrosion Inhibitors at AUST

On January 19, 2026, The African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja, hosted the successful Ph.D. oral defence of Joseph Itodo Emmanuel from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Engineering.

His dissertation, titled “Investigation of Green Corrosion Inhibitors for Carbon Steel in Acidic Media Using Density Functional Theory (DFT), Monte Carlo (MC) Simulation and Experimental Framework,” focused on developing environmentally friendly solutions to corrosion challenges in carbon steel, a material widely used in industrial and engineering applications.

Corrosion of carbon steel in acidic environments poses serious economic and safety concerns across industries such as oil and gas, construction, and manufacturing. Joseph’s research combined advanced computational techniques with laboratory experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of green corrosion inhibitors, offering sustainable alternatives to conventional chemical inhibitors.

The Ph.D. defence was attended by the President of AUST, Prof. Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, FAS, alongside the candidate’s supervisor, Dr. Odette Fayen Ngasoh, and members of the doctoral committee including Dr. Vitalis C. Anye and Dr. Abdulhakeem Bello, as well as other senior academic and non-academic staff of the university.

The defence session featured a thorough presentation and rigorous questioning by the panel, which assessed the research’s originality, methodology, and relevance to industry and environmental sustainability. The committee commended the work for its contribution to materials science research and sustainable engineering practices.

The successful defence highlights AUST’s continued dedication to high-quality research and the training of scholars capable of providing innovative solutions to real-world engineering and environmental challenges.