Shaban Wanis Al-Rmalli: A life dedicated to application of chemistry for improving the environment and saving human lives

Abstract

Shaban was exceptionally talented and was actively engaged in research, publishing his first paper in 1993 [16]. This paper was on the determination of cadmium in water using co-precipitation and neutron activation analysis whilst he was working at Tripoli University. His high intellectual calibre and brilliant practical skills were recognised and he received a scholarship to pursue an MPhil degree and subsequently a PhD degree in the UK.In 2002, Shaban was awarded a scholarship from the Ministry of Higher Education in Libya and he travelled to the UK to study for his MPhil degree (2002)(2003)(2004) in environmental analytical chemistry at De Montfort University. His MPhil thesis was entitled "Arsenic speciation in foodstuffs from Bangladesh and a method for arsenic removal from water." Shaban was an exceptionally brilliant student and this is evident from the fact he managed to publish two high quality research papers during his MPhil degree. Both of these papers are highly cited and widely used by researchers from around the world. One of these papers demonstrated, for the first time, the use of dried water hyacinth roots for the removal of