About

Dr. Bediako received his first degree in BSc. Engineering Sciences (Food Process Engineering major) from the University of Ghana in May, 2011. After a year of National Service at the Food Process Engineering Department where he served as a Teaching Assistant (2011/2012), he furthered his education at Jeonbuk National University (JBNU, Jeonju, South Korea) where he obtained Master’s and PhD degrees in Chemical Engineering in August, 2015 and February, 2019, respectively. After a short stint as a postdoctoral researcher at JBNU, he moved to Hongik University (Seoul, South Korea) where he worked as a lead researcher for joint projects between Seoul National University and Hongik University Research Institute of Science and Technology between September, 2019 and November, 2020. He re-joined the University of Ghana as a faculty member in December 2020, and has since been lecturing at the Department of Food Process Engineering. Dr. Bediako is passionate about teaching and research, as well as mentoring students. His research activities broadly span food and water research, with focus on water treatment and modernization of indigenous food processing. He aims to synergize his expertise in the above research areas for prospective applications in the food processing sectors of Ghana and beyond.

Education

(BSc. Ghana
(MSc., PhD (South Korea))

Research Interest

• Environmental issues in food processing
• Valorization of agricultural/food processing residues
• Future foods (modernizing indigenous foods)
• Water research (wastewater treatment, desalination, resource recovery, urban mining)
• Material design (porous materials, soft matter, polyelectrolyte complexes, polymer hydrogels)

Publications

GRANTS WON/RUNNING

• European Union Horizon 2020 - Research and Innovation Framework Programme (H2020-MSCA-IF-2020; MSCA-IF-EF-ST)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Seoul National University & Hongik University Research Institute of Science and Technology, University-Industry Foundation, South Korea, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Sept. 2019 – Nov. 2020
• Chonbuk National University, Environmental Biotechnology National Research Laboratory (EBTL), Jeonju, South Korea, Postdoctoral Researcher, Mar. 2019 – Aug. 2019
• Chonbuk National University, Division of Semiconductor and Chemical Engineering, South Korea, Graduate Researcher, Sept. 2013 – Feb. 2019
• Department of Food Process Engineering, University of Ghana, Legon, Teaching Assistant, Aug. 2011 – Jul. 2012

• PEER-REVIEW ACTIVITIES
• Reviewer for Journal of Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT), Chemical Engineering Journal (CEJ), Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry (JIEC), Journal of Cleaner Production (JCLEPRO), Materials Chemistry and Physics (MATCHEMPHYS), Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects (COLSUA), Water-MDPI, Journal of Environmental Management (JEM), Chemical Engineering Journal Advances (CEJA), Journal of Molecular Structure (JMS)

PUBLICATION RECORDS

• Over 40 publications in scientific peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings (h-index of 17 and total citations of 867 as of October, 2021).
• 8 oral presentations and several poster presentations at domestic and international conferences/symposia
• 4 patent applications

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

• J.K. Bediako, J.-W. Choi, M.-H. Song, C.-R. Lim, Y.-S. Yun, Self-coagulating polyelectrolyte complexes for target-tunable adsorption and separation of metal ions, J. Hazard. Mater., vol. 401, pp. 123352, Jan. 2021 (IF: 10.588)
• J.-W. Choi, M.-H. Song, J.K. Bediako, Y.-S. Yun, Sequential recovery of gold and copper from bioleached wastewater using ion exchange resins, Environ. Pollut., vol. 266, pp. 115167, Nov. 2020 (IF: 8.071)
• J.K. Bediako, J.-W. Choi, M.-H. Song, Y. F. Zhao, S. Lin, A.K. Sarkar, C.-W. Cho, Y.-S. Yun, Recovery of gold via adsorption-incineration techniques using banana peel and its derivatives: selectivity and mechanisms, Waste Manage., vol. 113, pp. 225-235, Jul. 2020 (IF: 7.145)
• J.K. Bediako, S. Lin, A.K. Sarkar, Y. Zhao, J.-W. Choi, M.-H. Song, W. Wei, D.H.K. Reddy, C.-W. Cho, Y.-S. Yun, Benignly-fabricated crosslinked polyethylenimine/calcium-alginate fibers as high-performance adsorbents for effective recovery of gold, J. Clean. Prod., vol. 252, pp. 119389, Apr. 2020 (IF = 9.297)
• J.-W. Choi, J.K. Bediako, Y. F. Zhao, S. Lin, A. K. Sarkar, M-H. Han, M-H. Song, C. -W. Cho, Y.-S. Yun, Adsorptive removal of cationic tricyclic antidepressants using cation-exchange resin, Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res., DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-06549, pp. 1-12, Jan. 2020 (IF = 4.223)
• J.K. Bediako, S. Lin, A.K. Sarkar, Y. Zhao, J.-W. Choi, M.-H. Song, C.-W. Cho, Y.-S. Yun, Evaluation of orange peel-derived activated carbons for treatment of dye-contaminated wastewater tailings, Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res., vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 1053-1068, Dec. 2019 (IF = 4.223)
• A.K. Sarkar, J.K. Bediako, J.-W. Choi, Y.-S. Yun, Functionalized magnetic biopolymeric graphene oxide with outstanding performance in water purification, NPG Asia Mater., vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 1-10, Jan. 2019 (IF: 10.480)
• J.K. Bediako, A.K. Sarkar, S. Lin, Y. Zhao, M.-H. Song, J.-W. Choi, C.-W. Cho, Y.-S. Yun, Characterization of the residual biochemical components of sequentially extracted banana peel biomasses and their environmental remediation applications, Waste Manage., vol. 89, pp. 141-153, Apr. 2019 (IF: 7.145)
• S. Lin, J.K. Bediako, C.-W. Cho, M.-H. Song, Y. Zhao, J.-A. Kim, J.-W. Choi, Y.-S. Yun, Selective adsorption of Pd(II) over interfering metal ions (Co(II), Ni(II), Pt(IV)) from acidic aqueous phase by metal-organic frameworks, Chem. Eng. J., vol. 345, pp. 337-344, Aug. 2018 (IF: 13.273)
• J.W. Choi, Y. Zhao, J.K. Bediako, C.W. Cho, Y.S. Yun, Estimating environmental fate of tricyclic antidepressants in wastewater treatment plant, Sci. Total. Environ., vol. 634, pp. 52-58, Sep. 2018 (IF: 7.963)