Dr. Rohan Dassanayake

Senior Lecturer Grade II
Specialization Area: Industrial Biosystems Technology

Contact

Academic Building (B3)-Room 231
Department of Biosystems Technology
Faculty of Technology
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Mahenwatte, Pitipana North
Homagama 10200
Sri Lanka

Email: rdassanayake@sjp.ac.lk

Education

2015-2018
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Texas Tech University, USA

2009-2014
Ph.D., Kent Ste University, USA

2004-2008
B.Sc. (Hons)(Chemistry), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Personal Profile

Dr. Rohan S. Dassanayake, a Biophysical Chemist, received his Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Chemistry (2008) from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, his Ph. D. in Physical Chemistry (2014) at Kent State University, USA under the supervision of Professor Nicola Brasch. In 2015, Dr. Dassanayake joined the research group of Professor Noureddine Abidi at Texas Tech University, USA as Postdoctoral Research Associate. In 2018, he accepted a Chemistry Assistant Professor position at Ithaca College, USA. He returned to Sri Lanka and joined the Department of Biosystems Technology in the Faculty of technology at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in 2019 where he is currently working a Senior Lecturer.

Research Keywords: Nanobiomaterials, CO2 sequestration, Environmental Remediation, Kinetics and Mechanistic Studies, Material Science, Industrial Bioprocessing, Nanobiotechnology,

 

Other Activities: Watching Movies and Travelling

Positions Held

  • 2021-2023 Associate Editor, Advances in Technology journal
  • 2020-2021Coordinator (Industrial Biosystems Technology (IBST) Focus Area), Department of Biosystems Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
  • Since 2019Senior Lecture Grade II, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
  • 2018-2019 Assistant Professor, Ithaca College, USA
  • Since 2017Editorial Board Member, Biopolymers Research journal

Ongoing Research and Projects

  • 2022-2024Serve as Co-PI on University of Sri Jayewardenepura Research Council funded project entitled Development of smart sensors for the rapid and real-time monitoring of pH and fungal infections in ocular applications,” LKR 3M, Project Duration: 2 Years
  • 2022-2024Serve as Co-Investigator on University of Sri Jayewardenepura Research Council funded project entitled “Development of a Nitrogen Enriched-Pest Repellent Liquid Organic Fertilizer using Locally Available Plant and Animal Waste Materials,” LKR 3M, Project Duration: 2 Years
  • 2022-2024Serve as Co-Investigator on University of Sri Jayewardenepura Research Council funded project entitled “Development of eco-freinedly edible food packing materials using underutilized root and tuber crops in Sri Lanka,” LKR 3M, Project Duration: 2 Years
  • 2021-2023Serve as PI on University of Sri Jayewardenepura Research Council funded project entitled “Facile Recycling of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Species from Industrial Organic Dyes using Cotton-Derived Nanocrystalline Cellulose /Nanocrystalline Chitin-MnO2 Nanocomposites”, LKR 3M, Project Duration: 2 Years
  • 2021-2023Serve as Co-PI on University of Sri Jayewardenepura Research Council funded project entitled “Fabrication of Stable Organometal Halide Perovskite Solar Cell; Perovskite Film Deposition and Surface Passivation Using Chemical Vapor Deposition Technique”, LKR 3M, Project Duration: 2 Years
  • 2017-2018Served as a Co-PI on South Plain Transportation Center (SPTC) funded project entitled “Cotton- Derived Composite Materials for Climate Resilient Transportation Infrastructure”, $ 58,214, Project Duration: 1 Year

Research Interests

Removal of toxic chemicals and sorption of greenhouse gases (GHGs) using biomaterials and biomaterials-derived composites There is significant interest in research that enables the new means of adapting to future challenges in wastewater treatment and controlling industrial gas emissions. The presence of excessive amounts of toxic contaminants in water resources and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will have an immense impact on the earth as well as for the increasing population on the earth. Over the last few decades, the natural resources of water and the quality of the earth’s atmosphere have been depleting. The release of domestic and industrial pollutants has contaminated many streams, rivers, lakes, bays and coastal waters, and industrial gas emissions have impacted the balance of troposphere for the past several decades, resulting in severe environmental and human health issues, and impacting the economy worldwide. Therefore, there is an increased demand for the development of non-petroleum based cheap, non-toxic and bio-incompatible chemicals/materials for sequestration, removal, and recycling of toxic chemicals while preserving water and air quality. Recently, biomaterial-based composites have recently started to gain attention as renewable, sustainable and biocompatible materials for the remediation of toxic chemicals from wastewater streams and mitigation of industrial gas emissions. Therefore, my current and future research focuses on developing sustainable, environmentally benign, economically feasible, and renewable biomaterials-based composite materials for sequestering of greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide and remediation of industrial dye wastewater.

Awards, Distinctions, and Memberships

  • 2022University Research Awards-2020: Awarded in recognition of pub indexed in Science Citations Index Expanded/Social Sciences Citation Index/Elsevier SCOPUS/ Emerald Insights/ Cabell's International from the Research Council, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
  • 2021University Research Awards-2019: Awarded the Highest H-index Researcher of the Faculty of Technology for the year 2019 from the Research Council, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
  • 2016Research article on “Amidoxime-Functionalized Microcrystalline Cellulose-Mesoporous Silica Composites for Carbon Dioxide Sorption at Elevated Temperatures“ has been included in the Hot Article 2016 web collection for Journal of Materials Chemistry A (J. Mater. Chem. A. 2016, 4, 4808)
  • 2015Research article on “Pulse Radiolysis and Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography/High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC/HRMS) Studies on the Reactions of the Carbonate Radical with Vitamin B12 Complexes: Evidence for the destruction of the corrin ring“ selected for the journal inside cover of the Chemistry -A European Journal (Eur. Chem. J. 2015, 21, 6409) and also classified as a ”Hot Paper“
  • 2014Awarded the Jay and Carol Taylor Graduate Scholarship for Excellence in Research from Kent State University, USA
  • 2012 Research article on “Kinetic and Mechanistic Studies on the Reactions of the Reduced Vitamin B12 Complex, Cob(I)alamin, with Nitrite and Nitrate “ selected for the journal cover of the European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry (Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2012, 913)
  • 2010-2019 Member of American Chemical Society (ACS)

Publications

Research Articles

Carbon Capture Using Porous Silica Materials, Amaraweera, S. M., Gunathilake, C. A., Gunawardene, O. H. P., Dassanayake, R. S., Cho, B., Du, Y. Nanomaterials, 2023, 13, 2050

Recent Developments in Edible Films and Coatings for Fruits and Vegetables, Liyanapathiranage, A., Dassanayake, R. S., Gamage, A., Karri, R. R., Manamperi, A., Evon, P., Jayakodi, Y., Madhujith, T.,
Merah, O. Coatings, 2023, 13, 1177.

Algal polysaccharides: Structure, preparation and applications in food packaging, Thiviya, P., Gamage, A., Liyanapathiranage, A., Makehelwala, M., Dassanayake, R.S., Manamperi, A., Merah, O.,
Mani, S., Koduru, J.R., Madhujith, T. Food Chem. 2023, 405, 134903.

Antimicrobial MXene-based conductive alginate hydrogels as flexible electronics, Wu, Qin Z., Dassanayake, R., Sun, Z., Cao, M., Fu, K., Zhou, Y., Liu, Y., J. Chem. Eng. 2022, 140546.

Recent advances in biopolymer-based advanced oxidation processes for dye removal applications: A review, Peramune, D., Manatunga, D.C., Dassanayake, R.S., Premalal, V., Liyanage, R. N., Gunathilake,
C. Abidi, N. Environ. Res. 2022, 215, 114242.

Zirconium containing periodic mesoporous organosilica: The effect of Zr on CO2 sorption at ambient conditions. Gunathilake C., Dassanayake R. S., Fernando C. A. N., Jaroniec M. J. Compos. Sci.
2022, 6 (6), 168.

Preparation and Characterization of Dual-Modified Cassava Starch-Based Biodegradable Foams for Sustainable Packaging Applications, Amaraweera S. M., Gunathilake C., Gunawardene O. H. P.,
Dassanayake R. S., Fernando N. M. L., Wanninayaka D. B., Rajapaksha S. M., Manamperi A., Gangoda M., Manchanda A., Fernando C. A. N., Kulatunga A. K., Manipura A. ACS Omega, 2022, 7(23), 19579,

Suitability of Reusing the Spent Diatomaceous Earth in Brick Production: A Review, Nanayakkara R., Gunathilake C., Dassanayake R. S. Adv. Technol. 2022, 2(2), 151.

Polysaccharides-based Manganese Dioxide Composites for Dye Removal, Peramunde D., Manatunga D. C., Dassanayake R. S., Premlal V,. Liyanage R. N. Academia Letters, 2022, DOI: 10.20935/AL4634.

Development of starch-based materials using current modification techniques and their applications: A Review, Amaraweera S. M, Gunathilake C., Gunawardene O. H. P., Fernando N. M. L.,
Wanninayaka D. B., Dassanayake R. S., Rajapaksha S. M.,Manamperi A., Fernando C. A. N., Kulatunga A. K., and Manipura A. Molecules, 2021, 26(22), 6880.

Compatibilization of Starch/Synthetic Biodegradable Polymer Blends for Packaging Applications: A Review, M., Gunawardene O. H. P., Gunathilake C., Amaraweera S. M., Fernando N. M. L., Wanninayaka
D. B., Manamperi A., Kulatunga K. M. A. K., Rajapaksha S. M., Dassanayake R. S., Fernando C. A. N., and Manipura A. J. Compos. Sci. 2021, 5(11), 300.

Preparation and Characterization of Biodegradable Cassava Starch Thin Films for Potential Food Packaging Applications, Amaraweera S. M., Gunathilake C., Gunawardene O. H. P, Fernando N. M. L., Wanninayaka D. B., Manamperi A., Dassanayake R. S., Rajapaksha S. M., Gangoda M., Fernando C. A. N., Kulatunga A. K., and Manipura A. Cellulose, 2021, 28(16), 10531.

Recent Advances in Biopolymer-Based Dye Removal Technologies, Dassanayake R. S., Archarya S., and Abidi N., Molecules, 2021, 26(15), 4697.

Characterization of Cellulose Nanocrystals by Current Spectroscopic Techniques, Dassanayake R. S., Dissanayake, N., Fierro, J. S., Abidi, N., Quitevis, E. L., Boggavarappu, K., Thalangamaarachchige, V.
D., Appl. Spectrosc. Rev. 2021, 58 (3), 180-205.

Hydrogels: Next Generation Atmospheric Water Harvesting Materials, Dassanayake, R. S., Nilmini R., Adv. Technol. 2021, 1(1), 1.

Removal of Pb(II) Ions from Aqueous Solution Using Modified Starch, Gunawardene, O. H. P., Gunathilake, C. A., Amaraweera A. P. S. M., Fernando, N. M. L.,  Manipura,  A., Manamperi, W. A., Kulatunga, K. M. A. L., Rajapaksha. S. M., Gamage, A., Dassanayake, R. S., Weerasekara, B. G. N. G., Fernando. P. N. K., Fernando, C. A. N., and Jayasinghe, J. A. S. C. J. Compos. Sci. 20215(2), 46

Synthesis of Hematite Nanodiscs from Natural Laterites and Investigating their Adsorption Capability of Removing Ni2+ and Cd2+ Ions from Aqueous Solutions, Gunawardhana, B. P. N., Gunathilake, C. A., Dayananda, K. E. D. Y. T., Dissanayake, D. M. S. N., Mantilaka, M. M. M. G. P. G., Kalpage, C. S., Rathnayake, R. M. L. D., Rajapakse, R. M. G., Manchanda, A. S., Etampawala, T. N. B., Weerasekara, B. G. N. G., Fernando, P. N. K., Dassanayake, R. S., J. Compos. Sci. 2020, 4, 57

Emerging Investigator Series: Synthesis of Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles Fabricated on a Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite for CO2 Sequestration at Elevated Temperatures, Gunathilake, C, A., Ranathunge, G. G. T. A., Dassanayake, R. S.,  IllesingheS. D., Manchanda, A. S.,Kalpage, C. S., Rajapakse, R. M. G.,  Karunaratne, D. G. G. P. Environ. Sci. Nano, 2020, 7,1225

Facile Synthesis and Surface  Characterization of Titiania-Incorporated Mesoporous Organosilica Materials, Gunathilake, C., Kalpage, C., Kandanapitiye, M., Dassanayake R. S., Manchanda, A. S., and Gangoda, M. J. Compos. Sci. 2019, 3, 77

Waste Cotton Fiber Derivatives as Reinforcements of Portland Cement Concrete, Hettiwatte, M. C., Dassanayake. R., Senadheera. S.,  Jayawickrama, P. and Abidi, N.  98th Annual Meeting Transpotaion Research Board (TRB), 2019, Washington DC, USA, pp 19-03568.

Cotton Cellulose-CdTe Quantum Dots Composite Films With Inhibition of Biofilm-Forming S.aureus, Dassanayake R. S., Wansapura P. T., Hamood, A., Tran, P.,  and Abidi, N, Fibers, 2019, 7, 1-14 

Borax Cross-linked Guar Gum-Manganese Dioxide Composites for Oxidative Decolorization of Methylene Blue, Dassanayake,  R. S., Rajakaruna, E. and Abidi, N. J. Nanomater.2019, 2019, Article ID 7232715, 1-11  

Development of Alumina-Mesoporous Organosilica Hybrid Materials for Carbon Dioxide Adsorption at 25 °C, Gunathilake, C., Dassanayake, R. S., Kalpage, C. S., and Jaroniec, M. Materials, 2018, 11, 2301

Preparation and CO2 Adsorption on Activated Carbon Derived from Chitin Aerogels, Dassanayake, R. S.; Gunathilake, C.;  Jaroniec, M.  and Abidi, N. Cellulose, 2018, 25, 1911-1920

Preparation of Aerochitin-TiO2 Composite for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue, Dassanayake R. S.; Rajakaruna, E. and Abidi N. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 135, 45908

Amidoxime-functionalized Nanocrystalline Cellulose-Mesoporous Silica Composites for Carbon Dioxide Sorption at Ambient and Elevated Temperatures, Dassanayake R. S.; Gunathilaka, C.; Dassanayake A.; Jaroneic M. and Abidi N.  J. Mater. Chem. A. 2017, 5, 7462-7473

Guar Gum as Efficient Non-toxic Inhibitor of Carbon Steel Corrosion in Phosphoric Acid Medium: Electrochemical, surface, DFT and MD simulations studies, Messali, M.; Lgaz, M.; Dassanayake, R.; Salghi, R.; Jodeh, S.; Abidi, N. and Hamed, O. J. Mol. Struct. 5, 2017, 43-54

Optimization and Validation of Cryostat Temperature Conditions for Trans-reflectance Mode FTIR Microspectroscopic Imaging of Biological Tissues, Dassanayake, R. S.; Liyanage, S.; Bouyanfif, A.; Rajakaruna, E.; Ramalingam, L.; Moustaid-Moussa, N. and Abidi, N. MethodsX, 2017, 4, 118-127

Preparation of Chitin-CdTe Quantum Dots Films and Antibacterial Effect on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Wansapura P. T., Dassanayake R. S., Hamood, A.,Tran, P., Moussa, H  and Abidi, N. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44904-44914

Rapid Photoactivable Generation of Nitroxyl (HNO) Under Neutral pH Conditions, Zhou, Y.; Cink, R. B.; Dassanayake, R. S.; Seed, A. J.; Brasch, N. E. and Sampson, P. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 13229-13232

Kinetic Studies on the Reaction of Cob(II)alamin with Hypochlorous Acid: Evidence for one electron oxidation of the metal center and corrin ring destruction. Dassanayake, R. S.; Farhath M. M.; Basu S. and Brasch, N. E. J. Inorg. Biochem. 2016, 163, 81-87

One-Pot Synthesis of MnO2-Chitin Hybrids for Effective Removal of Methylene Blue, Dassanayake,  R. S.; Rajakaruna, E.; Moussa, H. and Abidi, N. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 2016, 93, 350-358

Amidoxime-Functionalized Microcrystalline Cellulose-Mesoporous Silica Composites for Carbon Dioxide Sorption at Elevated Temperatures, Gunathilake, C.; Dassanayake, R. S.; Abidi, N. and Jaroniec, M. J. Mater. Chem. A. 2016, 4, 4808-4819

Preparation and Adsorption Properties of Aerocellulose-derived Activated Carbon Monoliths, Dassanayake, R. S.; Gunathilake, C.; Jackson, T.; Jaroniec, M. and Abidi, N. Cellulose, 2016, 23, 1363-1374

Inhibitive Action of Capparis Spinosa Extract on the Corrosion of Carbon Steel in an Aqueous Medium of Hydrochloric Acid, Id El Mouden, O.; Anejjar, A.; Salghi, R.; Jodeh, S.; Hamed, O.; Warad, I.; Zougagh M. and Dassanayake, R. S.  J. Mineral Metal. Mater. Eng. 2015, 1, 1-7

Changes in Methionine Metabolites and Histone H3 Tri-methylation in Multiple Sclerosis, Li, S.; Singhal, N.; Arning, E.; Alkhayer, K.; Clements, R.; Sarcyk, Z.; Dassanayake, R. S.;  Brasch, N. E.;  Freeman, E.;  Bottiglieri, T.  and McDonough, J. J. Neurosci. 2015, 35, 15170-15186

Pulse Radiolysis and Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography/High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC/HRMS) Studies on the Reactions of the Carbonate Radical with Vitamin B12 Complexes: Evidence for the destruction of the corrin ring, Dassanayake, R. S.; Shelley, J. T.; Cabelli, D. E. and Brasch, N. E. Chem. Eur. J. 2015, 21, 6409-6419

Pulse Radiolysis of the Reaction of Nitrogen Dioxide Radical with Vitamin B12 complexes, Dassanayake, R. S.; Cabelli, D. E. and Brasch, N. E.  J. Inorg. Biochem. 2015, 142, 54-58

Pulse Radiolysis Studies on the Reaction of the Reduced Vitamin B12 Complex Cob(II)alamin with Superoxide, Dassanayake, R. S.; Cabelli, D. E. and Brasch, N. E. ChemBioChem. 2013, 14, 1081-1083

Mechanistic Studies on the Reaction of Nitrocobalamin with Glutathione: Kinetic Evidence for Formation of an Aquacobalamin Intermediate, Walker, D. T.; Dassanayake, R. S.; Garcia, K. A.; Mukherjee, R. and Brasch, N. E. Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2013, 3049-3053

Kinetic and Mechanistic Studies on the Reactions of the Reduced Vitamin B12 Complex, Cob(I)alamin, with Nitrite and Nitrate, Plymale, N. T.; Dassanayake, R. S; Hassanin, H. A. and Brasch, N. E. Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2012, 913-921

 

Book Chapters

Enriched Clay-Polymer Composites and Their Applications, Peramune, D.,  Peduruhewa, P., Hewawardhana, S., Perera, W. P.Y.,Sandaruwan, H. H. P. B.,  Manatunga, D. C., Dassanayake, R. S., In Book Clay Composites: Environmental Applications, 2023, Springer Nature Singapore Pp 279-295. 

Biogeochemistry: Essential Link between Geosphere and Biosphere, Ranaweera, D., Kumarasinghe, U., Senanayake, C., Dassanayake, R. S., Bandara, P. C., Koliyabandara, P. A. In Book Medical Geology: Enroute to One Health, 2023, Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Pp 37-54.

Radon and Health, Peramune, D., Dissanayake, N., Thalangamaarachchige, V.D., Farhath, M. N. M., Dassanayake, R. S. In Book Medical Geology: En route to One Health, 2023, Publisher:
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Pp 95-110.

Interaction of Arsenic with Biochar in Water and Soil: Principles, Applications, and Prospects. In: Niazi, N.K., Bibi, I., Aftab, T. (eds) Global Arsenic Hazard. Koliyabandara, P.A., Kumarasinghe, U., Manatunga, D.C., Jayasinghe, R., Dassanayake, R.S., Vithanage, M. (2023). Environmental Science and Engineering. Springer, Cham. pp 129-158.

Polysaccharides-Based Food Packaging Films: An Overview, In book: Food Packaging: Safety, Management and Quality, Chapter 1, Peramune, D. L., Ranaweera, S., Marasinghe, W. N., Manatunga, D.C., Jayathunge, K. G. L. R., Dassanayake, R. S., 2022, Publisher: Nova Science Publishers, DOI:doi.org/10.52305/SEPV4757.

Novel Acumens into Biodegradation: Impact of Nanomaterials and Their Contribution, Manatunga D. C., Dassanayake R. S., Liyanage R. N, In book Biodegradation, InTechOpen, 2021, DOI:
10.5772/intechopen.98771.

Cellulose Aerogels: Preparation, Characterization, and Applications, Dassanayake, R. S and Abidi, N. In book: Cotton Fibres: Characteristics, Uses and Performances, Eds. Gordon, S. and Abidi, N. NOVA Science Publishers, chapter 10, 2017, pp 207-230             

Cotton Cellulose-Derived Hydrogels with Tunable Absorbability: Research Advances and Prospects, Hu Y., Dassanayake R. S., Archarya S., and Abidi N, In book Cellulose-Based Supersorbent Hydrogels, Springer International Publishing, Cham, 2018, pp 1-27

Biopolymer-Based Materials from Polysaccharides: Properties, Processing, Characterization and Sorption Applications, Dassanayake R. S., Archarya S., and Abidi N, In book Advanced Sorption Processes Applications, InTechOpen, 2018, DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.80898

 

Newspaper Articles

Genetically Modified Prodcuts in Health Care Applications, The 7th publication of the Biosafety Newsletter (Newsletters from the Decentralized Offices), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Dassanayake R. S., 2022, Vol. 4, Issue 1 (March-May), Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Water Qulity: Atmospheric Water Harvesting: Hope from Extracting Water from Air, Dassanayake R. S. The Eath and I Magazine, A Publication of the Hyo Jeong International Foundation for the Unity of the Sciences (USA), April/May Issue, 2022.

Next Generation Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs), Dassanayake R. S., Vikum Premlal, Perera W. Sunday Observer, 2022, Jan 16, pp. 10

Removal of Textile Dyes Using Advanced Oxidation Technologies, Dassanayake R. S., Peremune D., Sunday Observer, 2021, Nov 28, pp. 1.

PFAS the Forever Chemicals, Dassanayake R. S., Daily News, 2021, Dec 17, pp. 1.

Faculty of Technology at USJ to Hold International Technology Conference Soon, Dassanayake R. S.,  Sunday Observer, 2021, Nov 11, pp. 6.

Double Masking: For Improved Protection Against Covid-19, Dassanayake R. S., Daily News, 2021, Jun 8, pp. 1.

Benefits of Studying Technology Stream At an Advanced Level, Dassanayake R. S.,  Daily News, 2020, Sep 23, pp. 4

Newspaper Article: Should Sri Lanka Be Worried About Nanoplastics?, Dassanayake R. S., the Sunday Times 2, 2019, Dec 29, pp. 6

Teaching

Dr. Dassanayake teaches the following course modules:

BTI 2103
Industrial Bioprocess Technology

BTI 2122
Methods in Analytical Chemistry

BTI 2102
Fermentation Technology

BTI 2152
Technology Practicals II

BTI 2162
Technology Workshops II

BTI3212
Biomimicry, Biomaterials, and Biosensors

BTI 3211
Research Methods and Scientific Writing

BTI 4356
Industrial Training/Internship

BTI 4996
Research and Design Project

DTC 1109

Perfumery Cosmetics