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Dr Lewis Mtashobya

Name
Dr. Lewis Mtashobya

Academic Rank
Senior Lecturer

Department
Chemistry

Biography

Biography

Lewis Atugonza Mtashobya is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at Mkwawa University College of Education (MUCE), a constituent college of the University of Dar es Salaam, where he has served since 2007. He obtained his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Southampton, United Kingdom, in 2014, where his research focused on the synthesis and structural characterization of fluorinated carbohydrates, fluorinated cyclohexanols, and benzyl alcohol derivatives using advanced analytical techniques, including NMR, MS, FTIR, HPLC, GC–MS, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and elemental analysis to provided critical insights into molecular structure, compound purity, and confirm compound identity.  His work explored carbohydrate–aromatic interactions in sugar–protein binding and investigated the effects of fluorination on alcohol hydrogen-bond donating capacity.

Since 2022, his research has focused extensively on sustainable biofuel production, with particular emphasis on biogas and bioethanol technologies. His work involves the identification and evaluation of potential biomass feedstocks, optimization of hydrolysis and fermentation processes, and the development of strategies to improve fermentation efficiency and overall bioethanol yield. His research also emphasizes sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches for converting locally available biomass resources into renewable energy products. The focus being on environmental protection, sustainability, and improving the socio-economic livelihoods of local communities.

Mtashobya has received several prestigious awards in recognition of his research excellence and innovation. These include the First Prize at the Postgraduate Research Poster Day, University of Southampton (2014); the Distinguished Innovator of the Year Award at the 9th UDSM Research and Innovation Week (2024); and the Second Prize for Distinguished Researcher of the Year at the 10th and 11th UDSM Research and Innovation Week (2025 & 2026) at the Mkwawa University College of Education (MUCE) level. These accolades reflect his sustained commitment to high-quality research, innovation, and the development of impactful solutions to societal and environmental challenges.

Since 2014, Mtashobya has authored and co-authored 37 peer-reviewed publications in reputable international journals, as documented in his Google Scholar profile, and holds two patents (TZ/P/2026/000014 and TZ/P/2026/000101). His research has achieved substantial national and international impact, evidenced by 376 citations as of 3 August 2026. These scholarly contributions underscore the quality, relevance, and influence of his work in chemistry, renewable energy, and sustainable biofuel technologies. His research has generated innovative knowledge and practical solutions that advance environmental sustainability, renewable energy utilization, and the socioeconomic well-being of local communities. 

Since 2022, Mtashobya has supervised a total of eight master’s and PhD students, providing dedicated academic mentorship and research guidance. Through this role, he has contributed significantly to postgraduate training, scientific capacity building, and the generation of new knowledge in the fields of chemistry, renewable energy, and sustainable biofuel production.

Contacts

Email:

Email Address
lewis.mtashobya@muce.ac.tz

Research Interest

Research Interest
Renewable energy, Environmental sustainability, Biomass, Bioethanol, Biogas, Sugars

Google Scholar

View Profile

Projects

Projects

2023- To date: Co-investigator in the four projects two funded by the UDSM research and innovation grants namely and two self funded: “Compositing of disposable diapers: Empowering women on management of Disposable Diapers for economic and environmental health improvement”, an innovation project; and “Biogas generation from fish wastes as energy source in enhancing resource recovery for environmental conservation", "The Potential of Bamboo Juice for Bioethanol Production", and "Optimization of bioethanol production from bamboo juice using natural additives".

2022- To date: Principal Invigilator on project titled “Transforming Ripe Brewing Banana Fruits into Bioethanol Fuel” The project was also funded by the UDSM research and innovation grants.

During the academic year 2009/2010, He conducted a project that was funded by the Eastern Arc Mountains Conservation Endowment Fund (EAMCEF). The project titled “Levels of Pesticides in the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania: Threatening Biodiversity?” involved a baseline study on farmers altitudes, knowledge and practices on the use of pesticides and was followed by the analysis and documentation of the results of pesticide residues analysis.

Publications

Publications

Publications in international reputable journals

  1. Lucas, R.; Peñalver, P.; Gómez-Pinto, I.; Vengut-Climent, E.; Mtashobya, L.; Cousin, J.; Maldonado, O. S.; Perez, V.; Reynes, V.; Aviñó, A.; Eritja, R.; González, C.; Linclau, B.; Morales, J. C. J. Org. Chem. 2014, 79, 2419–2429.     
  2.  Mtashobya, L. A.; Nyambo, B. Int. J. AgriScience 2014, 4, 452-462.
  3. Compain, G.; Wang, Z.; Mtashobya, L. A.; Graton, J.; Le Questel, J.-Y.; Linclau, B. Abstr. Pap. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 248. ⟨hal-02142255⟩
  4. Mtashobya, L.; Quiquempoix, L.; Linclau, B. J. Fluorine Chem. 2015, 171, 92-96. Bogdan, E.; Compain, G.; Mtashobya, L.; Le Questel, J.-Y.; Besseau, F.; Galland, N.; Linclau, B.; Graton, J. Chemistry – A European Journal 2015, 21, 11462-11474.
  5. Bogdan, E.; Compain, G.; Mtashobya, L.; Le Questel, J.-Y.; Besseau, F.; Galland, N.; Linclau, B.; Graton, J. Chemistry – A European Journal 2015, 21, 11462-11474.
  6. Graton, J.; Compain, G.; Besseau, F.; Bogdan, E.; Watts, J. M.; Mtashobya, L.; Wang, Z.; Weymouth-Wilson, A.; Galland, N.; Le Questel, J.-Y.; Linclau, B. Chemistry – A European Journal 2017, 23, 2968-2968.
  7. Mtashobya, L. A. (2017). Assessment of pesticide residues in vegetables from the Western Usambara and Uruguru Mountains in Tanzania. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 189(10), 519. doi: 10.1007/s10661-017-6226-6 
  8. Mtashobya, L. (2020). Concentrations of pesticide residues in samples of water, soil and sediments in the Western Usambara and Uluguru Mountains part of Tanzania. International Journal of Environmental Studies, 1-18. doi: 10.1080/00207233.2020.1736420
  9. Mtashobya, L. (2021). Insights on tert-butyl alkylation effects on fluorobenzene, Scientific African, 11, e00659. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00659
  10. Mtashobya, L. (2023). The synthesis and characterization of the two 2-(tert-butyl) cyclohexyl methanesulfonate compounds. Ethiop. J. Sci. & Technol., 16(3), 237-244. https://doi.org/ https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ejst.v16i3.4
  11. Mgeni, S. T., Mero, H. R., Gervas, J. B., Mtashobya, L. A., & Emmanuel, J. K (2024). Bioethanol production from dilute fruit wastes using sorghum as additional fermentable sugar. Biofuels, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1080/17597269.2024.2371211 
  12. Msigala, E. C., Balengayabo, J. G., Mtashobya, L. A., & Emmanuel, J. K. (2024). Sugar content and specific gravity as quality determinants of juice produced from banana varieties of Musa acuminate grown in Kagera Region, Tanzania. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 10(1), 2401052. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2024.2401052
  13. Mgeni, S. T., Mtashobya, L. A., & Emmanuel, J. K. (2024). Bioethanol production from pineapple fruit waste juice using bakery yeast. Heliyon, 10(19). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e38172 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e38172
  14. Mgeni, S. T., Mero, H. R., Mtashobya, L. A., & Emmanuel, J. K. (2024). The prospect of fruit wastes in bioethanol production: A review. Heliyon, 10(19). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e38776 
  15. Emmanuel, J. K., Mgeni, S. T., Gervas, J. B., & Mtashobya, L. A. (2024). Bioethanol production from concentrated fruit wastes’ juice enhanced with fermentable sugar from millet (Panicum miliaceum). Biofuels, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1080/17597269.2024.2432157
  16. Mtashobya, L. A., Mgeni, S. T., & Emmanuel, J. K. (2025). Bioethanol production from concentration fruit wastes juice using bakery yeast. Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy, 14(1), 6. doi:10.1007/s40243-024-00283-6
  17. Mpokera, N., Gervas, J., Mtashobya, L., & Emmanuel, J. (2025). Exploring biogas production from Nile perch (Lates niloticus) fish byproducts. Biofuels, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1080/17597269.2025.2452700 
  18. Mgeni, S. T., Mtashobya, L. A., & Emmanuel, J. K. (2025). Bioethanol production from fruit wastes juice using millet and sorghum as additional fermentable sugar. Cleaner Energy Systems, 10, 100177. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cles.2025.100177
  19. Emmanuel, J. K., Mtashobya, L. A., & Mgeni, S. T. (2025). Potential Contributions of Banana Fruits and Residues to Multiple Applications: An Overview. Natural Product Communications, 20(2), 1934578X251320151. https://doi.org/10.1177/1934578X251320151  
  20. Mpokera, N., Gervas, J., Mtashobya, L., & Emmanuel, J. (2025). Valorization of Nile perch wastes and cow rumen cud for biogas production through anaerobic co-digestion. Biofuels, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/17597269.2025.2473785
  21. Mgeni, S., Mero, H., Mtashobya, L., Emmanuel, J. (2025) Utilizing fruit wastes as a sustainable feedstock for bioethanol production: A review. Cleaner Energy Systems, 10, 100188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cles.2025.100188
  22. Mgeni, S. T., Gervas, J. B., Mtashobya, L. A., & Emmanuel, J. K. (2025). Quality of Bioethanol Produced from Concentrated Fruit Waste Juice Augmented with Sorghum as Additional Fermentable Sugar. Sugar Tech. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-025-01596-0 
  23. Mgeni ST, Emmanuel JK, Mtashobya LA. Potential Contributions of Pineapple Waste to Nutrition, Medicine, Bioenergy Sources, and Environmental Conservation: A Review. Natural Product Communications. 2025;20(6). https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1934578X251348402 
  24. Mtashobya, L. A., Mgeni, S. T., & Emmanuel, J. K. (2025). Potential Contributions of Cashew Apple Juice to Nutrition, Medicine and Bioethanol Generation: An Outlook. Natural Product Communications, 20(7), 1934578X251357414. https://doi.org/10.1177/1934578x251357414 
  25. Mwanyesya, O. P., Mtashobya, L. A., & Emmanuel, J. K. Enhanced bioethanol production from bamboo juice supplemented with banana fruit at the verge stage. Biofuels, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/17597269.2025.2524911
  26. Wang, Z., Compain, G., Naskar, M., Goupille, A., Mtashobya, L., Murgia, I., . . . Linclau, B. (2025). The Conformational Electrostatic Potential as Predictor for the Influence of Fluorination on Alcohol Hydrogen Bonding: Identification of a CF2H-Mediated Cooperative Effect. ChemistryEurope, n/a(n/a), 202500203. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/ceur.202500203
  27. Mtashobya, L. A., Msigala, E. C., Mahushi, D. J., Balengayabo, J. G., & Emmanuel, J. K. (2025). Quality and quantity of bioethanol produced from brewing banana varieties of Musa acuminate cultivars. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 11(1), 2572439. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2025.2572439
  28. Mtashobya, L. A., Kimata, J. A., Ngabala, F. J., & Emmanuel, J. K. (2025). Bioethanol Production from Concentrated Ripe Pear Fruit Waste Juice Using Sorghum as an Additional Fermentable Sugar. Natural Product Communications, 20(10), 1934578X251388838. https://doi.org/10.1177/1934578X251388838 
  29. Mtashobya, L. A., Mwanyesya, O. P., & Emmanuel, J. K. Enhancing bamboo juice fermentation for bioethanol production using mango-derived amylase. Biofuels, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/17597269.2025.2588897
  30. Mwanyesya, O. P., Mtashobya, L. A., & Emmanuel, J. K. (2025). Value addition on bioethanol produced from different feedstocks: a review of recent outlook. Discover Applied Sciences, 7(12), 1449. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-025-07377-4 
  31. Emmanuel, J. K., Mwanyesya, O. P., & Mtashobya, L. A. (2026). The Effects of Seasonal Variation on Bioethanol Yield from Fermented Bamboo Juice Supplemented with Scant mango Fruit at the Verge Stage. Natural Product Communications, 21(2), 1934578X261425479. https://doi.org/10.1177/1934578X261425479 
  32. Mgeni, S. T., Emmanuel, J. K., & Mtashobya, L. A. (2026). The Prospects of Mango (Mangifera indica) Fruit Wastes for Renewable Biofuel Production: A Review. Natural Product Communications, 21(2), 1934578X261425489. https://doi.org/10.1177/1934578X261425489 
  33. Mtashobya, L. A., Mwanyesya, O. P., & Emmanuel, J. K. (2026).  Formulation of Bioethanol from Bamboo Juice and Manufacturing Method Thereof (Brela Patent No. TZ/P/2026/000014). Business Registrations and Licensing Agency, Tanzania. https://ors.brela.go.tz/ors/searchjournalpublic
  34. Mtashobya, L. A., Nshike, N. M., Kimata, J. A., Ngabala, F. J., & Emmanuel, J. K. (2026). Sustainable Bioethanol Production Through Fermentation of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) Fruit Waste Juice Supplemented with Sorghum. Natural Product Communications, 21(4), 1934578X261441686. https://doi.org/10.1177/1934578X261441686
  35. Mtashobya, L. A., Thoiba, R. J., & Emmanuel, J. K. (2026). A systematic review of bioethanol production optimization from diverse feedstocks with natural additive supplementation. Discover Applied Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-026-08724-9 
  36. Emmanuel, J. K., Mgeni, S. T., & Mtashobya, L. A. (2026).  Formulation of Bioethanol from Fruit Wastes Juice and Production Method Thereof (Brela Patent No. TZ/P/2026/000101). Business Registrations and Licensing Agency, Tanzania.
  37. Mtashobya, L. A., Emanuel, D. Y., Pius, C. F., & Emmanuel, J. K. (2026). Recovery of potassium from disposable diapers used for efficient waste management. Journal of Chemical Research, 50(3), 17475198261455542. https://doi.org/10.1177/17475198261455542
     

Awards

2014        First Prize award (£75) during Postgraduate Research Poster Day at the University    of Southampton in the year 2014.

2024        Distinguished Innovator of the Year on UDSM 9th Research and Innovation Week 2024 for a project on preparation of value added products using bioethanol produced from fruit wastes.

2025         Second winner “Distinguished Researcher of the year” Award during the 10th UDSM Research and Innovation Week 2025 at the level of MUCE

2026         Second winner “Distinguished Researcher of the year” Award during the 11th UDSM Research and Innovation Week 2025 at the level of MUCE

Contacts:    Email 1: lewis.mtashobya@muce.ac.tz; Mtashobya074@yahoo.com

                     Phone:   +255755625350

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4832-8470