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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) since 2021. He holds a B.Sc. (Ed.) (2006) and an M.Sc. in Chemistry (2010) from the University of Dar es Salaam. During his master’s studies, he worked under the late Prof. Michael Kishimba on a project “assessing pesticide residues in the Western Usambara and Uluguru Mountains of Tanzania”, gaining experience in sampling, sample preparation, GC analysis, and GC–MS confirmation.

In 2011, he began his PhD studies at the University of Southampton in the research group of Prof. Bruno Linclau. He completed his PhD in 2014, focusing on the synthesis and comprehensive spectroscopic characterization (IR, UV, MS, and NMR) of fluorinated carbohydrates, cyclohexanols, and benzyl alcohol derivatives. This work investigated the effects of fluorination on carbohydrate–aromatic interactions relevant to sugar–protein binding, as well as its influence on the hydrogen-bond donating capacity of alcohols.

Since 2022, Mtashobya has conducted several research projects, including optimization of bioethanol production from bamboo juice as a novel sustainable biofuel feedstock; development of value-added products from fruit-waste-derived bioethanol; composting of disposable diapers to empower women in environmental and economic management; biogas generation from fish waste for resource recovery and environmental conservation; and conversion of ripe brewing bananas into bioethanol fuel. These projects have resulted in 20 publications in reputable journals between 2024 and 2025 and supported the training of seven M.Sc. (Ed.) students.

Mtashobya has received several awards, including the first prize at the Postgraduate Research Poster Day, University of Southampton (2014); Distinguished Innovator of the Year at the 9th UDSM Research and Innovation Week (2024); and second place, distinguished researcher of the year at the 10th UDSM Research and Innovation Week (2025) at the MUCE level.

Contacts

Email:

Email Address
lewis.mtashobya@muce.ac.tz

Research Interest

Research Interest
Bioethanol, Biogas, & Environmental monitoring and assessment

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Projects

Projects

2023- To date: Co-investigator in the two projects funded by the UDSM research and innovation grants namely: “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”

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
  1. Mtashobya, L.; Kishimba, M.; Nyambo, B. “Levels of Pesticides in the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania: Threatening Biodiversity?” Eastern Arc Mountains Conservation Endowment Fund (EAMCEF), 2010.
  2. 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. 
  3. Mtashobya, L. A.; Nyambo, B. Int. J. AgriScience 2014, 4, 452-462.
  4. Compain, G.; Wang, Z.; Mtashobya, L. A.; Graton, J.; Le Questel, J.-Y.; Linclau, B. Abstr. Pap. Am. Chem. Soc.2014, 248. ⟨hal-02142255
  5. Mtashobya, L.; Quiquempoix, L.; Linclau, B. J. Fluorine Chem. 2015, 171, 92-96.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. 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 
  13. 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  
  14. 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
  15. 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 
  16. 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
  17. 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
  18. Mpokera, et al (2025). Exploring biogas production from Nile perch (Lates niloticus) fish byproducts. Biofuels, 1-7. doi:10.1080/17597269.2025.2452700. 
  19. 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
  20. 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/10.1177/1934578X25132015
  21. 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 
  22. 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
  23. 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 
  24. 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 
  25. 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  
  26. 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
  27. Wang, Z., Compain, G., Naskar, M., Goupille, A., Mtashobya, L., Murgia, I., . . . Linclau, B. 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    
  28. 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
  29. 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  
  30. 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  
     

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