Hilary Domakyaara Zakpaa
Department of Biochemistry and BiotechnologyLife SciencesPhysical SciencesHealth Sciences

Hilary Domakyaara Zakpaa

22 Publications11 Research Themes17 Open Access
Research Overview & Focus

The researcher has a comprehensive focus in the field of bioengines and bioproduction, driven by significant contributions to the development of biofuels through fermentation processes. Their work spans multiple domains, including bioethanol production using yeast strains like Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the feasibility of fruit pulp bioconversion for ethanol, and advancements in shea butter production. They emphasize the role of plant-derived microbial communities, particularly those in soil environments, in both plant-based chemistries and environmental bioremediation. Additionally, they explore enzymatic enzymes from diverse fungi to enhance yield and quality in products like lactic acid bacteria involved in fermentation. This research not only contributes to agricultural technologies but also addresses public health through sustainable food production methods, making them a key figure in bioengines for human well-being.

Faculty Biography

Prof Hillary Zakpaa is an associate Professor in the department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biosciences, College of Science. He joined the department in 1st of October, 2003. His research areas are microbial conversion of biomass into biofuels, bio-solvents, food biotech and bioremediation. He currently handles the following courses at both undergraduate and graduate level; Fermentation, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Industrial Microbiology and Bioprocessing, Enzyme Technology, Food biotechnology and finally Environmental Biotechnology.He obtained his BSc first degree in the University of Ghana, Legon in Biochemistry and Food Science in 1991. He was awarded a Japanese Government Scholarship in 1993 to pursue his MSc and PhD in Microbial Fermentation Biotechnology at Kyushu University in Fukuoka in Japan. He obtained his PhD degree in 1998.

Key Research Themes (11)
Life Sciences

African Botany and Ecology Studies

Life Sciences

Banana Cultivation and Research

Physical Sciences

Biofuel production and bioconversion

Life Sciences

Food Chemistry and Fat Analysis

Health Sciences

Fungal Biology and Applications

Life Sciences

Meat and Animal Product Quality

Life Sciences

Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction

Physical Sciences

Phytochemistry and Bioactive Compounds

Health Sciences

Phytoestrogen effects and research

Life Sciences

Plant tissue culture and regeneration

Life Sciences

Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects

Publications (22)

Molecular identification of lactic acid bacteria involved in Ghanaian cocoa bean fermentation

Open Access
2025Food Chemistry and Fat AnalysisDOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7864986/v1

Bioprocess Optimization for Pectinase Enzymes Synthesized from Fungal Species Under Solid-State Fermentation Conditions

Open Access
2025Biofuel production and bioconversionDOI: 10.20944/preprints202501.1905.v2

Evaluation of media protocols for in vitro propagation of an improved variety and two landraces of Dioscorea rotundata

2025Plant tissue culture and regenerationDOI: 10.1007/s11627-024-10504-2

Bioprocess Optimization of Pectinase Enzymes Synthesized from Fungal Species Under Solid-State Fermentation Conditions

Open Access
2025Biofuel production and bioconversionDOI: 10.20944/preprints202501.1905.v1

Isolation, Screening and Identification of Pectinolytic Fungi from the Soil of Decomposed Plant Materials

Open Access
2025Fungal Biology and ApplicationsDOI: 10.20944/preprints202412.0018.v2

Isolation, Screening and Identification of Pectinolytic Fungi from the Soil of Decomposed Plant Materials

Open Access
2024Biofuel production and bioconversionDOI: 10.20944/preprints202412.0018.v1

Amino acid profile and potential biomass conversion of Vitellaria paradoxa fruit pulp

Open Access
2024African Botany and Ecology StudiesDOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2024.e02183

Production of fuel ethanol from Vitellaria paradoxa fruit pulp by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation

Open Access
2023Biofuel production and bioconversionDOI: 10.4314/br.v21i2.2

Extraction, Purification and Characterisation of Plant Enzyme (Calotropain) from the Unripe Pods and Bark of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera (AIT))

Open Access
2021Phytochemistry and Bioactive CompoundsDOI: 10.9734/ajbgmb/2021/v8i130186

Vitellaria paradoxa fruit pulp bioethanol production potential: A review

Open Access
2020Biofuel production and bioconversionDOI: 10.5897/ajbr2019.1070

Qualitative analysis of enzyme-assisted traditionally extracted shea butter from different pretreated shea kernel substrates

Open Access
2018African Botany and Ecology StudiesDOI: 10.5897/jco2017.0177

Enzyme-assisted traditional extraction of shea butter using different levels of pre-treated shea kernels

Open Access
2018African Botany and Ecology StudiesDOI: 10.5897/jabsd2017.0295

Screening, isolation and characterization of lactic acid bacteria strains in fermenting cocoa heaps from the Eastern Region of Ghana

2017Food Chemistry and Fat Analysis

Metabolic Potentials of Isolated Hydrocarbon Degrading Bacteria

2016Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction

Evaluation of ethanol production from pito mash using Zymomonas mobilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Open Access
2016Biofuel production and bioconversionDOI: 10.5897/ajb2015.15042

Proximate and bio-phytochemical properties of shea nut cake

2013African Botany and Ecology Studies

An investigation into the feasibility of production and characterization of starch from "apantu" plantain (giant horn) grown in Ghana.

Open Access
2010Banana Cultivation and ResearchDOI: 10.5897/ajfs.9000015

Production and characterization of flour produced from ripe apem plantain (Musa sapientum L. var. paradisiacal; French horn) grown in Ghana

Open Access
2010Banana Cultivation and ResearchDOI: 10.5897/jabsd.9000035

Microbial characterization of fermented meat products in some selected markets in the Kumasi metropolis, Ghana

Open Access
2009Meat and Animal Product QualityDOI: 10.5897/ajfs.9000183

Production of bio-ethanol from corncobs using Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisae in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation.

Open Access
2009Biofuel production and bioconversionDOI: 10.4314/ajb.v8i13.60977

Value addition to locally produced soybean in Ghana: production of soy sauce using starter culture fermentation.

Open Access
2007Phytoestrogen effects and researchDOI: 10.4314/just.v27i2.33036

Computer-Mediated Addition of Fresh Medium in Continuous Culture of <i>Zymomonas mobilis</i> by Monitoring Weight Changes

1997Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in InsectsDOI: 10.1021/bk-1997-0666.ch008
Academic Metrics
DepartmentDepartment of Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Total Publications22
Research Themes11
Open Access Papers17

Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

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