We develop separation platforms for the selective recovery of environmental pollutants and resources. While mature separation technologies are prevalent in chemical manufacturing, environmental pollutants present unique challenges: they are dilute (<500 ppm), dispersed (from non-point sources), impure (in complex mixtures), and variable (with fluctuating composition). Our group addresses these challenges by designing highly selective separation materials, including adsorbents, membranes, and electrodes, and integrating them within energy-efficient processes. Current research spans both aqueous and gaseous separations, including nutrient and critical mineral recovery from water and greenhouse gas capture from air.
Separation materials and processes have historically been developed sequentially, either designing processes around existing materials or tailoring materials to fit established processes. This strategy can limit separation performance by constraining material properties and operating conditions to suboptimal regimes. Our group instead employs a multiscale engineering approach that integrates fundamental material design with process optimization and system assessment from the outset. Our approach includes (1) embedding molecular binding groups within scalable materials, (2) translating material structure and evolution into process models through advanced characterization, and (3) employing strategic process synthesis to achieve system-level targets. The outcome is twofold: reducing the cost and environmental impact of existing separations while also enabling separations that are not currently possible.
