(2fz) Development of Materials and Processes for CO2 Capture and Water Purification

I envisioned developing sustainable strategies to efficiently capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) and utilize CO₂ for water purification. Throughout my doctorate and post-doctorate studies, I have developed a skillset in developing automated flow platforms for material synthesis and gained experience in multiphase chemical processes including gas-liquid-liquid and gas-liquid-solid phase reactions.

Doctoral Research:

In my doctoral research in chemical engineering at North Carolina State University (NCSU), I focused on accelerating gas-liquid reactions in flow, publishing five first-authored papers and submitting one patent. In particular, my research in switchable hydrophilicity solvents has demonstrated automated in-situ screening of both discrete and continuous parameters for accelerated discovery and optimization, further extended to a fully integrated continuous solvent utilization process. Through this work, I overcome the mass transfer limitation of conventional gas-liquid reactors, promoting switchable solvents to promising alternatives for an energy-efficient separation strategy.

Postdoctoral Research:

Currently, I am broadening my research experience in heterogeneous catalysts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). My research projects as a postdoctoral researcher involve i) flow synthesis of metal-organic framework (MOF) for water capture, ii) carbonate clearance using heterogeneous catalysts for oxygen evolution reactions and iii) plastic separation and upcycling using switchable solvents. Through these diverse research projects, I have developed flow strategies involving liquid-solid phases from synthesis to utilization. By leveraging my Ph.D. experience, I developed accelerated screening and high-throughput production of MOF in flow and intensified continuous carbonate removal from aqueous solution.

Research Vision:

My research vision falls broadly into three main thrusts: (i) Development of an advanced manufacturing platform to discover and develop MOF for CO₂ capture, ii) Utilization of developed MOF for CO₂ capture, (iii) water purification and desalination using CO₂-triggered switchable water. By achieving these specified thrusts, I am targeting to advance the field of CO₂ capture, utilization, and storage and solve 14 grand challenges for engineering identified by the National Academy of Engineering: Develop Carbon Sequestration Methods.

Teaching Interests:

With my educational background in chemical engineering, I am prepared to teach any core chemical engineering course, including but not limited to transport phenomena, reaction kinetics, and unit operation. I have contributed to university-level classes as a teaching assistant for both core class and lab-based classes and am further developing my skills by participating a semester long Kaufman teaching certificate program at MIT.

Education and Practices:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Postdoctoral Associate in Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Sept. 2021 - Present

Advisor: Professor Yuriy Román-Leshkov

North Carolina State University

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Chemical Engineering, Aug. 2017 - Aug. 2021

Advisor: Professor Milad Abolhasani

Thesis: Accelerating Gas-liquid reactions in flow

Georgia Institute of Technology

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Chemical Engineering, Honor, Aug. 2011 - May 2017

Research Advisor: Professor Hamid Garmestani

Selected Publications and Patent:

• Han, K. Raghuvanshi, and M. Abolhasani, “Accelerated Material-Efficient Investigation of Switchable Hydrophilicity Solvents for Energy-Efficient Solvent Recovery”, ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 2020, 8, 3347–3356, [Selected Cover, Featured in C&EN]
• Han, M.A. Kashfipour, M. Ramezani, and M. Abolhasani, “Accelerating Gas-Liquid Chemical Reactions in Flow”, Chem. Commun., 2020, 56, 10593
• Han, M. Ramezani, P.M. Tomhon, K. Abdel-Latif, R.W. Epps, T. Theis, and M. Abolhasani, “Intensified Continuous Extraction of Switchable Hydrophilicity Solvents Triggered by Carbon Dioxide”, Green Chem., 2021, 23, 2900-2906, [Selected Cover]
• Han,* M. Y. S. Ibrahim,* and M. Abolhasani, “Intensified Continuous Extraction and Recovery of Switchable Hydrophilicity Solvents”, Chem. Commun., 2021, 57, 11310-11313, [Selected Cover] *Author contributed equally.
• M. TomHon,* S. Han,* S. Lehmkuhl, S. Appelt, E. Y. Chekmenev, M. Abolhasani, and T. Theis, “A Versatile Compact Parahydrogen, Membrane Reactor”, ChemPhysChem, 2021, 22, 2526, [Selected Cover] *Author contributed equally.
• Han, S. Bagi, S. Kwon, H. Adamji, M. Dincă, and Y. Román-Leshkov, “Accelerated and Scalable Synthesis of MFU-4l in Flow”, in preparation
• Theis, M. Abolhasani, P.M. TomHon, S. Lehmkuhl, and S. Han, “Parahydrogen Hyperpolarization Membrane Reactor”, US Prov. Patent App. 63006129, 2020

Mentorship and Services:

Throughout my education in B.S. and Ph.D. and postdoctoral practices, I have engaged actively in outreach and community service to promote engineering education. During my undergraduate research under Professor Hamid Garmestani, I had the privilege to develop my mentoring skills by leading teams of three and four undergraduates each in two different projects. In my Ph.D. years, I continued to mentor three undergraduates, furthermore, worked as a Microfluidic day workshop organizer to host 20-30 middle and high school students in Raleigh, NC. With these experiences, currently, I am serving as a mentor for the alumni mentoring program at NCSU and a math tutor for Morse elementary school in Cambridge, MA. I believe educational exposure of students in the early stages (i.e., elementary, and middle school) is a key to building a strong Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the community, and I am passionate to devote myself to further development.