(4kp) Reactor Engineering for a Decarbonized Chemical Industry

Limiting the rise of global temperatures to 1.5 °C by the end of this century requires achieving net-zero CO₂ emissions by 2050. Global industrial processes, which are especially difficult to decarbonize, emit 1.4 billion tonnes of CO₂ annually and achieving a net-zero chemical industry will require the combined implementation of low-carbon feedstocks, electrified processes, and flexible operation. My research group will engineer sustainable reactions and electrified reactors with the goal of realizing the technologies needed to decarbonize chemical production.

Performing hydrogenation and oxygenation reactions via electrochemical pathways presents the opportunity to directly electrify chemical production, as well as produce chemicals more sustainably. However, most testing has focused on catalyst performances in cell configurations limited low current densities, resulting in a severe deficit in the knowledge needed to adapt these reactions to practical operating conditions. My research group will engineer membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) to operate electrochemical hydrogenation (ECH) reactions on biomass derivates at industrially relevant current densities. We will elucidate the underlying interactions between the substrate, device components, and cell performance, and develop guiding principles for engineering efficient, selective, and durable ECH reactors. Additionally, by replacing the oxygen evolution reaction on the anode with the electrochemical oxygenation (ECO) of organic compounds, valuable products can be produced from both half-reactions but will require

Electrifying reactor heating decreases this need for fossil fuel combustion while still utilizing the large body of knowledge on thermocatalytic reactions. Magnetic induction heating (MIH) of catalyst particles can significantly reduce the heat transfer time scales, allowing for reactors to potentially reach operating temperatures within seconds. My research group will study thermal dynamics of MIH reactors to guide the structural design of catalyst particles and transient operations. A combination of experiments and physics-based modeling will be used to describe the temperature and reaction distributions in catalyst particles and along the catalyst bed. These results will allow us to explain how different catalyst particle architectures affect the apparent activity and stability of catalysts. Additionally, these tools will allow us to study the performance and controllability of MIH reactors under dynamic operations.

Waste polymers (agricultural residues, food byproducts, post-consumer plastics, etc.) represent a significant resource for homogenous, functionalized carbon. Mechanochemistry can be an effective tool for processing polymers because it can initial chemical reactions between solid reagents. However, the bulk of mechanochemistry research has been focused on demonstrating novel lab-scale reactions and qualitatively describing the influence of reaction parameters. My research group will quantify the scaling relationships for mechanochemical polymer depolymerization reactions across ball mill geometries and volumes. We will use key descriptor of the ball mill reactor, such as intensity of milling, physical properties polymer, or reactor loading, to experimentally derive kinetic expressions at scales ranging from a gram to a kilogram. These expressions and insights will allow us to develop the expressions to describe how the results at the lab scale will translate to industrial scales.

Teaching Interests:

Volunteering as a math course instructor for inmates at San Quinten State Prisons and the D.C. Detention Facility has prepared well to become an effective teacher as a future faculty member. Not only did I gain many practical skills need to successfully teach a course, such as developing syllabi and exams, preparing lectures and lesson plans, and managing class pacing, but also insights into creating a welcoming and supportive classroom environment. I will bring these experiences and insights into my chemical engineering classroom, in order to equip all my students with the knowledge, skills, and passion needed to succeed post-graduation and help tackle many of the most pressing issues facing society. From my research experience, I have an interest in teaching reactor design and transport classes, as well as developing courses related to electrochemical engineering, sustainable chemical processes, or science policy.