(2ew) Flow Chemistry-Enabled Sustainable Reaction Engineering

Sustainability has become a defining issue in the world, resulting from environmental crises due to energy and material demands. Worldwide energy demands based on the carbon economy resulted in the emission of over 35 Gigatons of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO₂) per year. In 2018, only 16 % of the 359 million tons of plastic were recycled globally. Furthermore, lithium consumption reached 49 kilotons in 2019, expected to increase rapidly. These are complex and immediate challenges that require a combination of interdisciplinary skillsets. Combining my research background from reaction engineering, catalysis, process development, and material science to automation and data sciences, I envision developing sustainable solutions for the following challenges via micro-reaction engineering and catalysis. My research program (Figure) will primarily focus on:

1. Development of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for CO₂ capture and utilization
2. Separation and recycling of multi-layer plastics using switchable solvents
3. Accelerated lithium extraction from lithium brine

Doctoral Research (North Carolina State University, Advisor: Professor Milad Abolhasani, Aug. 2017 – Aug. 2021)

In my doctoral research, I focused on the design and development of automated multi-phasic flow chemistry platforms for gas-liquid reactions, synthesis of quantum dots (QDs), and catalytic reactions with homogenous catalysts, publishing five first-authored papers, five co-authored papers, and one patent. Utilizing the unique characteristics of membrane based-microfluidic system (i.e., intensified mass/heat transfer, precise control, enhanced safety) and underlying transport phenomena, I demonstrated fundamental and applied studies of CO₂-triggered switchable hydrophilicity solvents (SHSs) from in situ screening with a single microdroplet to continuous extraction and recovery. These studies demonstrate the feasibility of SHSs as a promising alternative for an energy-efficient distillation-free technique. Building on the developed platform, I also contributed to developing accelerated processes for CO₂ desorption from amines and signal intensification using hyperpolarization. Besides, I contributed to process development for the synthesis of QDs in multiple projects within my Ph.D. group and collaboration with researchers at Samsung, varying process parameters for nucleation/growth kinetics and bandgap tuning. In addition, I have studied aldehyde-alcohol redox reactions with homogenous catalysts and the recycling of the catalysts.

Postdoctoral Research (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Advisor: Professor Yuriy Román-Leshkov, Sep 2021 – Current)

Currently, I am broadening my research experience in heterogeneous catalysts. My research projects as a postdoctoral researcher involve i) flow synthesis of metal-organic frameworks (MOF) for water capture, ii) aqueous carbonate dehydration using heterogeneous catalysts, and iii) plastic separation and upcycling using switchable solvents. Through these diverse research projects, I have developed a further understanding of reaction engineering and kinetics. By leveraging my Ph.D. experience, I developed flow-accelerated screening and high-throughput production of MOFs and flow-intensified continuous carbonate dehydration from an aqueous solution for low-temperature CO₂ electrolysis. I have collaborated with a start up company, Transaera, as well as collaborating research groups in chemistry, mechanical engineering, and material science engineering. Overall, I target to build a strong understanding in catalysis and reaction engineering to incorporate with my doctoral research on transport, process development, and automation.

Teaching Interests:

From my academic mentors, I was told that as a professor, the main “product” of education is ultimately students. Other achievements such as high-impact publications, intellectual properties, and awards are just a “by-product” of efforts. I envision lifelong learning and dedication to “produce” successful outcomes, which will be students with abilities to solve challenging real-world problems. In order to build the necessary skills, I have mentored undergraduates and graduates as well as taught undergraduates as a teaching assistant and lab project instructor. Furthermore, I have earned MIT Kaufman Teaching Certificate, which requires a semester-long course on learning teaching strategies, designing inclusive classrooms, and multiple teaching sessions. With these experiences, I have developed confidence in teaching and am comfortable teaching any core chemical engineering course, particularly interested in transport phenomena, reaction kinetics, unit operation, and process control. I am enthusiastic about incorporating programming-based solutions (e.g., MATLAB, Python, COMSOL Multiphysics, ASPEN) as well.

In addition, I would like to contribute beyond classrooms and research labs, participating in outreach initiatives. I have experience in hosting middle and high school students to elevate underrepresented minorities in STEM as well as international scholars. I volunteered as a math tutor for elementary school students to build critical thinking and am currently participating in NCSU alumni mentoring program as a mentor for graduate students. Overall, as a professor, I want to contribute to a common goal of developing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students and researchers regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, nationality, disability status, and socioeconomic status.

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”, 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”, Commun., 2021, 57, 11310-11313, [Selected Cover] *Author contributed equally.
• 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.
• Theis, M. Abolhasani, P.M. TomHon, S. Lehmkuhl, and Han, “Parahydrogen Hyperpolarization Membrane Reactor”, US Prov. Patent App. 63006129, 2020