Sorption and Transport Phenomena in Synthetic and Natural Porous Media
We are interested in the study of transport and sorption phenomena in both synthetic (membranes, adsorbents, and catalysts) and natural (shales, sandstones, various porous carbons, etc.) porous media. Inorganic membranes (e.g., carbon molecular sieve, SiC, and layered-double-hydroxide) are of particular interest because of their application in reactive separation applications (e.g., membrane reactors), but also because they serve as model systems for the study of such phenomena in other practical porous systems like adsorbents and catalysts. The studies with the natural materials are complemented with studies with synthetic porous silicas with controlled and well-defined pore structures that serve as model systems for their more complex natural counterparts. The studies are both of experimental and theoretical character, the latter studies employing both continuum and molecular simulation techniques.
Figure 1. Schematic of thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) system used in sorption studies
Figure 2 . Comparison of excess adsorption isotherms calculated with different techniques
(Wu, et al., Eng. Sci., 247, 117068, 2022)
Reactor Engineering
We are interested in power generation involving renewable fuels like biomass, landfill gas and biogas, and we study the combustion characteristics of these fuels, and the environmental implications of their use in power generation. We also study the use of novel (e.g., membrane and adsorptive) reactors for the efficient production of liquid fuels (e.g., biodiesel) and chemicals (methanol and other higher alcohols) from biogas and biomass-derived syngas. The use of reactive separations, involving high temperature membranes, in power generation applications is also currently under investigation.
Figure 3. Schematic of membrane reactor used in alcohol synthesis
Figure 4. Carbon conversion versus W/F during methanol synthesis is a membrane reactor
Environmental Reaction Engineering
We are interested in the remediation of landfill sites, with our work involving the detailed modeling of landfill gas and leachate generation and transport in these sites. We also study novel means for getting rid of the various heteroatom-containing VOC found in landfill gas and biogas. In addition, we pursue the development and use of novel adsorbents and membranes for the elimination of toxic pollutants associated with the use of these renewable fuels for power generation.
Figure 5. Lab-scale UV photodecomposition reactor set-up for siloxane treatment in biogas
Figure 6. D4 photocomposition reactor conversion. Models vs. experiments
(Divsalar, et al., Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 57, 7383, 2018)