Investigating Sustainable And Environmental-Friendly Chemical Processes

Some may only look at traditional chemical engineering processes and only see negative environmental impacts such as air and water pollution, and high energy consumption. But chemical engineers play a pivotal role in addressing today’s environmental challenges.

One example is chemical engineering Ph.D. student Mahmoud (Nadi) Amirsalehi whose research passion lies at the intersection of environmental solutions and advanced chemical processes.

Amirsalehi’s research activities aim to generate clean, sustainable energy while reducing fossil fuel consumption. His current research focuses on hydrogen production through water electrolysis, a promising process for sustainable energy.

“I always thought about how I can help people by learning something and integrating it for the greater good. But aside from people, I noticed that animals, plants, and water were also affected,” Amirsalehi says. “I look at environmental issues like a puzzle, and I just want to do my role to solve a part of it.”

Amirsalehi’s engineering background goes back to middle school when he discovered his interest in physics, chemistry and mathematics. His bachelor’s and master’s studies in materials engineering at Sharif University of Technology in Iran combined all his scientific interests.

“Materials science often emphasizes fundamental understanding and synthesis of new materials. The primary goal is not necessarily to find an immediate application but to explore and develop a new material,” Amirsalehi says.

With his current studies, he has a better understanding of the overlap between chemical and materials engineering.

“In chemical engineering, the focus is how we can apply insights, bring them into real-world applications, and test them in practical devices,” Amirsalehi says. “I wanted to explore chemical engineering because it covers the fundamental studies and their applications.”

Holding on to his goal of becoming a university professor, he eventually decided to pursue his doctorate degree in chemical engineering and chose the University of South Carolina specifically to work with Chemical Engineering Professor William Mustain.

“Nadi is very thoughtful and intentional in his work, meaning there is essentially no wasted time or effort. He is always looking to answer the critical question at the time and works very hard towards that goal,” Mustain says.

During his bachelor’s studies, Amirsalehi performed research into synthesizing photocatalysts, materials that accelerate chemical reactions under light, mimicking aspects of photosynthesis in green plants. While it was an unknown topic to him, Amirsalehi realized that the research had a wide range of applications in solar cells, environmental challenges and mitigation strategies. This began his interest in environmental solutions, such as clean energy and wastewater treatment.

“I realized that I loved electrochemistry, so I looked for something that uses it as a solution for environmental issues,” Amirsalehi says. “Then, I started doing research on lithium-ion batteries in my master’s program. Because I wanted to become a professor, when I started my Ph.D., I tried to explore more electrochemical devices. It was not just batteries but also water electrolyzers and hydrogen fuel cells to get some insights from them.”

According to Amirsalehi, there is a gap in literature regarding approaches to improving anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzer performance and most studies focus on synthesizing new materials. He began research in this area after finding there are other approaches to improve performance without synthesizing new materials.

His first project as a Ph.D. student was determining how to change the electrode structure for better performance without changing any other material. The second project was finding optimized operating, cell assembly, and electrode preparation conditions to improve performance. Both projects were successful and provided insights for designing a real-world device.

Amirsalehi’s first two projects led him to his current research into energy conversion using electrochemical devices, including AEM water electrolyzers and hydrogen fuel cells. He is using these devices to produce hydrogen as a fuel for generating power without producing greenhouse gases. The byproduct of the reaction in hydrogen fuel cell is water.

Amirsalehi aims to shift toward net-zero emissions scenario with fuel cells since hydrogen generated by electricity is considered a clean energy alternative to fossil fuels. While applications of hydrogen exist in the energy sector, it is also used in the chemical industry, such as in producing ammonia and fertilizers.

“Hydrogen production by electrolysis is currently more expensive than the traditional method. We need to find a way to improve the performance using a low-cost or cost competitive device,” Amirsalehi says. “My goal is to improve the performance and durability of an electrolyzer while moving toward a platinum group metal-free device. All my projects are aligned with this goal.”

Amirsalehi admits that one of the challenges when he started the Ph.D. program was designing and setting up new experiments. But he credits Mustain with teaching him how to use critical thinking to solve research issues.

“Dr. Mustain is not only my advisor but a life coach. If I need help with anything, he won't say that he doesn’t have time. I think there’s a good understanding of what he expects from me and what I need from him,” Amirsalehi says. “It's not just about the science, it’s how he manages his group and projects.”

Amirsalehi plans to become a post doc before reaching his goal of being a full-time professor. As an international student, he considers USC “home,” and is thankful for the hospitality of campus and the opportunity to continue his research.

“Research will never end, and each day I’m thinking about something new, whether analyzing data or designing an experiment,” Amirsalehi says. “I enjoy working on something new every day and doing research to find a solution.”