Personal profile

Research interests

Sustainable Membrane Manufacturing and Processes Group

The biggest long-term challenge humanity faces is addressing the causes and effects of the climate emergency while continuing the advancement of society and the economy. Our group is contributing to this through scientific innovation, in particular by developing sustainable membrane-based separation processes which use fewer resources, produce less waste and consume less energy.

Our groups' research is focused is on three related areas: The development of novel nanomaterials for membrane fabrication; the safe manufacturing of sustainable materials at a large scale; and the development of environmentally sustainable industrial processes.

keywords: membranes; nanomaterials; sustainable materials and processes; 3D printing

 

Current projects:

 SynHiSel – EPSRC Programme Grant 2022-2027

Chemical separations are critical to almost every aspect of our daily lives, from the energy we use to the medications we take, but consume 10-15% of the total energy used in the world. It has been estimated that highly selective membranes could make these separations 10x more energy efficient and save 100 million tonnes/year of carbon dioxide emissions and £3.5 billion in energy costs annually. More selective separation processes are essential to support decarbonisation in energy production (e.g. hydrogen purification and carbon dioxide utilisation); in the healthcare sector there is growing concern over the cost of the latest pharmaceuticals, which are often biologicals, with an unmet need for highly selective separation of product-related impurities such as active from inactive viruses. In the water sector, the challenges lie in the removal of small molecules at very low concentrations, so-called micropollutants or ‘forever chemicals’ such as PFAS. In all these instances, higher selectivity separation processes will provide a step-change in productivity, supporting the transition to Net Zero and a circular economy.

As part of SynHiSel, research in our group focuses on:

- Using 3D printing to fabricate highly selective membranes.

- Using green solvents and biopolymers to make membrane manufacturing environmentally sustainable.

- Developing novel 2D nanomaterials to make highly selective and stable membranes for liquid separations.

 

CARMA – EPSRC Sustainable Manufacturing Hub for Cellular Agriculture – 2023-2030

Imagine being able to manufacture food anywhere in the world, or even in space, so everyone, everywhere, has enough nutritious food to eat! This dream can be achieved through Cellular Agriculture (Cell Ag). Cell Ag enables the production of food products that would normally come from an animal, such as meat and milk from cows, or from monocultures of crops such as oil palm trees, without having to keep increasing animal or plant numbers to feed our growing global population. Life Cycle Assessments have shown that when comparing traditional meat manufacturing against using Cell Ag, there is a predicted reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and land use, of up to 95%, and a 50% reduction in the use of water.

As part of CARMA, research in our group focuses on:

- Novel high throughput membrane processes to gently handle mammalian cells.

- Continuous extraction of products and/or inhibitors from bioreactors to increase yield.

- Recovery and purification of valuable by-products from spent media/fermentation broth.

 

 

Entrepreneurship and Industrial Research

Research from our group has led to the creation of a start-up company, Naturbeads ltd., to commercialise the manufacturing of biodegradable cellulose microspheres as a replacement for primary microplastics used in paints & coatings, cosmetics and personal care products, construction, healthcare and other areas. The company’s core technology originates from research on membrane emulsification originally developed in our group as part of Bath’s Institute for Sustainability.

 

Our group actively works with industrial partners to solve industrially-relevant separation problems using membranes, with a focus on reducing the environmental impact of downstream processes. These collaborations, while confidential, offer PhD students and researchers the opportunity to learn how to work with industrial partners and understand how the impact of fundamental research on industrial challenges.

Willing to supervise doctoral students

1D and 2D membranes; photocatalytic membranes; CO2 conversion

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 2 - Zero Hunger
  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
  • SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
  • SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
  • SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  • SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
  • SDG 13 - Climate Action
  • SDG 15 - Life on Land

Education/Academic qualification

Materials Engineering, Doctor of Philosophy, Templates Growth and Characterisation of Carbon Nanotubes for Nanofluidic Applications, Drexel University

Award Date: 8 Sept 2007

Materials Engineering, Master of Engineering, Mass Transport in Polyamide-silica hybrids, Università di Napoli Federico II

Award Date: 12 Dec 2002

External positions

Secretary of the Council, European Membrane Society

20192021

Engineering Strategic Advisory Team , Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

20172020

Council Member, European Membrane Society

20172021

Keywords

  • TP Chemical technology
  • membranes
  • environmental nanotechnology
  • nanomaterials

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