Author: avenkata42

Our article titled “Structure–Property Relationships of Reduced Graphene Oxide Membranes Intercalated with Polycyclic Aromatics” is featured on the front cover of the August 2025 issue of the AIChE journal. The article advances understanding of the structure–property relationships governing novel membrane design and functionality. This work is also highlighted with a full-page feature in Chemical Engineering Progress (CEP), the flagship magazine of AIChE, which is distributed to all members.

Muskan Sonker is the first author of the work, and the other paper authors were Kaung Su Khin Zaw, Hazel Dhruve, Mahsa Abbaszadeh, Madeline Garell, Marta Hatzell, and Meisha Shofner (all Georgia Tech) and Michael Salerno (Phillips 66 Company). Sonker’s research in the Nair group advances understanding of the structure–property relationships governing novel membrane design and functionality.

Skylar Ryan won the AIChE Outstanding Senior Award, which recognizes an individual who has impacted others through inspiration, actions, and/or leadership through extracurricular activities during their time at Georgia Tech.

Owen Pittman wins the Chair’s award for outstanding ChBE senior, which recognizes a graduating ChBE senior for their academic achievement and service to the ChBE and greater GT communities. Post graduation, Owen is joining the coveted “U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate” (NUPOC) program in July.

Learn more here : https://www.chbe.gatech.edu/news/2025/05/graduation-spotlight-owen-pittman-joining-team-managing-navys-nuclear-propulsion

Kaung Su and Natechanok have been awarded the Eckert Graduate Fellowship from ChBE. This fellowship recognizes their accomplishments and provides an additional stipend and monetary award for procuring materials and supplies for their research.

Link to issue:

https://www.nature.com/natchemeng/volumes/1/issues/11

About the article:

Our latest manuscript, “Process and techno-economic analyses of ethylene production by electrochemical reduction of aqueous alkaline carbonates,” has been published online in Nature Chemical Engineering. The study is also featured on the cover of the November 2024 issue, and a research briefing summarizes key findings.

In this collaborative effort between Georgia Tech and the Dow Chemical Company, we explored innovative process designs by integrating the electrolyzer with a direct air capture unit, advanced membrane-based separation technologies, and stream recycling. This approach aims to create a more renewable and sustainable pathway for producing ethylene at large scales (~2 million tons/year).

Key highlights from our study include:
– A process with near-neutral Scope-1 and Scope-2 CO₂ emissions in the optimistic scenario, albeit with a significant energy penalty.
– A roadmap to achieving <1 USD/kg ethylene.
– Sensitivity analysis on key process parameters that can guide experimentalists.
– Comparison of economics between contemporary electrolyzer architectures.
– Detailed sizing and costing for large-scale electrolyzer.
 
The Georgia Tech authors include Anush Venkataraman, Hakhyeon Song, Victor Brandão, Chen Ma, Magdalena Salazar Casajus, and Carlos Fernandez Otero. The PIs are Sankar Nair, Marta Hatzell, and Carsten Sievers.