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Agreement Covers R&D in Critical Technology Areas Such as Clean Energy, Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction, Low-Carbon Solutions for Offshore Vessels, Ocean Protection, Information Technologies, and Carbon Capture and Utilization    Khalifa University of Science and Technology and ADNOC Logistics and Services plc (ADNOC L&S), a global energy maritime logistics leader, signed a collaboration agreement to undertake joint research on decarbonization and sustainable projects.    The agreement was signed by Professor Sir John O’Reilly, President, Khalifa University, and Captain Abdulkareem Al Masabi, Chief Executive Officer, ADNOC L&S.   Professor Sir John said: “Khalifa University is delighted to enter into this collaboration…

I'm participating at the SPE International Executive Symposium: Accelerating Decarbonisation Deployment Through Innovation and Collaboration, coordinating the Strategic Panel on Embracing the potential of hydrogen for a net-zero future.   Hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels have been identified by the International Energy Agency and IRENA as one of the key technological avenues to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. With these strategies already launched by several countries, the production and use of low-carbon hydrogen has become an essential pillar of the energy transition. In this session we will address the crucial role low carbon hydrogen will play in achieving these goals, challenges,…

  The search for novel clean refrigerants remained elusive until the principles of green chemistry and engineering came to the rescue, coupled with artificial intelligence to speed up the process.    In the 1990s, the hole in the planet’s ozone layer was a pressing global crisis. Research discovered the ozone layer over Antarctica was thinning due to chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used globally in aerosols and cooling devices. Once ubiquitous, CFCs were quickly banned during the 1990s and early 2000s because of their harmful environmental impacts, prompting the search for cleaner and more efficient alternatives.   Hydrofluorocarbons were introduced — refrigerants that…

Khalifa University’s Prof. Lourdes Vega was invited to serve as a guest Editor of a special issue of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research from the American Chemical Society dedicated to the latest technological developments and innovations that underpin the establishment of a hydrogen economy.   Khalifa University · KU Podcast 11 - Radio Science - Industrial Decarbonization with Hydrogen   A continued reliance on fossil fuels for energy production is not sustainable, particularly as energy demand continues to rise in parallel to the industrialization of developing countries and world population growth. Not only does reliance on the combustion of fossil…

The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) is a leading organization of chemical engineering professionals with more than 60,000 members from more than 110 countries.   Dr. Lourdes F. Vega, Professor of Chemical Engineering and Director of Khalifa University's Research and Innovation Center on CO2 and Hydrogen (RICH), has been elected as a new fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), the highest grade of membership of the institute. AIChE Fellows, nominated by peers and elected by the board of Directors, are prominent members recognized for their significant service to the profession and contributions to the industry.   …

The RICH Seminar Series gather key scientists and engineers to support knowledge dissemination and exchange between world-recognized researchers and RICH investigators, while fostering international collaborations and generating a beacon of education to inform and train society about carbon dioxide and hydrogen in the clean energy and climate neutrality scenario. Organized each month and available online, the RICH Seminar Series will be broadly advertised and made available to all like-minded and interested researchers, scientists, engineers, policy makers, and students at no access cost. Title: Insights into industrial scale CO2 capture by Metal-Organic Frameworks Speaker: Dr. Philip Llewellyn, CCUS R&D Program Manager,…

Combining the oxygen in the air with the lithium in a battery cell could create batteries with more than five times the energy than those currently powering all our electronics.   Read the Arabic story here: https://researchku.com/news-extended/235   Khalifa University · KU Podcast 4 - Radio Science - Modeling Li-Air Batteries for Powering EVs with Dr. Ahmed Al Hajaj   With the transport sector accounting for 24 percent of direct carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion, it has a considerable role to play in the global decarburization effort. According to the International Energy Agency, almost three-quarters of these emissions derive…

Dr. Vega is also appointed to lead the newly formed Engineering and Technology Advisory Board.   Khalifa University’s Dr. Lourdes Vega now joins the prestigious Emirates Scientists Council (ESC) as a new member. Since its establishment in 2016, the Council has been working in transitioning the UAE from knowledge user to knowledge developer, positioning the country as a destination conducive to scientific research and innovation.     “I feel very honored and excited to be a member of the Emirates Scientists Council (ESC). As members of the ESC, our duties include, among others, suggesting policies that would create a stimulating environment…

Robust, cost-effective and energy efficient methods to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere are made possible with novel materials like porous organic frameworks   Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide, is paramount in combating climate change. One way to do this is to capture the carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions directly from the source before they enter the atmosphere.   Dr. Georgios Karanikolos, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Dr. Vengatesan Rangaraj, Research Scientist, and Dr. K. Suresh Kumar Reddy, Research Scientist, designed and developed a new material for use in carbon capture. The properties and efficacy of their phosphazene-core Covalent…

A team of researchers from Khalifa University asks: Are we missing something when evaluating adsorbents for CO2 capture at the system level?   We may be on the brink of global-scale change in the way we consume hydrocarbon fuels, but until the policies and agreements made at COP26 in Glasgow this month can be actualized, our relentless fossil fuel consumption continues to pump carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. These continuous emissions are the leading cause of climate change and it’s clearer than ever that we need to do something about the levels of carbon in our atmosphere.   In 2015,…

With myriad materials to choose from, simulations help speed up the process of selecting the right materials for the job.    Read Arabic story here.   With most of the world still relying on fossil fuel-driven power plants for their energy, carbon dioxide emissions remain a global concern. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide, is paramount in combating climate change.   One way to do this is to capture the carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions directly from the smokestacks of the power plants before they enter the atmosphere.   Dr. Lourdes Vega, Director of the Khalifa University Research and Innovation…

Title: Pd and Carbon Molecular Sieve Membranes for Hydrogen Separation and Production Speaker: Dr. Alfredo Pacheco, Researcher, Tecnalia (Spain) Date: March 2021 Dr. Pacheco presented the challenges involved in the simultaneous production and separation of hydrogen gas. He discussed recent developments of supported palladium alloy and carbon molecular sieve membranes and subsequent design of advanced membrane catalytic reactors to produce sustainably hydrogen from steam reforming of methane and fuels (MeOH, DME). The talk encompassed a number of key examples and case studies supporting the development of industrially relevant materials and novel processes.   Title: Mechanistic Aspects of Catalytic Reactions for…

The award recognizes Dr. Dumée's work on the impact of nano- and microplastics on wastewater treatment processes.   Dr. Ludovic Dumée, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering and Research and Innovation Center on CO2 and Hydrogen (RICH) faculty member, was honored by the Membrane Society of Australasia (MSA) with the MSA Membrane Science Award. The award is in recognition of Dr. Dumée's work on the harmful effects of microplastic contaminants in wastewater treatment plants.   "I am deeply honored and delighted to receive the inaugural MSA Membrane Science Award for the impact and breadth of our research portfolio on microplastics pollution.…

By Dr. Ludovic Dumée   Dr. Ludovic Dumée , Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at Khalifa University, outlines the strategies and technologies that could be deployed to turn CO2 emissions into a resilient circular economy.   Read Arabic story here.   The continuous emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is the leading cause of climate change and subsequent extreme weather events.   In 2015, the international community adopted the Paris Climate Agreement, agreeing to limit the global average rise in temperature to less than 2° C, compared to pre-industrial levels, but with ambitions to limit the rise to less…

As global energy demand from air conditioners continues to rise, finding a way to replace energy-intensive systems is paramount.   Read Arabic story here.   As the mercury rises in the UAE, Dr. Lourdes Vega, Director of the Khalifa University Research and Innovation Center on CO2 and hydrogen (RICH), and KU Research Scientists Dr. Edder Garcia and Dr. Daniel Bahamon are turning their attention to finding efficient and environmentally-friendly forms of air conditioning systems.   “Due to global warming and a boost of wealth in tropical regions, the demand for refrigeration and air-conditioning is likely to increase in the coming…

Hydrogen is in high demand as an energy source but producing it can be difficult. A UAE-Japan research collaboration is looking to tackle these challenges and see the opportunities ahead.   Read Arabic story here.   Hydrogen could help tackle - critical energy challenges in the modern world, with its ability to provide a sustainable energy source to meet the demands for quality of life and economic growth, while avoiding emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Hydrogen use is expected to increase significantly in the near future in line with efforts to compensate the declining fossil fuel reserves and as…

Dr. Lourdes Vega, Director of the Research and Innovation Center on CO2 and H2 (RICH) and Professor of Chemical Engineering at KU, participated in a panel on the “Challenges and opportunities for green hydrogen production,” which was hosted by the Chemical Engineering Department of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, on Monday, 7 December 2020. During the panel, she spoke about the how the hydrogen economy can help tackle various critical energy challenges while also strengthening energy security. Following is an overview of Dr. Vega’s talk during the panel: Of special interest to the region is the production of…

For the seventh consecutive year, L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Middle East Regional Young Talents Program, in partnership with Khalifa University of Science and Technology, continues to recognize Arab female scientists from the GCC for their revolutionary researches in the fields of Life sciences, Physical sciences, Mathematics and Computer science.   The regional program is part of L’Oréal-UNESCO’s global initiative that has recognized over 3,400 phenomenal researchers since its inception 22 years ago.   This year, the program awarded six winners in the Post-doctorate Researchers and PhD Students categories where Dr. Maryam Tariq Khaleel Alhashmi (Khalifa University, UAE), Dr. Lama…

Prof. Lourdes Vega participated as an invited speaker in a panel session, titled “How to control risks introduced by new sustainable technologies, hydrogen case study” during the Aviation Sustainability Conference, held on 25 November 2020. Dr. Vega discussed the role of hydrogen as a promising technological enabler on the path towards sustainable aviation. As the Director of the Research and Innovation Center on CO2 and Hydrogen (RICH), she contributed valuable insight into how hydrogen-based technologies can be leveraged to power aircrafts, as well as the technological challenges and opportunities for the development and implementation of green hydrogen at the scale…

To combat the threat of water scarcity in the Middle East, a team of researchers led by Dr. Lourdes Vega has investigated nanotechnology for water treatment and desalination purposes.   Read story in Arabic here: http://www.researchku.com/news-9-extended.php?id=9 The ten countries most threatened by water scarcity are concentrated in the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates. To overcome the lack of sufficient fresh water, much of the water provided to the population is desalinated, with salt water treated to remove the salt and other impurities. This usually involves polymer-based membranes through which the water is run to catch the contaminants, but…

Khalifa University hosted the first UAE-Japan Hydrogen Workshop on 15 December 2019 at Shangri-la Hotel, Abu Dhabi. Organized by KU's Research and Innovation Center on CO2 and H2 (RICH), in collaboration with Kyushu University and the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ), the event aims to launch and foster bilateral collaborations between the UAE and Japan in the area of hydrogen supply chain, link the academia with the industry, and define the background for industrial-academia collaborations. The workshop was attended by Prof. Masakazu Toyoda, Chairman and CEO of IEEJ; Prof. Kazunari Sasaki, SVP of Kyushu University; Kazuma Shibata, Deputy General…

Prof. Lourdes F. Vega, Professor of Chemical Engineering and the Director of the Research and Innovation Center on CO2 and Hydrogen (RICH Center) at KU, has been appointed as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Molecular Liquids (MOLLIQ). “I was approached by the publisher in one of the conferences I attended,” said Prof. Vega. “He proposed the position to me and explained in detail what the role was and the responsibilities that came with it. After considering, I accepted.” Prof. Vega is an internationally recognized and leading authority in the area of molecular thermodynamics, clean energy and sustainability, and has played…

  Study Outlines Favorable Prospects for Hydrogen Mobility in UAE Air Liquide, Khalifa University of Science and Technology and Al-Futtaim Motors released a joint study during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2019, on the ‘Medium to Long Term development of Hydrogen Mobility in the UAE’. This collaborative study outlines the contribution of hydrogen to the energy transition and demonstrates the favorable prospects for hydrogen mobility in the UAE. The study demonstrates that hydrogen mobility in the UAE has a substantial potential to develop into a major economy for the country, and can contribute to the achievement of its clean energy goals, in line…