Current Research

Investigating kinetics and transport of biomass devolatilization along with efficient power generation, utilization, and management. Processes of combustion, gasification, pyrolysis, and torrefaction are studied. Crop and forest residues, debris, and other non-conventional sources are open to investigation. Image: IEA Bioenergy

Climate change is and will be an ongoing concern for life on this planet. In terms of engineering, we can begin to mitigate the effects of increased atmospheric carbon through better carbon capture materials and process engineering. Current research endeavors focus on both of these with process simulation software and thermal analysis of materials, namely thermogravimetric and calorimetry. Image: Adapted from Howard Herzog, Carbon Capture

Partners: We have an agreement with DAC City, Inc. to target the reduction of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration via materials development and thermodynamic modeling.

Traditional studies of devolatilization are conducted under long heating conditions at a maximum of ~25 °C/min, but a wire mesh reactor is being fabricated to heat samples at approximately 1,000 °C/sec. This enables us to capture the effects of and degree that mass transfer limitations have in industrially-relevant applications. This technique can be coupled with thermogravimetry to provide a more complete picture of devolatilization mechanisms and behavior.

The Environmental and Energy Engineering Lab houses the thermogravimetric analyzer (TA Instruments model 5500) and the differential scanning calorimeter (TA Instruments model Q20) for the College of Engineering. The TGA utilizes additional analytical techniques including high resolution and modulated procedures to capture kinetic parameters, e.g. activation energy as a function of time and temperature, as well as mass loss behavior under dynamic and constant forward rates. Biomass species are currently being studied to characterize their efficient utilization with and without additives along with sustainability and life-cycle analyses. Carbon capture materials are also being studied to identity kinetic and thermodynamic limitations and cycling behaviors.