Sustainable Bio/Fossil Fuels
Biomass, a renewable form of energy, is derived from plants or organic matter that are currently growing on Earth. The biomass is converted to produce fuels, chemicals, and heat for various applications. Fossil fuels, such as crude oil, coal, and natural gas, all have their origin in organic matter produced by life forms in the geologic past, and are not renewable. It is the combustion of fossil fuels that has caused the dramatic increase in carbon dioxide levels in the modern atmosphere. Fossil fuels dominate the energy landscape now and for the foreseeable future. The greatest challenge is sustainable ways to use them, which, in many cases, comes down to effective separations.
ND Energy develops mass separating agents that take advantage of materials selectivity rather than energy to perform separations. These new materials are engineered using an integrated research and engineering strategy combining theory and molecular simulations to provide design rules that guide the synthesis and characterization of novel materials (inorganic, organic, and hybrids). These materials will ultimately be incorporated into devices, engineered, and tested for specific energy applications.
Subcategories
Biofuels, Carbon Sequestration, Fossil Fuels
Faculty Involved
