What Faculty do you work in?
Science and Engineering
What is your main area of research?
I am a synthetic chemist working largely in the fields of adsorbent chemistry and functional coatings. My main area of research focuses on the development of materials that can remove hydrogen sulfide from gas streams.
Why is your research important?
Hydrogen sulfide is a toxic, foul-smelling gas that poses a risk to life at concentrations as low as 500 ppm. It is produced biologically as a byproduct of protein digestion and anaerobically by sulfate reducing bacteria. Hydrogen sulfide is encountered in a variety of situations and poses a problem in wastewater treatment, oil and gas wells, and towards catalysts used for hydrogen evolution reactions. It is also a major concern for ostomy patients, since release of the gas from their devices, such as colostomy bags, is highly embarrassing and negatively affects the quality of their lives.
What SDG is your research most closely aligned with?
My research most closely aligns with the SDG 12, ensuring sustainable consumption and production. It focuses on developing novel adsorbent materials for ostomy devices, which could substantially increase their longevity. These devices are largely single use and are mostly made from plastic. Application of a higher performance sorbent in the devices would allow them to be used for far longer, which could significantly reduce the amount of plastic reaching the landfill.
What do you hope to accomplish with your research?
We hope to modify the existing device design so that it can incorporate these adsorbents, thus allowing these materials to improve the lives of ostomy patients. More broadly, we would also like to extend the use of this sorbent material to other areas where H2S poses a problem, such as wastewater treatment or hydrogen evolution catalysts.
Is there a cross-disciplinary element to your research? If so, who else at the University is involved?
We have been working with Professor Shareen Doak and her team from the school of Biomedical Sciences to assess any safety considerations about our coating materials during their life cycle.
Are there any external collaborators involved?
Our research is funded and carried out in collaboration with Salts Healthcare Ltd, one of the leading manufacturers of ostomy devices.
What is next for your research?
Currently, the focus of our research is to develop durable coatings that incorporate our adsorbent materials. Development of a robust coating will facilitate its using during manufacturing and help ensure reliability for device users.