Modern technologies, from electric vehicles to wind turbines, depend on rare earth elements and other critical minerals that are extremely difficult to separate due to their nearly identical chemical properties. In this talk, I will show how we can reprogram cellulose, nature’s most abundant biopolymer, at the nanoscale to selectively capture specific rare earth elements and precious metals from complex mixtures by precisely engineering its chemistry and structure. This new class of bio-derived separation platform is sustainable, highly selective, and scalable, offering a transformative pathway for critical mineral recovery and circular manufacturing.
Amir Sheikhi | Chemical Engineering