Epscor research fellows: NSF: biomass-derived carbon electrodes for capacitive deionization and critical material recovery: mechanistic characterization and implementation

The National Science Foundation Office of Integrative Activities awarded the University of Puerto Rico Research and Development Center Division $277,886 on January 1, 2027, under the Integrative Activities program (CFDA 47.083) for an EPSCOR Research Fellows project investigating biomass-derived carbon electrodes for capacitive deionization and critical mineral recovery.

The award funds a fellowship for an assistant professor and graduate student training at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez to advance electrically driven separation technologies for selective recovery of critical minerals from water. The research will establish structure-property relationships governing electrochemical recovery of critical minerals from aqueous environments, investigating how chemical functionality, pore architecture, and electrochemical properties of carbon materials influence ion selectivity, adsorption capacity, and regeneration performance. Experimental studies will integrate advanced electrochemical characterization and mechanistic analysis to guide rational design of next-generation separation materials.

The work is conducted in collaboration with Dr. Lauren Valentino at Argonne National Laboratory and will provide faculty access to state-of-the-art characterization facilities at Argonne while delivering advanced technical training for graduate students. The research applies chemical engineering, electrochemistry, and materials science to advance sustainable technologies for critical mineral resource security supporting clean energy and advanced manufacturing.

Period of performance runs from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2028, with place of performance at Lemont, Illinois (Argonne National Laboratory location).

Abstract

This research infrastructure improvement (RII) epscor research fellows project provides a fellowship to an assistant professor and training for a graduate student at the university of puerto rico at mayag?EZ. This work is conducted in collaboration with DR. Lauren valentino at the argonne national laboratory. Through the fellowship, the PI will investigate new ways to selectively recover critical minerals from water using electrically driven separation technologies. The project will improve understanding of how biomass-derived materials can be designed to recover these minerals more efficiently while reducing energy use and chemical waste. Combining chemical engineering, electrochemistry, and materials science, this research will advance sustainable technologies to secure critical mineral resources for clean energy and advanced manufacturing. The fellowship will also strengthen research capacity in puerto rico, expand collaborations with a national laboratory, and provide advanced research training for the next generation of scientists and engineers. This project will establish structure-property relationships that govern the selective electrochemical recovery of critical minerals from aqueous environments. The research will investigate how the chemical functionality, pore architecture, and electrochemical properties of carbon materials influence ION selectivity, adsorption capacity, and regeneration performance. Experimental studies will be integrated with advanced electrochemical characterization and mechanistic analysis to guide the rational design of next-generation separation materials. The project will enhance research capability by securing faculty access to the state-of-the-art characterization facilities at argonne and providing advanced technical training for graduate students. The resulting knowledge and research partnerships will expand the university's capabilities in critical materials research while supporting workforce development and future collaborative research initiatives. This project is supported by the epscor research infrastructure improvement program: epscor research fellows (ERF), which supports early- and mid-career investigators in eligible jurisdictions to develop collaborations at the nation?s private, government or academic research institutions. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.