I am Rashad Mammadzada, a doctoral student at IMT Atlantique.
Who are you and what is your background?
I am Rashad Mammadzada, a doctoral student at IMT Atlantique. I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering with honours from the French-Azerbaijani University, a joint programme offered by the University of Strasbourg and Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University. During my undergraduate studies, I developed a strong interest in clean energy technologies, recognising their pivotal role in advancing the energy transition and combating climate change. This interest motivated me to pursue a Master’s degree in Clean Energy Processes at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, supported by a DAAD scholarship. During my MSc programme, I gained in-depth knowledge of renewable energy production technologies and their industrial applications. My master’s thesis focused on investigating the effects of catalysts on the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to ethanol, ethylene, and other C₂+ organic compounds. Since October 2024, I have been undertaking doctoral research at IMT Atlantique, focusing on direct air capture of CO₂. I believe this is one of the most critical research areas for addressing global warming, and this conviction inspired me to dedicate my research efforts to this field.
What is your PhD research/ topic about?
Carbon capture involves two main stages: capture and desorption. CO₂ is first captured from the air, where it exists in very low concentrations, and then desorbed from the sorbents in a concentrated form for industrial use or sequestration. My research primarily focuses on the absorption kinetics of different sorbents for direct air capture of CO₂, encompassing three key aspects:
Sorbent selection: Choosing the optimal chemical family requires a deep understanding of their working principles to predict absorption performance effectively.
Absorption technique selection: Identifying and optimizing the right technique is crucial to maximize mass transfer kinetics for industrial applications.
Modelling and simulation: Developing accurate models and simulating configurations helps predict outcomes and evaluate mass transfer efficiency in the selected setup.
By addressing these aspects, my research aims to develop an industrially relevant direct air capture system that contributes to achieving negative emissions and mitigating climate change.
What are the big challenges to be tackled and possible future impacts?
Direct Air Capture (DAC) of CO₂ presents several significant challenges, including high operational costs, substantial energy requirements, and scalability issues. Despite these challenges, DAC holds promise for mitigating climate change by enabling negative emissions, essential for limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. My research contributes to the environmental and energy transitions by focusing on optimizing the absorption kinetics of various sorbents for DAC of CO₂. By selecting efficient sorbents, refining absorption techniques, and developing accurate models and simulations, this work aims to enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of DAC systems. Improved DAC technologies can facilitate large-scale CO₂ removal, aiding in the reduction of atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations and supporting the transition to sustainable energy systems. Furthermore, advancements in DAC can stimulate industrial innovation, leading to the development of new materials and processes,
What is the configuration of your PhD research?
I am pursuing an industrial-track PhD, co-supervised by Professor Pascaline Pré and Dr. Denys Grekov from IMT Atlantique, along with Valentin Fougerit (CTO) and Tyson Lanigan-Atkins (Head of R&D) from YAMA Carbon, a Direct Air Capture (DAC) startup based in Paris. My research combines academic and industrial expertise to advance DAC technology. A mobility period is planned at TNO in the Netherlands, further enriching the industrial and international scope of the project.
After a few weeks embarked as PhD fellow at IMT Atlantique, what is your first feeling about the programme and your institution?
After a few weeks as a doctoral student at IMT Atlantique, I feel highly motivated by the programme and the institution. The academic environment is supportive and collaborative, offering access to advanced research facilities and expertise. The interdisciplinary approach aligns well with my research goals, and the industrial partnership with YAMA provides valuable practical insights. Overall, it has been an enriching start, and I look forward to making meaningful progress in my work.
