Adsorption-Based Separation of Azeotropic Mixtures Using Porous Materials

Lawrence, KS — May 5, 2026 — Graduate student Emmanuel Ababio of the Wonderful Institute for Sustainable Engineering (WISE) at the University of Kansas has successfully completed his preliminary examination, advancing to PhD candidacy in chemical and petroleum engineering.

As part of the examination, Emmanuel presented his research, “Adsorption-Based Separation of Azeotropic Mixtures Using Porous Materials,” which focuses on developing innovative methods for separating challenging refrigerant mixtures. His work investigates the use of porous materials to improve adsorption-based separation processes for azeotropic refrigerants, a class of mixtures that are difficult to separate using traditional techniques.

The research supports broader efforts to advance environmentally responsible refrigeration technologies by improving energy efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of industrial separation processes. These advancements have the potential to contribute to more sustainable solutions across a range of engineering and manufacturing applications.

Emmanuel conducts his research under the mentorship of Dr. Mark B. Shiflett, Director of the Wonderful Institute for Sustainable Engineering and the NSF Engineering Research Center - Environmentally Applied Refrigerant Technology Hub (EARTH). Through WISE and EARTH, Emmanuel’s work is part of a collaborative research environment dedicated to addressing global sustainability and energy challenges through innovative engineering solutions.

Passing the preliminary examination represents an important academic milestone, recognizing Emmanuel’s progress as an independent researcher and marking the next stage of his doctoral studies. Faculty, researchers and fellow students within the WISE and EARTH communities congratulate Emmanuel on this achievement and look forward to the continued impact of his research.