Overview

Water scarcity affects four billion people annually, making unconventional sources like seawater a vital solution. However, removing trace contaminants such as boron remains a major challenge, as current methods are too chemical and energy-intensive. This presentation introduces a novel hybrid electrochemical-membrane process for sustainable boron removal.

Pan Weiyi will discuss new micropore-functionalised electrodes that boost boron electrosorption by an order of magnitude, enabling energy-efficient and chemical-free boron removal. Finally, Pan Weiyi will explain the underlying mechanisms of this selectivity, supported by molecular dynamics simulations, to advance more sustainable water treatment technologies.

Speaker

Weiyi Pan, Assistant Professor, National University of Singapore

Pan Weiyi joined the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the National University of Singapore this August. His research focuses on applying electrochemical and membrane separation technologies to enhance environmental sustainability. Dr Pan earned his PhD in 2022 from Washington University in St. Louis, where he was a McDonnell International Scholar (2017-2022).

He has received multiple awards, including the prestigious Paul V Roberts/AEESP Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award and the 2024 Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology Outstanding Reviewer Award. He also holds an MS from Peking University and a BE from the China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing).

The material presented has not been peer-reviewed. Any opinions are the presenters' own and do not necessarily represent those of IChemE or the Singapore Member Group. The information is given in good faith but without any liability on the part of IChemE.

Time

19:00–20:00 SGT.