Wen's Research Group
Wen Zhang, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE
Principal Investigator
Professor
Phone: (973) 596-5520
Fax: (973) 596-5790
Email: wen.zhang@njit.edu
Office Location: Colton Hall 211
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CEE PhD student, Jianan Gao, received the 2023 Gonter Research Paper Award in Environmental Chemistry (ENVR) Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS)
We are proud to announce that Jianan Gao, a third-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at NJIT, was recently awarded the distinguished 2023 Gonter Research Paper Award in the Environmental Chemistry (ENVR) Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS). Under the guidance of Professor Wen Zhang, Jianan's research explores the potential of electrocatalytic membrane technology as a more sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional fossil-fuel-based refineries and wastewater nitrogen recovery.
Jianan's work specifically investigates the electrified membrane flow-cell system, a revolutionary filtration technology that has combined electrochemical reduction reactions and vapor gas transfer both via the same reactive gas-exchange membrane platform. This result has been recently published in Advanced Energy Materials (doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202203891), which reported the integration of hydrophobic PTFE nanoparticles into a model CuO catalyst layer. This unique approach enhances the spillover and transport of gaseous products from the
electrocatalyst surface, ultimately improving the nitrate-to-ammonia yield in electrochemical membrane stripping.
The Gonter Research Paper Award is annually given to outstanding graduate students pursuing degrees in environmental chemistry and engineering at U.S. and international universities. As the recipient of the prestigious Gonter Research Paper Award, Jianan Gao will receive a $1,000 cash prize and an invitation to present at the 2023 ACS Fall Meeting. We extend our congratulations to Jianan for this significant achievement and look forward to witnessing the continued impact of his research in the field of environmental chemistry.
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