In line with Abu Dhabi University’s (ADU) commitment to fostering research and innovation in sustainability, Dr. Omar Chaalal, Professor in Chemical Engineering at ADU’s College of Engineering (CoE), has been granted a patent in the field of sustainability from US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in recognition of a pioneering recycling system designed to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and transform saline water into usable resources.
The newly patented system represents a significant advancement in addressing environmental challenges associated with natural gas processing, desalination, and oil exploration. Dr. Chaala’s breakthrough invention introduces a chemical reaction between CO2 and salt in brine using ammonia, enabling the recycling of ammonia within the system. The invention aims to reduce CO2 from natural gas processing and similar sources, convert saline water into irrigation water, and produce valuable chemicals like soda ash, which have several applications in the chemical, medical, and food industries.
Dr. Omar Chaalal, Chemical Engineering Professor at the College of Engineering at Abu Dhabi University (ADU), said: "This great achievement in the global sustainability sector and my career was made possible by Abu Dhabi University’s commitment to research and innovation, aligning with both the UAE and global sustainability goals. Through this first-of-its-kind system, we are taking a critical step in reducing the environmental impact of industrial processes, particularly in the GCC, where the demand for desalinated water and natural gas is on the rise. Looking ahead, we aim to explore effective solutions that address carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and saline water disposal simultaneously."
Dr. Hamdi Sheibani, Dean of the College of Engineering at Abu Dhabi University (ADU), added: "We are immensely proud of Dr. Omar’s most recent accomplishment and his dedication to sustainability – an ongoing global concern that is being actively addressed by multiple sectors. Abu Dhabi University (ADU) empowers our faculty with access to advanced resources, facilities, and funding to help foster impactful and transferable research. Through these efforts, our world-class faculty are meeting the dynamic needs of the community and beyond, in alignment with the goals and visions of the UAE leadership."
In recognition of his efforts in the sustainability field, Dr. Chaalal recently participated as a keynote speaker at the Global Peace Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, where he addressed global warming, sustainability, and environmental protection. He also shed light on his research, focusing on the pressing matters of increasing CO2 levels and seawater salinity as industrial release of brine in global oceans continues to grow.
Dr. Chaalal’s patent, titled ‘Secondary and tertiary green water flooding of fractured and heterogeneous oil reservoirs at high salinity and high temperature,’ underscores the university’s commitment to sustainability, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change and protect the environment.
The invention also garnered attention from other international entities, including the French entity EOPTIMA, a company dedicated to counseling high efficiency in drilling and operating oil recovery by introducing and implementing green innovative procedures. EOPTIMA is in negotiations with ADU’s Vice Provost for Research, Innovation, and Academic Development, Professor Montasir Qasymeh, to explore applying this green technology in enhanced oil recovery.