Atousa Tayebi

I am a PhD student at KTH’s School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH), working in the Resource Recovery Division. My primary research focuses on separation processes, with a particular interest in membrane-based separation techniques.

I hold a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology (Polytechnic Tehran). My master’s thesis investigated the effect of adding hyperbranched amine to Pebax membranes on the separation performance of CO₂ from N₂ and CH₄. This project aimed to develop sustainable solutions for CO₂ separation, addressing the urgent need to mitigate CO₂ emissions, which contribute to global warming and environmental damage. Moreover, the presence of CO₂ in industrial processes poses challenges such as reducing the heating value of natural gas, wasting pipeline capacity, and causing corrosion due to its acidic nature.

To address these environmental, economic, and industrial challenges, a systemic approach is necessary. Membrane-based separation processes have gained attention recently due to their low cost, high efficiency, operational flexibility, and compact equipment design.

At KTH, I am part of the CRITERIA project, a multidisciplinary initiative focused on:

• Characterization, investigation, and excavation of mining tailings and recovery of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs)

• Application of real-time mining concepts to CRM recovery

• Analysis of tailing waste to promote sustainable mineral production

My role in CRITERIA centers on developing membrane-based separation methods as sustainable solutions to enhance CRM recovery. The project bridges academia and industry, aiming to translate innovative academic research into practical, real-world applications with environmental and economic benefits.