SCROLL TO DISCOVER
Meet the Researcher: Daniela González-Varela
Title: Dr Daniela Gonzalez-Varela
University/Department: Newcastle University
Supervisor: Ian Metcalfe
Research Interest: Membranes, gas separation, CO2 capture and utilization.
1. What inspired the research Interest you’re exploring?
Since my bachelor studies I was concern about climate change and it’s effect on the world. Hence, I focused my research on that topic. My first approach was on CO2 capture, working in that I realized that gas separation is a key step not only for carbon capture and storage (CCS) but also for developing new processes using CO2 to produce added value products e.g. hydrogen i.e. clean energy.
2. What significant problem does your research seek to address?
As already mentioned, gas separation is an important step for CCS technologies and alternative energies. In that way, my research is focused on gas separation where not only is the aim to obtain an efficient separation of contaminant gases but also, in its application, to utilise the undesirable gases into new process for energy generation. Molten salt membranes are an excellent option to test different molten salts and operational conditions such as high temperature and feed gases can be used to modify the active species in the permeation mechanism and therefore improve their performance.
3. What are the anticipated outcomes of your research?
I expect to improve the CO2 permeation for molten salt membranes using different salts and new gases, that will allow me to find new mechanisms and species involved in the permeation process giving a better understanding of the current mechanism. Subsequently, work in different applications to obtain an efficient process where carbon gases would be not only separated but used.
4. How does your research contribute to the SynHiSel objectives?
My research seeks improve the membrane performance where the enhancement of the selectivity and permeance is the priority. Due to the diversity of SynHiSel I hope to have increasing collaboration with other researchers to enhance my results and outline molten salt membranes as a new option to test at industrial level.
5. What long-term changes do you hope your research will inspire?
I hope my research could be a precedent that the membranes (any type) could be used not only in separation process but in energy generation or added value products, which could lead to a better understanding of the permeation mechanism. It is really important identify the active species in the process, this way you can play with the variables that build the membrane and the separation process to reach new levels of performance.
6. What are your top strategies for overcoming research obstacles?
I consider that the most important strategy is to be clear on the research aim, this way you can design different ways to reach the objective, therefore if one pathway is blocked you can choose another. Moreover, when it becomes hard to find another pathway, I strongly recommend discussion and collaboration with colleagues in similar fields to access different perspectives. Finally, do not overthink sometimes the results could be not the expected and it is fine, that is the start of a new idea.