The University of Sheffield
Chemical and Biological Engineering

Mrs Najwa M. Elbakhbakhi

Email: cpp07ne@sheffield.ac.uk

Tel:  01142227579

Biography  

  • BSc Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Tripoli in Libya
  • MSc Degree with distinction in Chemical Engineering from the University of Birmingham
  • Researcher at the Research and Development Centre in Libya
  • Currently a PhD student in Chemical & Biological Engineering Department at the University of Sheffield.

My PhD title is Application of membrane Separation to concentrate Sulphuric Acid in the Sulphur Iodine Cycle. 

Supervisor: Professor Ray Allen

Process Fluidics Group

Research

The hydrogen economy may be a potential solution for some of our future energy problems. However, it will be necessary to manufacture massive quantities of hydrogen and the best feedstock will be water. Thermochemical cycles are being studied since they have the potential to produce hydrogen at efficiencies much higher than alkaline electrolysis. The key inputs are water and heat and only outputs oxygen and hydrogen, with all other reagents remaining in the cycle. The key research objective is to minimise the heat input. The Sulphur Iodine cycle involves high temperature decomposition of concentrated sulphuric acid which is subsequently regenerated in dilute form. The work involves experiments and modelling to reduce the heat consumption of the reconcentration step by using pervaporation membranes. Flux and selectivity measurements in membrane separation made and flux enhancement techniques investigated.

Publications

S. Blackburn, H. Mills, N. El-Bakhbakhi (1998). Extrusion of pastes containing platelike particles, British Ceramic Transactions 01/1998; 97:205 - 213.

R.H. Elder, A. Shaw, M. Romero, N. Elbakhbakhi, G.H. Priestman, & R.W.K. Allen. (2010). Low Temperature Separations in the Sulphuric Acid Decomposition Stage of the Sulphur Iodine and Hybrid Sulphur Thermochemical Water Splitting Cycles, Poster presented at 18th World Hydrogen Energy Conference (WHEC), Essen, Germany, May 2010.

N.M. Elbakhbakhi, R.H. Elder G.H. Priestman & Allen R. W. K. (2010). Application of Membrane Separation to Concentrate Sulphuric Acid in the SI Cycle. Poster presented at The 3th Symposium for Libyan Students in UK Universities, Nottingham, UK, June 2010.

N.M. Elbakhbakhi, R.H. Elder & Allen R. W. K. (2012). Application of Membrane Separation to Concentrate Sulphuric Acid in the SI Cycle. Poster presented at the World Hydrogen Energy Conference 2012 (WHEC), Toronto, Canada, June 2012. 465.

N. El-Bakhbakhi, S. Blackburn. (1995). The Influence of Plate-like Particles on the Rheology and Mechanical Properties of Particulate Pastes, Proceedings of the IChemE Research Event, Institution of Chemical Engineers, Rugby, UK 01/1995.

R.H. Elder, N.M. Elbakhbakhi, G.H. Priestman, & Allen, R.W.K. (2008). Application of Nafion Membranes to the Sulphur Iodine Cycle. AIChE Annual Meeting, Conference Proceedings, Philadelphia, United States, PA. 01/2008.

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