The department's small class-sizes, engaging teaching practices, and hands-on learning in our state-of-the-art facilities empower our students to solve real-world problems.
The Department of Chemical Engineering is a vibrant center of collaborative research addressing some of the most pressing challenges in energy and materials. Our faculty members are engaged in a diverse array of research in areas such as machine learning and process systems engineering, CO2 capture and conversion, polymer engineering, renewable energy, synthetic biology, environmental remediation, and materials science that push the boundaries of innovation.
Find out more by exploring the programs, research and news stories on this site.
News
Study sheds light on how mechanical stress contributes to corneal disease
Professor Evelyn Yim’s research group advances the understanding and potential treatment of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD), a leading cause of blindness and corneal transplants.
Alternatives to surgical transplants, such as injecting healthy cells directly into the eye or using medication, are urgently needed due to a shortage of donor corneas.
The cornea is a clear, dome-shaped protective membrane at the front of the eye, and its transparency is essential for vision.
FECD results in the formation of tiny bumps on the innermost surface of the cornea. These bumps cause the progressive loss of human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) that act as pumps, constantly clearing excess fluid from the cornea to keep it transparent.
When the cornea becomes cloudy, the condition is in an advanced stage. The study aims to understand the disease mechanism to develop better alternative treatments.
From carbon utilization to clean hydrogen: graduate students earn top research awards
Two Chemical Engineering PhD students have been recognized for their research excellence, earning prestigious awards that support their work in sustainable energy and carbon utilization.
Hao Wang (BASc, 2023) received the Carl Pollock Postgraduate Fellowship in Engineering, valued at $23,000.
“I was thrilled to receive this award because eligibility requires students to have completed their undergraduate degree at Waterloo Engineering,” says Wang. “It feels rewarding to see the hard work I put into my undergraduate studies pay off.”
Supervised by Professor Luis Ricardez-Sandoval, Wang is developing computational methods to design catalysts for reactors that convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) into valuable chemicals.
Her research focuses on catalysts for the reverse water-gas shift reaction, an important carbon utilization process that converts CO₂ hydrogen (H₂) into carbon monoxide (CO) and water. The resulting CO can then be combined with H₂ to produce syngas, a key building block for fuels and chemical products.
Tizazu Mekonnen’s water filtration innovation
Professor Tizazu Mekonnen’s research group has engineered a new method of capturing microplastics in water systems with 90 percent efficiency. The approach is customizable, inexpensive, easy to produce, and uses no toxic ingredients, making it promising for commercial and residential use.
Microplastics are ubiquitous and found in every corner of the planet. The problem is so prevalent that microplastics are also found in our bodies. A study from the National Institute of Health found microplastics can even be found in breast milk and can come from unexpected sources like your laundry.
“Our clothes are mostly a mix of Polyethylene terephthalate (PETs) in the form of polyester and cotton or pure polyester. When you pull out the dryer filter, you can see how much fiber it captures. Those are all microplastics and that filter can capture only a portion of it,” says Professor Tizazu Mekonnen.
Due to the high-speed spinning washing machines release even more microplastics, sending them into wastewater systems.
Events
PhD Comprehensive/Graphene Materials for Redox Flow Battery Applications by Andreina Camano Alcedo
Graphene Materials for Redox Flow Battery Applications