Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
The Khalifa University Research and Innovation Exhibition 2025, held in tandem with the UAE Innovation Month, "UAE Innovates 2025", has concluded after showcasing more than 100 projects.
The event offered live demonstrations, innovative projects, industry applications, project themes and technology solutions. Several exhibitors at the event shared insights into their projects with Aletihad.
Shahad Al Hammadi, and Mohammad Al Hammad from the Chemical Engineering Department at Khalifa University, showcased their project on advancing CO2 capture with second-generation solvents: "I am working on the design and analysis of second-generation CO2 capture solvents, which are the most mature technology for capturing CO2 from gas-fired plants. My focus is on studying the kinetics of these solvents, as faster reaction speeds reduce the size of the absorption column, lowering capital costs. After capturing CO2, it can either be stored underground or used in applications like producing methanol with hydrogen. My project uses computational modeling, experimental data validation, and AI integration for process optimisation."
Solvents are specially formulated chemical mixtures used for absorbing carbon dioxide.
Al Hammad said: "My part of the project focuses on the absorption process for capturing CO2. We aim to capture CO2 from the flue gases of power plants. This layout shows the full setup of the plant, and our focus is on improving and selecting the best absorbent to achieve high efficiency and reduce costs in CO2 capture."
Aya Aboukhster, a PhD student at Khalifa University, showcased a project that focuses on water purification with advanced membranes and 3D printing: "We are working to align with the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036. Our goal is to enhance water purification technologies. We have successfully developed a novel material that will be used for membrane fabrication. We have also prepared membranes for water purification systems, utilising UV light to break down pollutants in wastewater and produce highly purified water. Also, we have applied 3D printing technology to create novel absorbers that can efficiently decompose and purify water."
Khalfan Al Bedwawi, from Aerospace Engineering, shared details about their project, an AI-based blade inspection system, which is a collaboration between SANAD, ARIC Lab, and Khalifa University.
"We are developing an advanced inspection system using AI to detect defects on blades. Our system captures images of the blade from various angles and under unified conditions to ensure the dataset is consistent and effectively trains the AI. Currently, the process is manual, but we aim to fully automate it, allowing for blades to be inspected, scanned, and sorted based on their defects and data stages."
As part of Khalifa University Enterprises Company, Haidar Dali, Researcher and Co-Founder of Verdisol, discussed the startup's aim to enhance the UAE's food security through sustainable innovations.
"We are a startup based in Abu Dhabi, supported by Khalifa University Enterprises Company. Our goal is to green the deserts and contribute to the UAE's food security, in line with the UAE Vision 2051. We produce materials from food waste that can be used in the soil to enhance its capacity to retain water and support plant growth. Also, we use our product as a substrate for hydroponics, which has allowed us to achieve higher yields and lower perishability, giving plants a longer shelf life for consumers."
