Ammad Alvi

Research Group Staff

Research Engineer

Current

Location:

KRTP Building 34, Level 1 office # 2255

Social Profile:

Contact Information:
Carbon Capture and Utilization
Process Modeling 
Pyrolysis        
Energy Efficiency 
Reaction chemistry        
Process Control
AI-assisted Modeling 

Biography

I started my career as a Process Engineer in design and consultancy firms. With a growing interest in research and technology, I started my current role as a ‘Research Engineer’ at the Clean Energy Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST). There, I am actively involved in multidisciplinary research, mainly 

focusing on post-combustion multipollutant capture. 

My research focuses on CO2 capture (https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/innovate/cryogenic-carbon-capture) through de-sublimation under cryogenic conditions. Estimating slurry properties, solvent recovery, and maintaining CO₂ purity are key parts of our process. Separating a CO2-solvent binary mixture by distillation relies heavily on understanding its vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE). Therefore, vapor-liquid equilibrium analysis has been carried out at low temperatures to design a distillation column system. I performed simulation modeling based on adjusted activity coefficient parameters using experimental data to improve the model's accuracy and reliability. I am working on the front-end flue gas dehydration process, focusing on the selective removal of water and traces of hydrocarbons using various molecular sieves and materials. I am also conducting a comprehensive assessment of absorption and regeneration cycles. This research is also vital to other industrial areas, such as Air Separation Units (ASUs) and Gas Dehydration Processes. 

In my previous role as a Process Engineer at Jacobs https://www.jacobs.com/ and Worley https://www.worley.com/, I was involved in the process design and technology assessment of fuels, energy, chemicals, and petrochemical processes.  
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions present another major challenge for downstream oil and gas processing facilities. I appreciate the opportunity to work for Saudi Aramco and contribute to enhancing the Claus process treatment of tail gases. Here, I gained a strong understanding of the reaction kinetics and heterogeneous catalysis involved in the Claus reaction through a comparative analysis of SHELL and FLOUR technologies.  I conducted a comprehensive study on the material failure of the Hydrocracker Reactor Effluent system, which was caused by the deposition of NH4HS and NH4Cl salts. I suggested corrosion mitigation by improving the symmetric flow distribution, which resulted in reduced plant downtime.  I assessed new and existing technologies using technical, economic, and environmental criteria and collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop scalable and energy-efficient process solutions. This experience has deepened my interest in applying systematic and research-oriented methods to process optimization and sustainability—driving my pursuit of doctoral studies in this area. 

Research Interests

Energy efficiency and process optimization are vital components of the process industry. I aim to apply my skills to improve heat transfer, enhance catalyst and separation performance through fundamental science and AI-assisted simulation tools. My objective is to boost catalyst selectivity, increase product yield, and reduce cycle time by developing innovative materials and processes. 
I primarily focus on post-combustion CO2 Capture and utilization. Investigating an effective utilization of CO2 into chemicals (Polymerization of Propylene oxide and CO2 in the presence of a Heterogeneous catalyst to produce Polypropylene Polyol). Another area is the development of a suitable catalyst for utilizing CO2 into chemicals.
I am also excited about the partial oxidation of low-value heavy fuel oil to produce syngas, which can be utilized for various downstream applications. 
I am interested in designing and optimizing chemical processes that minimize energy consumption while maintaining performance and safety. I am particularly interested in areas such as process integration, reactive distillation, hybrid separation technologies, and AI-assisted optimization techniques. I am excited by the potential of integrating process systems engineering with machine learning tools to identify hidden inefficiencies and devise innovative solutions. 

Education

Bachelor’s Degree Chemical Engineering University of the Punjab, 2009

Research Interests Keywords

Carbon Capture and Utilization Process Modeling Pyrolysis Energy Effiency Reaction Chemistry Process Control Ai- assisted Modeling