Dr. Abi Jaoude is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Khalifa University of Science and Technology and leads the Environmental and Bio-Catalysis Research Theme within the Center for Catalysis and Separation (CeCaS). Her research integrates catalysis, materials chemistry, and green separation processes to develop sustainable technologies for environmental remediation, clean water production, waste valorization, and the recovery of critical resources from waste streams. She has particular expertise in advanced metal-oxide materials, photo(thermal)catalysis, green solvents, and membrane technologies for environmental and chemical sustainability. Through interdisciplinary collaborations, including with the Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT), she advances innovative solutions that support environmental sustainability and the circular economy.
Dr. Abi Jaoude holds M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Claude Bernard Lyon 1, France, where she completed her doctoral studies as a recipient of a French CNRS fellowship. She joined Khalifa University in 2013 as an Assistant Professor and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2021.
In addition to her research leadership, Dr. Abi Jaoude has teaching expertise in environmental chemistry and advanced analytical instrumentation, including molecular and atomic spectroscopy, chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques, and optical and electron microscopy. She has contributed significantly to academic leadership and service through university committees, curriculum development initiatives, including the establishment of the BSc Chemistry program in 2017, peer-review activities, and research funding evaluations. In recognition of these contributions, she received the Khalifa University Faculty Service Excellence Award in 2018.
Dr. Abi Jaoude is a member of the American Chemical Society and the Abu Dhabi Environmental Research Network (ADERN), contributing to regional and international efforts to advance sustainable environmental technologies.
One-dimensional (1D) nanomaterials have peculiar physico-chemical and optoelectronic properties compared to their bulk counterparts. Many of these properties are essential to the advancement of adsorption and heterogeneous catalysis technologies for environmental applications (e.g., air purification and gas sensing). In this project, we use the electrospinning process to design and produce 1D metal-oxide composite fibers with tailored morphologies and textures. We focus on preparing heterostructures and solid solutions of oxides from transition and rare-earth element systems and intensifying the synthesis methodology for greener synthesis and improved atom economy.
In this project, we focus on the design and synthesis of advanced mixed-oxide catalysts for continuous-flow applications spanning thermal catalysis, photocatalysis and photo(thermal) catalysis targeting atmospheric depollution and the valorization of greenhouse gases into syngas and fuels.
Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) are a new generation of highly functional solvents with attractive properties for use in green synthetic chemistry. They have a tunable viscosity, polarity, and conductivity. They are also known as designer solvents for their rich and complex intermolecular chemistry.
In this project we use DESs for the development of sustainable separation and synthesis processes. For example, we have used these solvents to advance the surface chemistry of phase inversion UF membranes to introduce hybrid separation mechanisms for improved water filtration applications.
Currently we are exploring different classes of these designer solvents for the synthesis of single and mixed metal oxides of transition and rare earth elements. Also, we are exploring the benefits of these solvents to advance leaching, extraction and the recovery of technologically critical elements from waste materials.
