Elina Rani

Global Challenge: How do we decarbonize the chemical industry?

Abstract:

"Current chemical manufacturing processes predominantly rely on fossil fuels both for starting materials and energy, driving the need for sustainable alternatives. Biomass offers a solution for renewable starting materials, and renewable electricity can be used to transform these through electrochemistry. This research aims to develop sustainable polymers utilizing biomass and electrochemistry. Nylon 6,6 is a widely used polymer, mostly in textiles and plastics. It relies on a precursor molecule, adiponitrile (ADN) which is traditionally produced through an energy-intensive thermochemical hydrocyanation of 1,3 butadiene using highly toxic hydrogen cyanide. Alternatively, ADN can be electrochemically produced via acrylonitrile (AN) hydrodimerization, the most prominent organic electrochemical process.

Currently, ADN production heavily relies on fossil fuels. This study explores producing ADN from renewable glutamic acid through the electrolysis of 3-cyanopropanoic acid (CPA), a biomass-derived compound. To identify optimal conditions for this reaction, implemented an accelerated electrochemical approach using high-throughput screening. This method allowed us to rapidly evaluate hundreds of reaction conditions, uncovering relationships between electrolyte composition, electrochemical parameters, and reaction performance.

Our results achieved a maximum faradic efficiency of 40% toward ADN at current densities up to 500 mA/cm². These findings not only advance the sustainable production of ADN but also provide a framework for optimizing other electrochemical decarboxylation reactions. By accelerating the development of renewable feedstock transformations, this approach supports the decarbonization and electrification of the chemical industry at an industrially relevant scale.

The global challenge I worked on is tackling chemical problems through a sustainability lens by reimagining how traditional chemicals can be manufactured without reliance on fossil fuels. As the current chemical industry is heavily reliant on fossil fuels for starting materials and reactions, new approaches must be found for both. This paper touches on both areas. Novel renewable starting materials can be found in biomass, green electricity can be used to power reactions through electrochemistry. This paper goes a step further by developing a novel method to accelerate research into electrochemical processes. This will aid future research by shortening time in the lab needed to determine the optimal reaction conditions for transitioning into industrial scale. "

Bio:

Elina Rani is a GLASS scholar at NYU Tandon with a focus on sustainability. Her background in chemical engineering has allowed her to focus on multiple experiences related to sustainable manufacturing. As a Chemical Engineering Intern at Olokun Minerals, she conducted process modeling and technoeconomic analysis to assess the scalability of rare earth mineral purification techniques.

Her prior role as an Electrochemistry Intern at Metal Light Inc. involved optimizing zinc-air battery technology and supporting early-stage climate tech development. In research, Elina has contributed significantly to the Modestino Research Group at NYU, leveraging analytical techniques such as GCMS, NMR, and 3D modeling to advance electrochemical synthesis of sustainable chemicals. Her work has been published in leading journals, including Chem Catalysis and Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Beyond her technical expertise, Elina is a dedicated leader in the engineering community. She serves as the President of NYU’s Tau Beta Pi chapter and the Beta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Omega Epsilon, where she has spearheaded outreach initiatives to support women in STEM.