Led by NC State Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Professor Afsaneh Rabiei and Chemical Engineering Professor Cristiana Boi, this research initiative is focused on the development and validation of metal foam-based filters as high-performance, chemically robust, and sustainable replacements for traditional filtration media used in applications such as protein separation and downstream processing of biomolecules. While existing filters are widely adopted, they are hindered by issues such as membrane fouling, poor thermal resilience, and challenges related to waste management.
During 2025, the PIs made progress in both experimental and computational modeling efforts, particularly involving open-cell metal foams in macro-scale aluminum and micro-scale stainless steel forms. These studies have produced quantifiable metrics—including permeability and pressure drop measurements—that showcase the performance of metal foams under realistic conditions. In parallel, high-fidelity numerical simulations have reinforced these findings, offering further insight into their applicability for industrial filtration challenges. Beyond the technical achievements, this research is strategically aligned with broader societal objectives. It contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing single-use polymer waste and supports educational advancement through interdisciplinary training opportunities. KIETS funds support a PhD student and are leveraged with support from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering as well as the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. The preliminary results from this research program will be used to put together full proposals submitted to NSF, NIH, and DoD, as well as the Gates and NNF Foundations.