UAEU Researchers Awarded U.S. Patent for Breakthrough Innovation in Sustainable Water Treatment and Carbon Capture

The United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) proudly announces a major scientific breakthrough achieved by a multidisciplinary research team from the College of Engineering. The team has been awarded a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for an innovative technology that transforms recycled carbon fiber waste into a powerful material capable of treating brine the highly saline byproduct of desalination while simultaneously capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.

This pioneering achievement aligns with the UAE’s national vision for sustainability, circular economy practices, and climate action. The patented invention addresses pressing environmental challenges in the region and demonstrates the transformative potential of homegrown scientific research.

The interdisciplinary research team includes Dr. Ameera Mohammad, Instructor in Chemical Engineering at UAEU, who is renowned for her work in sustainable desalination and carbon management, Dr. Salem Alzahmi, Associate Professor in Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, and Eng. Fatemeh Bahaeddin, a promising graduate researcher, and Dr. Waleed Ahmed, Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering, specializing in additive manufacturing and advanced materials.

Together, they have developed a novel method using activated recycled carbon fiber to trap salts selectively and CO₂ molecules in a single, integrated process. This innovation offers significant environmental and economic advantages, including reducing the ecological harm of brine discharge, capturing industrial CO₂ emissions, and recovering valuable minerals. These advantages all support the UAE’s strategic sustainability goals.

The invention is especially significant for the UAE, one of the world’s largest producers of desalinated water. The locally developed patented technology offers desalination plants and other regional and global industries a cost-effective, environmentally responsible way to reduce emissions and minimize waste.

With this patent now secured, the team is preparing to scale up the technology from lab-scale success to industrial application. Plans are underway to develop pilot plants capable of treating real-world brine waste streams and showcasing the effectiveness of carbon fiber-based environmental solutions.

This achievement reinforces UAEU’s role as a national and regional leader in research, sustainability, and innovation. The university empowers faculty and students to shape a cleaner, more resilient future.