Research Overview
At the Purdue S.E.T.S Lab, we advance sustainability through rigorous quantitative analysis of emerging technologies and industrial systems. Our research integrates life cycle assessment (LCA), techno-economic analysis (TEA), and circularity metrics to provide data-driven insights that inform decision-making across the entire product lifecycle—from material extraction to end-of-life recovery.
Research Areas
Sustainable Materials
Developing pathways for critical material extraction, recovery, and recycling of energy-relevant minerals essential for clean energy technologies.
Sustainable Energy
Assessing renewable energy systems, carbon capture technologies, and biofuels to accelerate the transition to low-carbon infrastructure.
Sustainable Manufacturing
Optimizing manufacturing processes to reduce energy consumption, minimize waste, and improve resource efficiency through advanced modeling.
Sustainable Design
Creating design methodologies and decision-support tools that integrate sustainability early in product development for circular strategies.
Sustainable Transportation
Evaluating lifecycle impacts of transportation systems and consumer products, emphasizing electric vehicles and circular economy strategies.
Publications
Highlighting recent key publications from the lab.
View complete publication list on Google ScholarScaling Bioleaching from Lab to Industry: A Life Cycle Assessment of Cathode Copper Production
ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 13 (39), 16577-16587, 2024
Transforming E-Waste Into Strategic Resources: Techno-Economic Analysis of Gallium and By-products Recovery from LEDs via Bioleaching
Techno-Economic Analysis, 2024
Bioleaching Gallium From E-Waste: Comparative Techno-Economic Analysis
International Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference 89022, 2024
Life cycle assessment for primary gallium production at industrial-scale
The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 1-15, 2024
Lithium from clay: Assessing the environmental impacts of extraction
Sustainable Production and Consumption 52, 324-332, 2024
Parametric design, life cycle assessment, and optimization of a discrete product with application to an electric traction motor
Resources, Conservation and Recycling 201, 107344, 2024
Life cycle meta-analysis of carbon capture pathways in power plants: Implications for bioenergy with carbon capture and storage
International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control 111, 103468, 2021
The Application of Blockchain-Based Life Cycle Assessment on an Industrial Supply Chain
Sustainability, 2021
A product carbon footprint model for embodiment design based on macro-micro design features
The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology 116, 3839-3857, 2021
Genetic optimization for the design of a machine tool slide table for reduced energy consumption
Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering 143 (10), 101003, 2021
Game theoretic production decisions of by-product materials critical for clean energy technologies-Indium as a case study
Energy 203, 117768, 2020
A design method to improve end-of-use product value recovery for circular economy
Journal of Mechanical Design 141 (4), 044502, 2019
Operational optimization of a grid-connected factory with onsite photovoltaic and battery storage systems
Applied Energy 205, 1538-1547, 2017
Dynamic scheduling of a flow shop with on-site wind generation for energy cost reduction under real time electricity pricing
CIRP Annals 66 (1), 41-44, 2017
Economic and environmental life cycle analysis of solar hot water systems in the United States
Energy and Buildings 45, 181-188, 2012
Life cycle assessment of potential biojet fuel production in the United States
Environmental Science & Technology 45 (21), 9133-9143, 2011