News

Fri, 05/01/2026

Separation of Azeotropic Refrigerant Mixtures Using Ionic Liquids

Lawrence, KS — April 30, 2026 — Clarice “Claire” Sabolay, a graduate student in the Wonderful Institute for Sustainable Engineering (WISE), successfully passed her preliminary examination yesterday at the University of Kansas. Her presentation, titled “Separation of Azeotropic Refrigerant Mixtures Using Ionic Liquids,” showcased impactful research addressing critical challenges in...

Mon, 04/20/2026

Dr. Ana Morais Receives Prestigious NSF CAREER Award

The Wonderful Institute of Sustainable Engineering is proud to congratulate Dr. Ana Morais on receiving the highly competitive National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award.

Thu, 04/16/2026

KU Engineering Programs Earn National Recognition in U.S. News & World Report

Several graduate programs within the University of Kansas School of Engineering have earned national recognition in the latest rankings released by U.S. News & World Report.

Fri, 04/10/2026

Abdulrhman M. Arishi Completes PhD with Successful Final Dissertation Defense

EARTH is proud to announce that Abdulrhman M. Arishi has successfully completed his doctoral dissertation defense, marking a significant milestone in his academic and research career. ...

Mon, 04/06/2026

Undergraduate Researchers from EARTH and WISE Take All Top Honors in Poster Competition

The 2026 Graduate Engineering Association (GEA) Engineering Research Showcase at the University of Kansas marked a standout moment for undergraduate research, with students from NSF Engineering Research Center for Environmentally Applied Refrigerant Technology Hub (EARTH) and the Wonderful Institute for Sustainable Engineering (WISE) delivering an exceptional and sweeping performance in...

Mon, 04/06/2026

Cooling Without the Combustion: How EARTH Researchers are Facilitating the Development of Safer Green Refrigerants

Researchers at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Environmentally Applied Refrigerant Technology Hub (EARTH) have developed an effective testing apparatus for assessing the flammability levels of refrigerants, as published in a recent study in the journal of Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research. This new equipment accurately determines the flammability limits...

Thu, 04/02/2026

NSF ERC EARTH Aligns with ASHRAE’s Position on the Responsible Use of Refrigerants

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center (ERC) - Environmentally Applied Refrigerant Technology Hub (EARTH) strongly supports the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) position document on “Refrigerants and their Responsible Use.” ASHRAE is the global professional society of more than 55,000 members, committed...

Wed, 03/18/2026

Advancing Sustainable Refrigerant Recovery with Membrane Technology

This review explores membrane-based technologies as energy‑efficient alternatives to traditional methods for separating and recycling hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants. By examining membrane materials, transport mechanisms, and real‑world challenges, the work highlights pathways to improve refrigerant recovery while supporting environmental regulations and sustainable cooling practices.

Fri, 02/20/2026

Atmospheric Barriers: New Study Challenges Link Between Common Refrigerants and the Formation of TFA

A new EARTH study finds no evidence that the refrigerant HFC‑134a forms TFA under real atmospheric conditions. Simulations show proposed pathways are not energetically feasible, suggesting HFC‑134a is unlikely to be a direct source of TFA. Researchers will continue exploring other possible pathways.

Wed, 12/17/2025

WISE Researcher Advances Reliable Process Design for Ionic-Liquid-Based Refrigerant Separation

A new study helps engineers better understand how advanced materials called ionic liquids behave at high temperatures—knowledge that supports more efficient, reliable, and sustainable cooling technologies.

Mon, 12/08/2025

EARTH Researchers Publish New Study on Low-GWP Refrigerants to Advance Sustainable Cooling

EARTH researchers published a new study evaluating low-GWP refrigerants, specifically HFC-32/HFO-1234yf mixtures, as alternatives to R-410A. Their modeling shows that blends such as R-454B and pure HFC-32 can significantly improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and lower operating costs. The work supports the cooling industry’s transition toward cleaner, next-generation refrigerants.

Fri, 11/21/2025

EARTH: A New Way to View the Blue Sky

When Irish physicist John Tyndall was conducting research on why the sky is blue, he explored the notion with awe, for the pure sake of the idea. As he performed his experiments at The Royal Institution in London, in 1869, he likely did not foresee that his work would inspire generations of scientists and entrepreneurs who would adopt the term “blue sky” to explain the tenets of basic research.

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