Languages

Arabic, English, French (learning-begginer)

My research

My research work is focused on developing decision support methodologies for decarbonizing the aluminium industry. This work is conducted in collaboration with Novelis, a leading producer of flat-rolled aluminum products and the world’s largest recycler of aluminum.. Below is an abstract of my PhD thesis research work so far.

Aluminium is the second most widely used metal in the world. Its production is extremely energy intensive and largely dependent on the use of fossil fuels. Consequently, resulting in the emission of significant amounts of greenhouse gases. Despite global warming threats urging aluminium producers to reduce their overall emissions, many challenges persist against the realisation of such goals. These challenges include accessible infrastructure to supply renewable electricity for aluminium smelting, optimized recycling pathways and innovative sorting technologies to enable closed-loop utilization of aluminium alloys, complicated process integration routes in a solid-treatment environment, lack of alternative technologies for high temperature heating applications, and scope shifting effects resulting from pragmatic problem-solving methods typically adopted.

The aim of this thesis is to develop decision support methodologies for decarbonizing the aluminium industry. First, key performance indicators for comparing decarbonization options are defined and inherent correlations among them are identified. Next, a systemic approach is adopted to address the optimization problem through four inter-connected layers: process integration, energy and exergy efficiency, techno-economics, and life cycle assessment (LCA). Then, a superstructure encapsulating all feasible process alternatives is formulated using a mixed integer linear programming method. Finally, optimal problem solutions are suggested and techno-economic considerations towards their realisation are evaluated.

The overarching goal is to establish generalized decision support methodologies for decarbonizing the aluminium industry. The focus will be on producing net-zero aluminium at Novelis’ remelting facility in Sierre, Switzerland. Pinch analysis methods will be adapted for solid semi-batch systems enabling the development of heuristics applicable to other metallurgical industries. Innovative process routes are synthesized and assessed for improved overall system efficiency. Techno-economic parameters of alternative technologies are examined in collaboration with industrial partners and a technology toolbox of solutions is generated. The completeness of the utility superstructure is then evaluated, and its indirect impacts quantified. Ultimately, decision support is provided to transform Novelis Sierre into a net-zero aluminium production facility by 2030.

Graphical abstract

Awards

• 2020 Qatar Sustainability award for ConocoPhillips Water Visitor Center initiative

• 2019 SPIRIT of performance award in ConocoPhillips

• 2016 Qatar University Order of excellence award (highest GPA in the college of engineering)

Affiliations:

• Petroleum environmental research forum; PERF (2020 – 2022)

• ConocoPhillips diversity and inclusion team (2019 – 2021)

• Graduate studies association board at Texas A&M University (2016 – 2017)

• Vice president of AIChE student chapter at Qatar University (2015 – 2016)

IPESE activities

• Novelis Aluminium Production Process Decarbonization NetZero Lab - OIKEN, Novelis, EPFL, HESSO, Swiss Federal Office of Energy. Biomass, Heat Transfer Modeling, Renewable Energy Integration. https://www.novelis.com/net-zero-lab-valais/

• Advancement and maintenance of ROSMOSE optimizaion tool in accordance with lab needs and teaching activities

• Continuing Education Program for the “Swiss Industry Decarbonization Ambassadors” - EPFL, Swiss Enterprises and Swiss Federal Office of Energy. Linked to Master of Advanced Studies EPFL-HESSO and IETS IEA Technology Collaboration Programme “Process integration for industry decarbonization”

• Teaching Assistant for: ME-451 Advanced Energetics , ChE-459 Process Development and, ENV-510 Life Cycle Assessment in Energy Systems

• Co-supervision of MSc students in collaboration with Novelis NetZero Lab

Selected Publications

7 journal publications and 6 conference proceedings papers

• D. Dardor, D. Flórez-Orrego , M. Ribeiro Domingos, R. Germanier, M. Margni, F. Marechàl. Decarbonizing the production of primary aluminium using renewable resource, AIChE 2023 Annual Meeting, November 5-10, 2023. Orlando (FL), United States. https://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/306686.

• D. Flórez-Orrego , D. Dardor, M. Ribeiro Domingos, R. Germanier, F. Marechàl. Renewable energy integration and waste heat recovery for the production of sustainable jet fuel and decarbonization of industrial heating applications, AIChE 2023 Annual Meeting, November 5-10, 2023. Orlando (FL), United States. https://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/306479.

• M. Ribeiro Domingos, D. Flórez-Orrego , D. Dardor, F. Marechàl. Sustainable Methanol Production Using a Multi-Time Energy Integration and CO2 Management Approach As an Energy Carrier for Synthetic Natural Gas Synthesis, AIChE 2023 Annual Meeting, November 5-10, 2023. Orlando (FL), United States.

• D. Dardor, D. Florez-Orrego, C. Terrier, M.E Domingos, M. Lopez, F. Marechàl. ROSMOSE: A web-basedoptimization tool to aid decision-making for the design and operation of industrial and urban energysystems. Proceedings of ECOS 2023. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, https://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/303487 (2023).

• D. Flórez-Orrego , D. Dardor, R. Germanier, , F. Marechàl. A systemic study for enhanced waste heatrecovery and renewable energy integration towards decarbonizing the aluminium industry. Proceedings ofECOS 2023. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria , https://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/303618?ln=en (2023).

• D. Dardor , M. Al Maas, J. Minier-Matar, A. Janson, A. Abdel-Wahab, H. K. Shon, S. Adham. Evaluation ofpretreatment and membrane configuration for pressure-retarded osmosis application to produced waterfrom the petroleum industry. Desalination (2021). 516, 115219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2021.115219.

• J. Minier-Matar, M. Al Maas, D. Dardor, A. Janson, MS Nasser, S. Adham. Industrial wastewater volumereduction through osmotic concentration: Membrane module selection and process modelling. Journal ofWater Process Engineering (2021). 101760, 2214-7144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2020.101760.

• D. Dardor, M. Al-Maas, J. Minier-Matar, A. Janson, R. Sharma, M. Hassan, M. Al-Maadeed, S. Adham.Protocol for preparing synthetic solutions mimicking produced water from oil and gas operations. ACSOmega (2021). 6, 10, 6881-6892. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.0c06065

• A. Janson, D. Dardor, M. Al Maas, J. Minier-Matar, A. Abdel-Wahab, S. Adham. Pressure-Retarded Osmosisfor Enhanced Oil Recovery. Desalination (2020). 491, 114568 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2020.114568.

• D. Dardor, A. Janson, E. AlShamari, S. Adham, J. Minier-Matar, The effect of Hydrogen sulfide oxidationwith ultraviolet light and aeration on sour water treatment via membrane contactors, Journal of Separationand Purification Technology. 236 (2020) 116262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2019.116262.

• D. Dardor, R. R. Bhosale, S. Gharbia, A. Kumar, F. AlMomani, Solar Carbon Production via ThermochemicalZnO/Zn Carbon Dioxide Splitting Cycle. Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering & Applied Sciences(2016). https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC190089.

• R. R. Bhosale, A. Kumar, Leo J. P. van den Broeke, D. Dardor, S. Gharbia, M. Jilani, J. Folady, M. S. Al-Fakih,M. Tarsad, Solar hydrogen production via thermochemical iron oxide – iron sulfate water splitting cycle.International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 40 (2015) 1639 – 1650. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.11.118.

• R. R. Bhosale, D. Dardor, F. AlMomani, A. Kumar, M. H. Ali, S. Yousefi, A. AlNouss, M. S. Anis, M. H. Usmani,M. Y. Ali, Z. Bouabidi, Solar Hydrogen Production via Thermochemical Metal Oxide – Metal Sulfate WaterSplitting Cycle, Proceedings of 15th AIChE Annual Meeting (2015).

Patents

• A. Janson, S. Adham, J. Minier Matar, A. Hussain, E. Alshamari, N. Upadhyay, D. Dardor, Removal of ferromagnetic material from a fluid stream, U.S. Patent 10875033. December 29, 2020. https://patents.google.com/patent/US10875033B2/en.

• A. Janson, S. Adham, J. Minier Matar, D. Dardor, R Sharma, M. Al Maas. Water injection into a hydrocarbon reservoir, U.S. Patent 16902567. December 24, 2020. https://patents.google.com/patent/US20200399145A1/en.