Pioneering materials for advanced adsorption technology

An internationally recognized chemical engineer, Ralph Yang invented  advanced materials for gas separation and purification that enabled advanced materials that could capture and control like zeolites, activated carbons, and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that can capture and control specific molecules in a targeted way, enabling cleaner technologies and processes.

Ralph Yang developed new theory, methods and materials for the removal of environmentally hazardous compounds from transportation fuels and other difficult chemical separations.

For the development of the theory, methods, and materials, Yang was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2005. View the NAE citation. 

Societal impact

Yang’s work has improved the quality of transportation fuels. By removing hazardous compounds like sulfur, nitrogen, and aromatics, the resulting cleaner fuels burn more efficiently and produce fewer emissions, leading to a lower environmental impact and improved air quality. His work significantly contributed to environmental sustainability and the efficiency of energy systems.

Ralph Yang’s work in developing advanced adsorbents has played a role in efforts to mitigate acid rain, primarily through the deep desulfurization of transportation fuels and the removal of sulfur compounds from industrial emissions. Although not the sole solution to the problem, adsorbent technologies form an integral part of the overall strategy to control and reduce the emissions of sulfur compounds and other pollutants. Consequently, Professor Yang’s work has indirectly contributed to the measures that have been effective in reducing the occurrence of acid rain over the past few decades.

Affiliations

• John B. Fenn Distinguished University Professor and Dwight F. Benton Professor, Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan

Background & education

• Professor, Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, 1995 – present
• Chair, Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, 1995-2000
• Professor and Chair of Chemical Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo, (Praxair Professor 1993-1995, Chair 1989-1995) 1978-1995
• National Science Foundation, Program Director, Separation and Purification Processes, CTS Division, 1987-1988
• Chemical Engineer and Group Leader, Fossil Energy Science Group, Brookhaven National Laboratory, 1974-1978
• Scientist, Phys. Chem. Div., Aluminum Company of America, 1973-1974
• Research Fellow, Argonne National Laboratory, 1972-1973
• Research Associate, Department of Chemistry, New York University, 1971-1972
• PhD, Chemical Engineering, Yale University, 1971
• M.S., Chemical Engineering, Yale University, 1968
• B.S., Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, 1964

In their own words

Tell us a little about yourself

Yang: “I was born in China in 1942. I’m the same age as Joe Biden, 82. I grew up in Taiwan. I graduated from college there. I came here for a master’s and Ph.D. from Yale University. I worked with Professor John Fenn, who later got a Nobel Prize in chemistry for doing separation, for inventing mass spectrometry for liquid-phase separation. That was a big invention. 

My career was academic. I taught at SUNY New York for 17 years. Then I came here to Michigan in 1995. I retired two years ago.”

What advice would you give an engineering student?

Yang: “Enjoy yourself! My past colleague Scott Fogler just passed away two years ago. His advice to young faculty is to take advantage of the big sports teams at Michigan like football, basketball. He had season tickets. He watched all the games. I think that’s very good advice to take advantage of these sports teams of a bigger university. I spent too much time in the office and in the labs.”

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Quotes edited from interview transcript between Ralph Yang and Marcin Sczcepanski.