Arjun Yennemadi

Arjun Yennemadi is a graduate student in chemical engineering developing physics-based continuum models for scalable electrochemical systems to enable the sustainable recovery of critical elements such as cobalt, nickel, dysprosium, and neodymium. These elements are vital for advanced energy applications yet face severe supply risk, and their separation from chemically similar mixtures remains commercially challenging and environmentally damaging. Addressing this challenge, Arjun has developed continuum models describing ion transport and separation in charged nanoporous membranes and electrodeposition-speciation systems using MATLAB’s differential algebraic equation solvers for stiff nonlinear systems. He has leveraged MATLAB’s fitting and optimization toolboxes to extract physically meaningful fitting parameters and conduct rapid parameter sweeps revealing deep physical insights into each ion separation mechanism. As a MathWorks Fellow, Arjun will investigate porous cathode architectures and fluid flow effects to optimize an aqueous electroprecipitation system for dysprosium recovery. Additionally, he aims to explore coupled electroprecipitation-electroflotation processes for critical element recovery. His research could enable chemical-free electrochemical routes for critical element recovery that fundamentally reshape the sustainability of rare earth supply chains.