The Young Chemist Award
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The Young Chemist Award is a prestigious accolade presented by Metrohm USA to exceptional minds across the United States and Canada. For over a decade, our mission has been to celebrate outstanding research that transforms the landscape of chemistry.
This year's winner, Elham Akbari, is a PhD candidate for Environmental Engineering at Temple University. Elham's work discusses the familiar challenges of removing PFAS from the environment. Traditional methods like filters are only a temporary solution, as the PFAS-laden filters then need to be disposed of. Elham's research proposes a promising alternative: thermal treatment, specifically using supercritical water oxidation (SCWO). This method uses high temperatures to break down PFAS into less harmful substances. The research investigates the effectiveness of SCWO under different conditions and with different types of PFAS contamination, aiming to develop this technology for large-scale cleanup efforts.
As the recipient of the 2025 award, Elham was awarded a $15,000 cash prize as well as a trip to Pittcon where she had the opportunity to present her research.