NMSU and NASA Partner on NSF Supported Research to Advance Sustainable Materials Recovery

New Mexico State University is expanding its leadership in sustainable materials science through a new NSF EPSCoR supported collaboration with NASA. Chemical and materials engineering assistant professor Houqian Li has received a National Science Foundation EPSCoR Research Fellow award to work with the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center on developing next generation materials for metal recovery and recycling.

Li’s project centers on creating advanced solid materials capable of capturing valuable metals from industrial waste, discarded electronics, and environmental residues. These materials function like specialized sponges that selectively absorb metal ions that are essential for manufacturing electronics, aerospace systems, and other high tech products.

By enabling the recovery of critical metals from discarded products, the research supports cleaner recycling processes, reduces waste, and strengthens U.S. supply chains. Li’s collaboration with NASA leverages the agency’s expertise in ionic liquid technologies used in resource recovery for space missions.

A key focus of the project is the use of immobilized ionic liquids. These ionic liquids are anchored onto solid structures, which allows them to selectively capture metal ions without requiring large volumes of liquid solvents. This approach reduces waste, increases reusability, and offers a more efficient method for separating and recovering critical materials.

The NSF EPSCoR fellowship supports early career researchers in building partnerships that expand institutional research capacity. The award will also fund a graduate student who will receive advanced training in materials synthesis, characterization, and performance evaluation. Undergraduate students will participate in hands-on materials development and testing while working alongside NASA scientists.

According to Joe Holles, head of NMSU’s Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, the project strengthens the university’s role as a growing center for critical materials research. He noted that Li’s ability to connect NASA’s materials expertise with national needs in recycling and resource recovery reflects the strategic importance of the work.

Read more: NSF award advances NMSU, NASA research on critical materials recovery