Research Outcomes
Selected IESD's published research papers, invited talks, and climate-change-related news articles
Country-specific carbon footprint and cumulative energy demand of metallurgical grade silicon production for silicon photovoltaics
This research paper explores the life-cycle carbon footprints of providing materials for renewable energy. The focus is on the silicon photovoltaic (Si PV) supply chain, as Si PV is the leading commercial PV with more than 95% installation globally. The paper concludes that the Si PV production emission can be 36% more due to supply chain limitations to provide high-quality quartz for manufacturing solar-grade silicon.
Environmental, cost, and chemical hazards of using alternative green solvents for fullerene (C60) purification for transparent organic photovoltaics (OPVs)
Compared to the existing manufacturing process for C60 (nanocarbon) production for transparent organic and perovskite photovoltaics, the proposed method reduced the environmental impact by 59%, cost by 85%, and chemical hazards by 42%. This can reduce the carbon footprint of C60-containing products used for various emerging applications, such as solar cells, hydrogen storage, biofuels, etc., which aligns with current decarbonization strategies.
Material requirement and resource availability for silicon photovoltaic laminate manufacturing in the next 10 years
This research paper is about materials avalability for developing renewable energy technologies. The focus is on evaluating the amount of materials necessary for manufacturing silicon PV in the next decade. The projection was based on the PV industry reports. Glass, aluminum, and silicon are identified as the major materials in demand in the next couple of years.
Breaking barriers: An action framework for integrating gender into renewable energy policies in fossil-fuel-rich nations
This study explores gender perspectives on barriers to adopting renewable energy in the Global South. Through semi-structured interviews and grounded theory analysis, the research identifies key barriers, including policy, accessibility, and infrastructure issues. The findings highlight a strong interest in renewable energy among women, yet reveal obstacles to achieving Sustainable Development Goals, particularly related to gender equality and energy access. The study underscores the need for targeted public policies to encourage greater participation in renewable energy adoption and sustainability efforts.
Opportunities for Low Carbon Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (Preprint - available upon request)
Electric vehicles (EVs) are up to twice as emissions-intensive to produce than internal combustion engine vehicles, mainly due to emissions from lightweight materials such as aluminum, polymers, composites, and lithium-ion battery materials. Industry and transport must decarbonize to avoid the worst consequences of climate change; therefore, this study examines the life-cycle opportunities and barriers to EV production decarbonization in the United States.
Circular Economy Pathways for Decarbonizing Automotive Aluminum and Steel Sheet Components in the United States (Under review: Preprint available upon request)
This article analyzes the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from U.S. vehicle production, focusing on aluminum and steel auto body sheets. It projects emissions from 2025 to 2050 and evaluates decarbonization strategies, including promoting circular economy practices, using green hydrogen, improving process yields, and reducing electricity grid emissions. The study finds that recycling manufacturing scrap reduces emissions, but recycling post-consumer scrap has mixed effects. It emphasizes the importance of stakeholders adopting circular economy approaches to maximize environmental benefits across the supply chain in the decarbonization of vehicle production.
Preliminary Work Towards A Cross-Lifecycle Design Tool for Increased High‐Quality Metal Recycling
The paper discusses the growing use of energy-intensive materials like aluminum in vehicle production, which presents recycling challenges due to contamination. A design tool is being developed to assess how vehicle design, recycling practices, and alloy composition affect energy demand, emissions, and metal demand from 2020 to 2050. The tool aims to guide improvements in recycling systems and reduce the environmental impact of automotive sheet metal production through lifecycle design changes.
Analysis of scrap flows from recycling aluminum-intensive vehicles in the United States: Insights from a case study on the F-150
This article examines the upcoming surge in end-of-life (ELV) aluminum sheet scrap from mass-produced vehicles, focusing on Ford F-150s. It uses a Spatial-Composition-Joining model to analyze the recycling process, considering factors like metallic component mass, alloy, and contamination sources. The study provides insights into how vehicle design and recycling advancements could impact aluminum scrap chemistry, helping the industry prepare for efficient recycling in the future. The research highlights the importance of closed-loop recycling systems for managing the expected increase in aluminum scrap.
Nature-Based Solutions for Promoting Circular Water Economy
This study investigates the longstanding issue of water scarcity in the Global South, exacerbated by climate change and unsustainable development. Through 16 semi-structured interviews with various stakeholders (academics, NGOs, government, and local communities), the research identifies 45 drivers of water scarcity, including reduced precipitation, illegal groundwater usage, and dam overconstruction. The study emphasizes the need for community action and explores nature-based solutions and their enablers and barriers, offering valuable insights for policymakers to address the water crisis and promote sustainable water management.
Identifying alternative solvents for C60 manufacturing using singular and combined toxicity assessments
This study investigates alternative solvents—linseed, olive, and sunflower oils—for C60 manufacturing, replacing toxic 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene (TMB). Toxicity tests using Daphnia magna found olive oil to be the least toxic. The toxicity of linseed oil increased with higher C60 concentrations, while lower C60 concentrations reduced toxicity in olive and sunflower oils. Olive oil was determined to be the most suitable solvent for C60 production, based on both singular and combined toxicity assessments, highlighting the importance of considering combined toxicity in solvent selection.
Developing Equitable Emergency Action Plans for Urban Flash Floods Triggered by Dam Failures in the Global South (Preprint)
This study presents a method for creating equitable Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) for natural hazards due to climate change for large dams near urban areas. Using dam failure modeling, it identifies critical flood risk metrics and evacuation windows for the affected population of 150,000. The study emphasizes the need for inclusive EAPs that consider vulnerable populations, highlighting shelters, escape routes, and safe zones for educational, commercial, and official buildings. It calls for immediate action from policymakers to safeguard lives in the event of dam failure.
Presentations & Invited Talks
Amplifying Women’s Voices: Addressing Gender-Specific Barriers to Renewable Energy Adoption in Fossil-Fuel-Dependent Economies
32nd International Symposium on Sustainable Systems and Technology – ISSST 2025, Minneapolis, MN
Driving Toward Net-Zero: Unlocking Circular Economy Strategies to Decarbonize U.S. Automotive Sheet Metal Production
32nd International Symposium on Sustainable Systems and Technology – ISSST 2025, Minneapolis, MN.
Decarbonization Pathways for U.S. Automotive Steel Consumption
32nd International Symposium on Sustainable Systems and Technology – ISSST 2025, Minneapolis, MN.
Cross life cycle opportunities for increasing the post-consumer recycled content of aluminum automotive body sheet
12th International Conference on Industrial Ecology, ISIE 2025, Singapore.
Environmental Impact Models for Producing Automotive Metal Sheet
The Clean Sheet Symposium, June 2024, Ann Arbor, MI.
Developing a Model for Evaluating the Role of Refining Technologies in Increasing High-Value Recycling of End-of-Life Aluminum Scrap
11th International Conference on Industrial Ecology (ISIE 2023)
Cross-lifecycle design tool for increased high-quality metal recycling
11th International Conference on Industrial Ecology (ISIE 2023)
Decarbonizing Electric Vehicle Production
Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP 2023) Conference - Boston, MA
Opportunities to Improve Automotive Manufacturing Process Yields to Reduce the Environmental Impacts of Vehicle Production
27th Design for Manufacturing and Life Cycle (ASME - DFMLC 2022), Missouri, USA
Environmental Evaluation of Increasing Automotive Manufacturing Process Yields
The International Symposium on Sustainable Systems and Technology (ISSST 2022), Pittsburgh, USA
The Influence of ZnO Nanoparticles on Producing Bioenergy in Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants
The 9th Nano Conference, Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (SNO)
Emergency Action Plan for Flash Flood Due to Dambreak -Case study: Shahrchai Dam, Urmia (Iran)
American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting 2020
How biowastes from microalgae (Scenedesmus Dimorphus) cultivation process affect methane production yields in wastewater treatment plants
The 10th International Conference on Algal Biomass, Biofuels and Bioproducts (ALGAL)
Reducing the Environmental Impacts of Fullerenes Using an Iterative Approach Combining Life Cycle Assessment and Green Chemistry Metrics
The Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), 2019, Toronto Canada
Ecotoxicity Assessment of Fullerene Purification Process
Engineering Graduate Research Symposium - Michigan State University (2019)
Newspaper Articles
Dr. Heidari has published environmental engineering-related articles in newspapers and magazines for public audiences. Below are selected news articles.
Recycling Plastic: “Plastic accumulated in nature is equivalent to the weight of all living organisms on earth."
2023
Environmental Evaluations of 2022 Environmental-related incidents, Including Petrochemicals, Refineries, Natural Hazardous, Endangered Animals, Landfills, Environmental Justice, Mining, Dams, Budget, etc.
2023
Recycling for the fast fashion industry: “Leaving thousands of pollutants on the earth”
2022
Environmental justice: "Access to Clear Air is Our Right"
2022
Environmental and Social Evaluation of Mines
2022
Environmental and Social Assessments of Refinery and Petrochemical Plants
2022
Flood management: EAP program to save lives, What should be done to reduce the number of casualties in natural disasters?
2022
The importance of the quality of passenger cars in reducing the pollution of cities and preserving the environment
2022