AMPM Center is committed to translating research to industry in Saudi Arabia. One way we do this is by advanced education of industry staff who take their learning and apply it in their companies to create innovation and economic benefit. An outstanding example is our most recent PhD graduate, Saudi national Nasser Alaslai. Saudi Aramco supported him, after 10 years' work experience, to join Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials (AMPM) Center to undertake graduate research into an important industry problem: removal of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from natural gas which comes out of the ground as a mixture of valuable methane with nitrogen, carbon dioxide, water, hydrogen sulphide and other contaminants. Now Nasser will return to Saudi Aramco and implement what he has learned and discovered himself in research.

In 2002, Nasser obtained his B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals and joined Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil company. It was a 'dream job' for a young man passionate about engineering. His first assignment was in Refinery Operations and after one year he moved to Gas Operations Admin Area, until 2011.

Saudi Aramco recognized his talent and selected him for advanced study at KAUST. In particular, for MS and then PhD degrees in Chemical Engineering under supervision of Prof. Ingo Pinnau. Nasser calls Prof. Pinnau's classes on membranes technologies a "before and after moment" in his career. He quickly saw the advantages polymeric membranes could have in gas separation and specifically increased energy efficiency for removal of CO₂ from natural gas, an important challenge in the industry.

"Both AMPM Center and Prof. Pinnau have been a big turning point in my life. I used to work in Gas Operations but I had no clue that we could process natural gas with membrane technologies until I joined KAUST and met Prof. Pinnau. We both came from industry and this was an important link between us. It was then I realized I wanted to work with him", said Nasser.

Once he finished the Master's Degree, he continued his research as a Ph.D. student under the supervision of Prof. Pinnau and recently defended his thesis entitled 'Hydroxyl-Containing Aromatic Polyimides for Carbon Dioxide Removal from Natural Gas'.

 "Since 2011, Prof. Pinnau has been helping me on a daily basis. I am extremely grateful to him for all the support he has given me. He always has time for me when I needed his help", Nasser added.

Nasser is going to join back Saudi Aramco's staff in Research Related Organization to continue his professional career and implement what he researched in KAUST.

 "Saudi Aramco invests in people so now I aim to return to them, hopefully many times over, their investment in me", he expressed. "I will miss KAUST, I will miss AMPM Center and I will miss Prof. Pinnau but I am sure we will continue collaborating together", Nasser concluded.

 AMPM Center warmly congratulates Nasser on his accomplishments and we look forward to seeing you often in the future!