The Engineer Behind Clean Combustion & Sustainable Fuels
In this faculty spotlight, Yiannis Levendis—COE Distinguished Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and Center Member at The Plastics Center—shares his pioneering work in clean combustion, sustainable fuels, and environmental protection.
With decades of impact-driven research, Professor Levendis focuses on solving critical environmental challenges: air pollution, water contamination, wildfire ignition, and emissions from energy systems.
His groundbreaking work includes the development of iron as a recyclable, zero-greenhouse-gas fuel, demonstrating how pulverized iron can burn cleanly in power plants and be regenerated using hydrogen for repeated use. From designing ceramic-based reusable oil filters that reduce landfill waste to advancing concentrated solar power and technologies that harden homes against wildfires, his innovations tackle pollution at its source while enabling safe, sustainable energy production.
Supported by Northeastern’s Center for Research Innovation (CRI), Professor Levendis continues to expand collaborations across combustion science, materials engineering, wildfire mitigation, and renewable energy—creating opportunities for students, researchers, and industry to shape a cleaner future.
The team is seeking collaborations with:
- Researchers in clean combustion, materials science, and sustainable fuels
- Energy companies, utilities, and environmental engineering firms
- Organizations focused on renewable energy, emissions reduction, and wildfire mitigation
- Students interested in combustion research, environmental sustainability, and applied engineering innovation