Semali Perera

Semali Perera is Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Bath, holding a BSc in Chemical Engineering and PhD from Brunel University. Her research focuses on advanced separations technology and nanomaterials engineering, with applications in environmental protection and medical therapeutics. She serves as Director of the Reaction and Catalysis Engineering research unit and is affiliated with the Centre for Integrated Materials, Processes & Structures.

Key research domains include:

• Design of hollow fibers and monolithic adsorbents for gas separation
• Development of biodegradable drug delivery systems for cancer treatment
• Advanced materials for water treatment and resource recovery
• Process-integrated separation technologies for sustainability

Perera's publications demonstrate innovations in adsorption technology and material design. Recent work examines activated carbon microstructures, battery safety systems, and neural network applications in process modeling. Her 2024 research on moisture diffusion modeling combines AI with traditional chemical engineering principles, while work on rare earth recovery addresses critical material sustainability challenges.

Honors include:

• Royal Society Brian Mercer Award for Innovation (2007)
• Mary Tasker Award for Chemical Engineering Teaching (2002)

Perera collaborates extensively with industry through ventures like nanoporous solutions limited, a university spin-off commercializing her adsorbent fiber technology. She coordinates projects including a pioneering near-zero-carbon air conditioning system using atmospheric latent heat and natural light energy.