Hoon Choi

Chemical & Biomedical Engineering | School of Energy Resources

Assistant Professor

Contact Information

hchoi4@uwyo.edu

EERB 361B

Hoon Choi image

Our research focuses on developing advanced separation techniques to address critical challenges in energy and environmental applications. We aim to design energy-efficient and economically viable processes that minimize environmental impacts, accelerate the transition to clean energy systems, and advance the frontiers of life sciences. Our work integrates experimental studies with process modeling to analyze integrated downstream systems and assess the impact of separation performance on overall process efficiency and sustainability. Our key research areas include the development of novel ligand-based chromatographic technologies for critical mineral recovery and the design of continuous liquid-liquid chromatography and extraction processes for the purification of critical minerals, natural products, and enantiomers from real, complex feedstocks.

Research Interests

  • Separation and Purification
  • Adsoprtion and Chromatography
  • Critical Mineral Recovery
  • Natural Product Separations
  • Bioseparatoins and Downstream Processing

Education

  • Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Purdue University (2018)
  • M.S., Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University (2014)
  • B.S., Chemical Engineering, Yonsei University (2012)

Professional Experience

  • Assistant Professor (2026-present), Chemical and Biomedical Engineering & School of Energy Resources, University of Wyoming
  • Staff Scientist - Researcher III (2022-2025), National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
  • Postdoctoral Researcher (2020-2022), National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
  • Staff Engineer (2019) - Samsung Electronics Foundry

Awards and Honors

  • President's Distinguished Scholar, University of Wyoming (2026-2029)
  • President's Award, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (2024)
  • Director's Award, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (2021)
  • Hanwha Travel Grant, AIChE Annual Meeting, Hanwha Total (2018)
  • Moojin Science and Technology Scholoarship, Moojin Science Foundation (2012-2014)
  • National Science and Engineering Full Scholarship, Korean Student Aid Foundation (2006-2012)

Professional and Scholarly Associations

  • Member, DOE BETO Bioprocessing Separations Consortium (2020-2025)
  • Member, DOE BOTTLE Consortium (2022-2025)
  • Member, DOE Critical Materials Collaborative (CMC) (2024-2025)
  • Member, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) (2018-present)
  • Industry Board Member, KIChE-US Chapter (2024-2025)
  • Member, American Chemical Society (ACS) (2021-present)

Selected Publications

  • Lee, M., Liang, Y., Cutherbertson, A.A., Mohamed, S.Y., Puente-Urbina, A., Michener, W.E., Miscall, J., Lincoln, C., Lahive, C.W., DesVeaux, J.S., Fastow, E.J., Winey, K.I., Choi, H., Knott, B.C., Banakis, N., Allen, R.D.A., Beckham, G.T., Knauer, K.M. (2025). Extraction, purification, and reuse of dyes from coloured polyester textiles. Nature Sustainability (2025), https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-025-01686-7
  • Alherech, M., Beckham, G.T., & Choi, H. (2025) Implementation and evaluation of multi-dual mode counter-current chromatography in the CUP Modeler software. Journal of Chromatography A, 466265
  • Choi, H., Jennewein, C., Moss, M., Chirban, L., Kolbe, E., Li, D., Condacure, M., Prestangen, R., Owczarczyk, Z., Bu, L., Knott, B.C., Crowley, M.F., Wei, J., Endler, E., Robinson, A., Watkins-Curry, P., Cath, T.Y., Pivovar, B.A., Wilson, N., & Karp, E.M. (2025) A novel zwitterionic chromatography approach to separate lithium from unconventional resources. Sustainable Materials and Technologies, 44, e01339
  • Curley, J.B., Liang, Y., DesVeaux, J.S., Choi, H., Uekert, T., Clarke, R.W., Michener, W.E., Mauryaa, A.K., Stanley, L.M., Wue, Y., Baer, A.L., Tassone, C.J., Jacobsen, A.J., Mante, O., Beckham, G.T., & Knauer, K.M. (2025). Closed-loop recycling of mixed polyesters via catalytic methanolysis and monomer separations. Nature Chemical Engineering, 2, 568-580.
  • Desveaux, J.S., Uekert, T., Curley, J.B., Choi, H., Liang, Y., Beckham, G.T., Jacobsen, A.J., Mante, O.D., & Knauer, K.M. (2024). Economic and environmental feasibility of chemical recycling of mixed polyesters. One Earth, 7(12), 2204-2222
  • Choi, H., Alherech, M., Jang, J., Woodworth, S., Ramirez, K., Stanley, L., Karm, E., & Beckham, G.T. (2024). Counter-current chromatography for lignin monomer-monomer and monomer-oligomer separations from reductive catalytic fractionation oil. Green Chemistry, 26(10), 5900-5913
  • Choi, H., Soland, N.E., Honeycutt, N., Buss, B., Honeycott, N., Tomashek, E.G., Haugen, S.J., Ramirez, K.J., Miscall, J., Tan, E.C.D., Smith, T.N., Saboe, P.O., & Karp, E.M. (2022). Separation of bio-based glucaric acid via antisolvent crystallization and azeotropic drying. Green Chemistry, 24(3), 1350-1361
  • Choi, H., Soland, N.E., Moss, M.R., Liu, J., Prestangen R., Katahira, R., Lee, S., Thorson, M., Freeman, C.J., & Karp, E.M. (2022). The cell utilized partitioning model as a predictive tool for optimizing counter-current chromatography processes. Separation and Purification Technology, 285(15), 120330
  • Choi, H., Harvey, D., Ding, Y., & Wang, N.H.L. (2018). Constant-pattern design method for the separation of three rare earth elements using ligand-assisted displacement chromatography. Journal of Chromatography A, 1580(14), 49-62.