The IRC for Advanced Materials at KFUPM congratulates Dr. Alaaeddin Alsbaiee, Associate Professor in the Chemistry Department and an affiliate of the IRC for Advanced Materials, on receiving the 2026 ACS Green Chemistry Challenge Award in the Academic Category.

The award recognizes his contribution to the work titled “Solid-State Upcycling of Polyurethane Thermosets into Foams and Elastomers via Green Catalysis,” developed through a collaboration between Northwestern University and BASF. Dr. Alsbaiee previously worked in BASF’s Polyurethane Systems Department before joining KFUPM.

The innovative solid-state recycling platform addresses a major challenge in polymer sustainability: recycling polyurethane foams and elastomers, which are generally difficult to recycle because of their durable, cross-linked thermoset structures.

The technology uses low-toxicity metal and organic catalysts to activate exchange reactions within polyurethane networks. This enables post-industrial and post-consumer polyurethane materials to be directly upcycled into high-value foams, elastomers, and composites without depolymerization, solvents, or more hazardous catalysts.

This achievement demonstrates the impact of green chemistry, advanced materials research, and academic–industry collaboration in developing sustainable material solutions and advancing the circular economy.

Dr. Alsbaiee will be recognized during the 2026 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards ceremony on 26 August 2026 in Chicago, Illinois, as part of the ACS Fall Meeting.

The IRC for Advanced Materials is proud to celebrate Dr. Alsbaiee and this outstanding recognition of his contributions to sustainable materials and polymer science.