Professor Rachael Rothman (née Elder)

MA MEng (Cantab), PhD, AMIChemE

School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering

Professor of Sustainable Chemical Engineering

Associate Director Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures

Academic Lead for Sustainability

Professor Rachael Rothman
Profile picture of Professor Rachael Rothman
r.rothman@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 7574
Room F62, Sir Robert Hadfield Building

Full contact details

Professor Rachael Rothman (née Elder)
School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering
Room F62
Sir Robert Hadfield Building
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD
Profile

I was born and brought up in Teesside and graduated from the University of Cambridge with a first class MEng in Chemical Engineering. I spent a year in Sweden before embarking on my PhD at the University of Sheffield.

Following my PhD I was a postdoctoral research associate for two years, becoming a lecturer in 2009 and a senior lecturer in 2014. During this time I was the departmental Support Teaching Coordinator, 4th Year Tutor and Director of Student Support.

I led the department’s successful Athena SWAN silver award submission in 2013 and was the Faculty Director for Women in Engineering 2014 – 2017, leading the faculty's equality and diversity activities. I have twice taken a year of maternity leave following the birth of my sons.

As Director for Women in Engineering I led a team of people working to improve equality and diversity, with a particular focus on gender equality. We strive to be the number one place for women to work and study engineering and organise numerous outreach events and activities to increase the proportion of female staff and students and put in place long-lasting cultural changes.

I was a member of the British Orienteering team for 16 years, ran 7 world championships and have two gold medals from the World University Championships. I have now retired from international racing but still love to go orienteering and am actively involved in coaching local and university athletes and am a mentor on the University Elite Sports Performance Scheme.

Research interests

My research is in the development and analysis of sustainable processes and clean energy systems. My interests lie in whole systems analysis, clean energy technologies and thermochemical and electrochemical cycles for hydrogen production and carbon dioxide utilisation.

Recent projects include:

  • the EPSRC funded 4CU project, investigating utilisation of carbon dioxide to form fuel
  • the European Framework 7 HycycleS project, looking at key components for the Sulfur Iodine and Hybrid Sulphur cycles for hydrogen production
  • the KNOO (Keeping the Nuclear Option Open) project, investigating nuclear hydrogen production.

Research interests

  • Sustainable Processes
  • Clean Energy Systems
  • Thermochemical and Electrochemical Cycles
  • Hydrogen Production
  • Carbon Dioxide Utilisation
  • Membrane Separations
  • Whole System Analysis
Publications

Journal articles

  • Meng F, Hawkin JL, Gast L, Job S, O Brádaigh C, Cullen JM, Leeke GA, McKechnie J, Poulsen AK, Rothman R , Ryan A et al (2025) . Nature Reviews Clean Technology.
  • Rihner MCS, Whittle JW, Gadelhaq MHA, Mohamad SN, Yuan R, Rothman R, Fletcher DI, Walkley B & Koh LSC (2025) . Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 211.
  • Hoseini M, Greenwood SC, Eman S, Mattinson P, Baird HM, Beswick-Parsons R, Fairclough JPA, Webb TL, Ryan AJ & Rothman RH (2024) . Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 209.
  • Newman AJK, Rothman RH & Styring P (2024) . Frontiers in Energy Research, 12.
  • Shipp J, Parker S, Spall S, Peralta-Arriaga SL, Robertson CC, Chekulaev D, Portius P, Turega S, Buckley A, Rothman R & Weinstein JA (2022) . Inorganic Chemistry, 61(34), 13281-13292.
  • Ryan AJ & Rothman RH (2022) . Nature Reviews Chemistry, 6(1), 1-3.
  • Hutty T, Bello AP, Dong S, Parra D, Rothman R & Brown S (2021) . Energy Conversion and Management, 245.
  • Dong S, Kremers E, Brucoli M, Rothman R & Brown S (2021) . Journal of Energy Storage, 40.
  • BÅ‚ażejewski T, Walker SRJ, Muazu RI & Rothman RH (2021) . Sustainable Production and Consumption, 27, 1030-1046.
  • Greenwood S, Walker S, Baird HM, Parsons R, Mehl S, Webb TL, Slark AT, Ryan AJ & Rothman RH (2021) . Sustainable Production and Consumption, 27, 1688-1702.
  • Muazu RI, Rothman R & Maltby L (2021) . Journal of Cleaner Production, 293.
  • Holmes TD, Rothman RH & Zimmerman WB (2021) . Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing, 41(2), 531-557.
  • Dong S, Kremers E, Brucoli M, Rothman R & Brown S (2020) . Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 131.
  • Walker S & Rothman R (2020) . Journal of Cleaner Production, 261.
  • Dong S, Kremers E, Brucoli M, Rothman R & Brown S (2020) . Energy Conversion and Management, 205.
  • Cuéllar-Franca R, García-Gutiérrez P, Dimitriou I, Elder RH, Allen RWK & Azapagic A (2019) . Applied Energy, 253.
  • Call AV, Holmes TD, Yanallah K, Desai PD, Zimmerman WB & Rothman RH (2019) . ECS Transactions, 91(1), 2623-2630.
  • Mehranjani AS, Cumming DJ, Sinclair DC & Rothman R (2017) . Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 37(13), 3981-3993.
  • Cumming DJ, Thompson AR & Rothman RH (2016) . Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 163(11), F3057-F3061.
  • Tumilson C, Hardacre C, Jacquemin J, Elder RH & Sinclair DC (2016) . ECS Meeting Abstracts, MA2016-01(28), 1400-1400.
  • Manerova J, Call AV, Sinclair DC & Elder RH (2015) . ECS Meeting Abstracts, MA2015-03(1), 246-246.
  • Thompson AR, Call AV, Cumming DJ, Sinclair DC & Elder RH (2015) . ECS Meeting Abstracts, MA2015-03(1), 316-316.
  • Tumilson C, Cumming DJ, Taylor SFR, Call AV, Hardacre C & Elder RH (2015) . ECS Meeting Abstracts, MA2015-03(1), 100-100.
  • Cumming DJ & Elder RH (2015) . Journal of Power Sources, 280, 387-392.
  • Ramos-Sanchez VH, Jeans R, Elder RH, Zaragoza-Galán G & Devonshire R (2015) . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 40(4), 1657-1664.
  • Cuéllar-Franca R, Dimitriou I, García-Gutierrez P, Elder RH, Allen RWK & Azapagic A (2015) , 1457-1462.
  • He G, Elder RH, Cumming DJ & Allen RWK (2014) . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 39(28), 15670-15680.
  • Elder RH, Cumming DJ, Taylor R & Hardacre C (2014) . ECS Meeting Abstracts, MA2014-02(23), 1360-1360.
  • Manerova J, Cumming DJ, Sinclair DC & Elder RH (2014) . ECS Meeting Abstracts, MA2014-02(23), 1342-1342.
  • Cumming DJ, Taylor R, Manerova J, Hardacre C, Sinclair DC & Elder RH (2013) . ECS Meeting Abstracts, MA2013-02(10), 753-753.
  • Roeb M, Thomey D, De Oliveira L, Sattler C, Fleury G, Pra F, Tochon P, Brevet A, Roux G, Gruet N , Mansilla C et al (2013) . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 38(20), 8478.
  • Roeb M, Thomey D, de Oliveira L, Sattler C, Fleury G, Pra F, Tochon P, Brevet A, Roux G, LeNaour F , Mansilla C et al (2013) . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.
  • Taylor ML, Elder RH & Allen RWK (2012) . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.
  • Taylor ML, Elder RH, Styring P & Allen RWK (2012) . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.
  • Taylor ML, Elder RH & Allen RWK (2012) . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.
  • He G, Elder RH, Allen RWK & Sinclair DC (2012) . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.
  • Elder R, Cumming D, Omojola K & Sinclair D (2012) . ECS Meeting Abstracts, MA2012-01(28), 1103-1103.
  • Shaw AC, Romero MA, Elder RH, Ewan BCR & Allen RWK (2011) Measurements of the solubility of sulphur dioxide in water for the sulphur family of thermochemical cycles. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.
  • Atkin I, Elder RH, Priestman GH, Sinclair DC & Allen RWK (2011) High temperature oxygen separation for the sulphur family of thermochemical cycles - part I: Membrane selection and flux testing. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.
  • Roeb M, Thomey D, Graf D, Sattler C, Poitou S, Pra F, Tochon P, Mansilla C, Robin JC, Le Naour F , Allen RWK et al (2011) HycycleS: a project on nuclear and solar hydrogen production by sulphur-based thermochemical cycles. International Journal of Hydrogen Production and Applications, 2(3), 202-226.
  • Elder RH, Priestman GH, Allen RWK, Orme CJ & Stewart FF (2009) . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 34(16), 6614-6624.
  • Elder RH, Priestman GH & Allen RWK (2009) . INT J HYDROGEN ENERG, 34(15), 6129-6136.
  • Elder R & Allen R (2009) . PROG NUCL ENERG, 51(3), 500-525.
  • Le Duigou A, Borgard JM, Larousse B, Doizi D, Allen R, Ewan BC, Priestman GH, Elder R, Devonshire R, Ramos V , Cerri G et al (2007) . INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY, 32(10-11), 1516-1529.
  • Elder RH, Priestman GH, Ewan BC & Allen RWK (2005) . PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, 83(B4), 343-350.
  • Butterworth TD, Elder R & Allen RWK () . Chemical Engineering Journal, 293, 55-67.
  • Dimitriou I, Garcia-Gutierrez P, Elder R, Cuellar-Franca R, Azapagic A & Allen R () . Energy and Environmental Science.
  • Cumming DJ, Tumilson C, Taylor SFR, Chansai S, Call AV, Jacquemin J, Hardacre C & Elder RH () . Faraday Discussions, 182, 97-111.
  • Gorte R, Metcalfe I, Vohs J, Ebbesen SD, Graves C, Jiang SP, Dong D, Ishihara T, Elder R, Molero-Sánchez B , Cumming D et al () . Faraday Discussions, 182, 437-456.
Back to top

Book chapters

  • Rothman R & Ryan AJ (2023) , Plastic Pollution in the Global Ocean (pp. 21-46). WORLD SCIENTIFIC
  • Almegren H, Armstrong K, Bardow A, Barnes M, Bocarsly AB, Cumming D, Dowson G, Edwards PP, Elder R, France LJ , Gadikota G et al (2015) , Carbon Dioxide Utilisation (pp. xi-xiii). Elsevier
  • Elder R, Cumming D & Mogensen MB (2015) , Carbon Dioxide Utilisation (pp. 183-209). Elsevier
  • Elder R, Cumming D & Mogensen MB (2015) , Carbon Dioxide Utilisation Closing the Carbon Cycle First Edition (pp. 183-209).
Back to top

Conference proceedings

  • Hoseini M, Greenwood S, Baird H, Webb T, Mattinson P, Fairclough P & Rothman R (2022) Many Happy Returns: Combining Environmental, Technological and Behavioural Sciences to Understand What Is Required to Make Reusable Packaging Sustainable. The AIChE Annual Meeting
  • Dong S, Kremers E, Brucoli M, Brown S & Rothman R (2020) . Energy Reports, Vol. 6(Supplement 5) (pp 117-123). Southampton, U.K., 9 July 2019 - 9 July 2019.
  • Dong S, Kremers E, Brucoli M, Brown SF & Rothman R (2018) . Energy Procedia (pp 199-208). Sheffield, United Kingdom, 11 September 2018 - 11 September 2018.
  • Mehranjani AS, Cumming DJ, Call AV & Elder RH (2015) . ECS Meeting Abstracts, Vol. MA2015-03(1) (pp 324-324)
  • Thompson AR, Call AV, Cumming DJ, Sinclair DC & Elder RH (2015) . ECS Transactions, Vol. 68(1) (pp 3417-3427)
  • Manerova J, Call AV, Sinclair DC & Elder RH (2015) . ECS Transactions, Vol. 68(1) (pp 2083-2092)
  • Cumming DJ, Taylor R, Manerova J, Sinclair DC, Hardacre C & Elder RH (2013) . ECS Transactions, Vol. 58(2) (pp 207-216)
  • Elder RH, He G, Cumming DJ & Allen RWK (2013) Separation of sulphur dioxide and oxygen in thermochemical hydrogen production. Fuels and Petrochemicals Division 2013 Core Programming Area at the 2013 Aiche Annual Meeting Global Challenges for Engineering A Sustainable Future (pp 204)
  • Elder RH (2012) Developing tools for teaching chemical engineering unit operation design. EE 2012 International Conference on Innovation Practice and Research in Engineering Education Conference Proceedings
  • Elder RH (2011) Developing tools for teaching chemical engineering unit operation design. Process Development Division Core Programming Topic at the 2011 Aiche Annual Meeting (pp 147-148)
  • Elder RH & Roeb M (2011) HycycleS: Materials and components for hydrogen production by sulphur based thermochemical cycles - Summary of key results from the European collaborative project. Engineering Sciences and Fundamentals Core Programming Topic at the 2011 Aiche Annual Meeting, Vol. 1 (pp 4)
  • Elder RH, Shaw A, Romero M, Elbakhbakhi N, Priestman GH & Allen RWK (2010) Low Temperature Separations in the Sulphuric Acid Decomposition Stage of the Sulphur Iodine and Hybrid Sulphur Thermochemical Water Splitting Cycles. 18th World Hydrogen Energy Conference 2010 Whec 2010 Proceedings, Vol. 2 (pp 349-354)
  • Elder RH, Atkin I, Priestman GH, Sinclair DC & Allen RWK (2010) Improving Sulphur Dioxide Yield in the Sulphuric Acid Thermal Decomposition Process through the Application of High Temperature Ceramic Membrane Separations. 18th World Hydrogen Energy Conference 2010 Whec 2010 Proceedings, Vol. 2 (pp 259-265)
  • Roeb M, Thomey D, Graf D, de Oliveira L, Sattler C, Poitou S, Pra F, Tochon P, Brevet A, Roux G , Gruet N et al (2010) HycycleS – A Project on Solar and Nuclear Hydrogen Production by Sulphur-based Thermochemical Cycles. 18th World Hydrogen Energy Conference 2010 Whec 2010 Proceedings, Vol. 2 (pp 267-274)
  • Elder RH, Elbakhbakhi NM, Priestman GH & Allen RWK (2008) Application of nafion membranes to the sulphur iodine cycle. Aiche Annual Meeting Conference Proceedings
  • Le Duigou A, Borgard JM, Larousse B, Doizi D, Werkoff F, Allen R, Ewan BC, Priestman GH, Devonshire R, Elder R , Minocha M et al (2007) Recent progress in EC funded project HYTHEC on massive scale hydrogen production via thermochemical cycles. 2007 Aiche Annual Meeting
  • Elder RH, Priestman GH & Allen RWK (2007) Improving the efficiency of the sulphur iodine thermochemical cycle for hydrogen production using membrane separations. Aiche Annual Meeting Conference Proceedings
  • Le Duigou A, Borgard JM, Larousse B, Doizi D, Werkoff F, Allen R, Ewan BC, Priestman GH, Devonshire R, Elder R , Minocha M et al (2006) HYTHEC : Aims and first assessments of an EC funded project on massive scale hydrogen production via thermochemical cycles. 16th World Hydrogen Energy Conference 2006 Whec 2006, Vol. 3 (pp 2031-2041)
  • Elder RH, Ewan BC, Priestman GH & Allen RWK (2005) The separation of HIx in the sulphur iodine thermochemical cycle for sustainable hydrogen production. 7th World Congress of Chemical Engineering Glasgow2005 Incorporating the 5th European Congress of Chemical Engineering (pp 50-51)
  • Elder RH, Borgard JM, Priestman GH, Ewan BC & Allen RWK (2005) Use of membranes and reactive distillation for the separation of HI x in the Sulphur-Iodine cycle. Aiche Annual Meeting Conference Proceedings (pp 7744-7754)
Back to top

Preprints

  • Walker S, Ryan A & Rothman R (2022) , Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
Back to top
Grants

I currently hold two EPSRC Energy Feasibility grants, one looking at plasma and fluidic assisted electrolysis for carbon dioxide utilisation and one investigating solar fuels from sustainable feedstock using earth-abundant catalysts.

Teaching activities
  • CPE321: Design Project
  • CPE2012: Chemical Engineering Design