Aerosol Science & Environmental Health
Particle and gas emissions, metal content and oxidation state, respiratory deposition, first- and secondhand exposure, and toxicological assessment.
Chemical & Process Engineer · Scientist
Science that moves from the laboratory to real systems.
Kapiamba Fabrice, Ph.D. works across sustainable mineral recovery, environmental engineering, aerosol health science, and advanced materials — connecting rigorous measurement with practical engineering decisions.
Current focus
From aerosol science to sustainable process engineering.
Fabrice's work connects rigorous measurement and mechanistic understanding with practical engineering decisions.
His doctoral research investigated the physical, chemical, and toxicological behavior of electronic-cigarette aerosols. Today, his professional direction applies the same systems mindset to process engineering, tailings and critical-material recovery, safety, environmental performance, and resource efficiency.
Research & engineering themes
Research overview Five themes, one engineering lens.
Sustainable Mineral & Critical-Material Processing
Resource recovery, tailings reprocessing, mineral separations, and process improvement for more sustainable critical-material pathways.
Rheology & Multiphase Systems
Concentrated emulsions, shear stability, droplet breakup, interfacial behavior, and their process implications.
Sustainable Materials & Remediation
Waste-derived iron nanomaterials, Fenton-like catalysis, water treatment, and materials-centered environmental solutions.
Catalysis & Carbon Utilization
Heterogeneous catalyst concepts, including inverse oxide/metal systems for CO₂ hydrogenation to methanol.
Featured research
What happens in a single electronic-cigarette puff?
Fabrice and collaborators used high-time-resolution measurements to characterize particle and gas emissions from individual puffs. The work showed large populations of ultrafine particles and linked device operating conditions to emissions and estimated respiratory deposition.
This research helps move the vaping conversation from broad claims toward measurable exposure science.
Chemical Research in Toxicology 38(2), 270–280 · DOI 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.4c00420
Career journey
Chemical engineering → environmental science → industry.
The story of this site is an evolution, not a list of isolated projects: from multiphase flow fundamentals to environmental engineering, aerosol and health science, and now sustainable process and mineral engineering.
Chemical engineering foundation
Cape Peninsula University of Technology; emulsions and rheology research at the Flow Process and Rheology Center, Cape Town (2012–2018).
Environmental engineering & catalysis
M.Sc. at the University of Toledo; teaching and research recognition (2018–2020).
Aerosol & environmental health
Doctoral research at Missouri S&T; first-place conference presentation (2020–2022).
Aerosol toxicology Ph.D.
University of Miami; e-cigarette emissions, metals, deposition and toxicology (2022–2025).
Sustainable process & mineral engineering
Process engineering at Freeport-McMoRan: tailings reprocessing, safety, environmental performance, critical materials (2025–).
Recognition
Scholarship strengthened by teaching, mentorship and service.
- Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society
- NOBCCHE Graduate Rising Star, 2023
- First Place, Mid-America Environmental Engineering Conference, 2021
- Forbes Under 30 Scholar, 2019
- Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, University of Toledo, 2019
Service spotlight — WERC 2026
In 2026, Fabrice served as a judge and sponsor representative at the WERC Environmental Design Contest, engaging undergraduate teams developing bench-scale solutions in water, energy and sustainability.
Latest professional activity
All updates Recent milestones.
Judge & sponsor representative, WERC Environmental Design Contest
Engaged undergraduate teams defending bench-scale solutions to water, energy, carbon and sustainability challenges.
Ph.D. dissertation deposited, University of Miami
Physical, Chemical, and Toxicological Assessment of Electronic Cigarette Smoke — the capstone of his aerosol research.
Toxicity study published in Chemical Research in Toxicology
Firsthand and secondhand e-cigarette aerosol toxicity under different device operating conditions.