Albert Presto
Associate Research Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Bio
Dr. Albert Presto is an Associate Research Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and a member of CMU's Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies (CAPS). Dr. Presto's research focuses on pollutant emissions from energy extraction and consumption and the subsequent atmospheric transformations that these emissions undergo. Energy production and consumption is a major source of pollutants and greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Gas and oil wells emit methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Cars and trucks operating on gasoline and diesel fuels emit carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. Particulate matter from mobile sources is largely the result of incomplete or inefficient combustion in the form of organic aerosol and carbon soot. In addition to the direct emissions of pollutants, dilute exhaust undergoes oxidation in the atmosphere. This oxidation chemistry can lead to the production of secondary pollutants, such as ozone and secondary particulate matter.
Education
- B.S. 2001, Chemical Engineering, Cornell University
- Ph.D. 2005, Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University