Selma Iraqi Houssaini
Eißendorfer Str. 38
Building O, Room 3.019
21073 Hamburg
Phone +49 40 42878 - 4267
Biography
Selma Iraqi Houssaini studied at Ruhr-Universität Bochum in the bachelor's programme Environmental Engineering and Resource Management. From 2020 on she attended the master’s programme Energy and Environmental Engineering at Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) and graduated in 2023.
After graduating, she started working at the Institute of Multiphase Flows as a research assistant, where she is responsible for the Institute's contribution to the project "Establishing Jet Loop Reactors as Scalable Bioelectrochemical Reactor Systems for Anodic and Cathodic Production Processes" within the second funding period of the DFG-Schwerpunktprogramm (SPP) 2240 eBiotech.
Selma Iraqi Houssaini is currently assigned to the working group Industrial Research Projects due to the available expertise concerning jet loop reactors, but closely cooperates with the research groups Multiphase Flows in Bioreactors and Reactive Bubbly Flows at IMS and with her project-colleagues from the Institut für technische Mikrobiologie.
Research
Selma Iraqi Houssaini is responsible for the research contribution of the IMS to the project "Establishing Jet Loop Reactors as Scalable Bioelectrochemical Reactor Systems for Anodic and Cathodic Production Processes", headed by Prof. Dr. Gescher of Institut für technische Mikrobiologie and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Schlüter. The project is part of the second funding period of the DFG-funded priority programme "Bioelectrochemical and Engineering Fundamentals to Establish Electro-biotechnology for Biosynthesis - Power to Value-added Products (eBiotech)", SPP 2240.
Microbial electrolysis cells (MEC) oxic microbial electrosynthesis (OMES) are promising technologies for sustainable hydrogen production but still face challenges in mass transfer and scalability. To address this, the project presents a new reactor concept that combines efficient mixing and nutrient supply with a laminar environment for biofilm growth. The double jet-loop reactor integrates bioelectrochemical modules with 3D-printed lattice electrodes, enabling precise flow control, high surface area, and improved substrate accessibility. A key focus is the interaction between biofilm development and fluid dynamics: by shaping flow conditions, we aim to deliberately influence biofilm density and thickness to improve both mass and electron transfer. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides detailed insights into flow processes while optical coherence tomography enables biofilm growth monitoring, supporting targeted data driven upscaling.
Oral and Poster Presentations
Poster Presentations
Iraqi Houssaini, S.; Bauer, D.; Lenczyk, T.; Acikgöz, S.; Kexel, F.; Wurst, R.; Kneuer, L.; Gescher, J.; Penn, A.; Schlüter, M.: "Establishing Jet Loop Reactors as Scalable Bioelectrochemical Reactor Systems for Anodic and Cathodic Production Processes", Jahrestreffen der DECHEMA/VDI-Fachgruppen Mischvorgänge, Hochdruckverfahrenstechnik und Mehrphasenströmungen, Hamburg, Germany, 2025, poster presentation
Iraqi Houssaini, S.; Bauer, D.; Lenczyk, T.; Merbach, T.; Hoffmann, M.; Gescher, J.; Penn, A.; Schlüter, M.: "Establishing Jet Loop Reactors as Scalable Bioelectrochemical Reactor Systems for Anodic and Cathodic Production Processes", International Conference on Multiphase Flow, Toulouse, France, 2025, poster presentation
Publications
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TU Hamburg
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