After the Arab oil embargo of 1973, Nazim Muradov was inspired to make a difference.
“I asked myself, ‘what can be done about that?’ ” said Muradov, U. Central Florida’s principal research scientist at the Florida Solar Energy Center located in Cocoa.
Muradov, who came to the United States in 1990 after living in Russia most of his life, is now leading NASA’s program devoted to the research and development of locally produced hydrogen from renewable sources.
In May, Muradov was one of 10 scientists to be awarded the honorary title of International Association for Hydrogen Energy Fellow, which was created this year.
“It’s an outstanding award,” said Grant Heston, assistant vice president of UCF News & Information. “UCF is proud of him and all of our exceptional faculty members.”
Heston said UCF encourages all faculty members to do their best to address the issues that our community faces, like the project Muradov is working on with NASA.
“Seven or eight years ago, NASA got interested in new ways to [produce and use] hydrogen locally,” Muradov said. “Right now they are shuttling liquid hydrogen from Louisiana, which is about 600 miles, and is a hazard. We were selected based on [a] proposal to produce hydrogen using landfill gas.”
The project is predicted to collect enough hydrogen fuel for about eight shuttle launches a year.
Muradov originally joined the hydrogen movement, which began in 1974, in 1979 while still living in Russia.
“I have been involved with the hydrogen movement for a long time,” said Muradov, who considers himself a pioneer.
Since moving to the U.S., he has won other accolades, including UCF’s Distinguished Researcher of the Year award for institutes and centers in 1996, and in 2003 he won the UCF Research Incentive award.
Aside from the more than 200 articles he has published and being a part of many organizations, Muradov has been given more than 30 patents for his work.
One of his current projects involves using hydrogen sensors to help clean up the oil spills in the Gulf waters.
He has a patent and is currently working on getting a license for the project. He has also worked with Chevron, which is looking to make its diesel fuel hydrogen-based.
Muradov said that his greatest accomplishment was his article titled “From hydrocarbon to hydrogen-carbon to hydrogen economy.” His inspiration for the article was water, solar energy and how to move to a hydrogen economy.
“I have devoted my life to hydrogen,” Muradov said. “Hydrogen is our future.”