Dr. Marco Castaldi received a Fulbright fellowship for research at Ecole des Mines (Paris, France) and University of Bolzano (Bolzano, Italy). This research is focused on a collaboration with City College of New York, Ecole des Mines/CNRS and University of Bolzano to valorize waste residuals to valuable products. The research effort is the fundamental investigation, understanding and deliberate modification of waste residual materials for energy and environmental applications. The specific research is focused on the utilization of purposefully modified waste residuals (i.e. char and ash) as catalysts and separation media. These materials have been demonstrated to be useful catalysts for emissions reduction and chemical synthesis and effective separation media for water purification.