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If not you, then who? If not now, when? - The Role of Faculty in Redesigning Engineering Education
Online Presentations | 12 Apr 2024 | Contributor(s):: Stephanie G. Adams
Though a century has passed since the release of Mann’s report, some might argue that little has changed in how engineers are taught both from a content and a pedagogical perspective; that there is still too much of a reliance on teaching fundamental science in the first two years of...
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Reducing Toxicity, Sequestration, and Degradation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAs)
Online Presentations | 01 Sep 2023 | Contributor(s):: Gokhan Mutcali, Daniel Rivera, NEWT Center
Per- and Polyflyoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large, complex group of synthetic chemicals that are commonly used everyday. Consumers are exposed to these by consuming contaminated water or food, using products made with PFAS or breathing contaminated air. This project focuses on the...
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UV-C Inhibition of Biofilm in Space Habitation Water Systems
Online Presentations | 01 Sep 2023 | Contributor(s):: Milton Johnson, Ken Niimi, NEWT Center, Rice University
Bacterial biofilms occur everywhere water sources as present, including the international Space Station (ISS). These can lead to water contamination and potential health effects for astronauts. This study utilized an inexpensive and chemical free approach to sanitazing space habitats by...
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Transfer of CO2 Into Organics by Au-Biofilm
Online Presentations | 01 Sep 2023 | Contributor(s):: Ashley Fauss, Min Long, NEWT Center, Rice University
There is currently an increase in urbanization and deforestation causing an abrupt increase of CO2 in the atmosphere. This project focuses on reducing carbon emissions in an effort to mitigate the effects of climate change by utilizing a membrane biofilm reactor which diffuses the CO2 across...
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Sustainable and Energy Efficient Removal of PFAS-Saturated Granular Activated Carbon
Online Presentations | 31 Aug 2023 | Contributor(s):: Melody Jenkins, Sara Denison, Rice University, NEWT Center
Currently water treatment plants remove toxic PFAs using granular activated carbon (GAC) but have no sustainable process for disposing PFAS. Our approach focuses on the successful removal and destruction of PFAs in GAC preventing contaminants from entering back into the environment & uses...
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How to Remove Metals from Water with Polymers
Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s):: Gerardo Lopez, Arizona State University, NEWT Center
Heavy metals in our water sources have been an ongoing contamination issue that has been growing, especially since the industrialization era. Methods such as adsorption have been previously developed to try to remove these metals from the water in the most cost-effective and as efficiently...
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Mr. Waters Takes a Bath at the NEWT Water Treatment Facility
Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s):: Melissa Mason, Rice University, NEWT Center
Antimicrobial drinking water has improved over the years with less deaths from water contamination. Scientists and engineers have developed methods to produce larger volumes of water. However, to produce volumes of purified drinking water to accommodate billions of people is an everyday...
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Keep Our Dirty Clean
Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s):: Leonel Resendiz, Rice University, NEWT Center
Pyrolytic treated of contaminated clay (bentonite) impregnated with iron and copper have shown promise as a viable route to the treatment of crude-oil contaminated soils including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs are a class of chemicals that occur naturally in coal, crude oil,...
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Adaptations to Convection Cells
Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s):: Chris Winkler, Rice University, NEWT Center
Changing temperature differences between the poles and the equator, and the rate of the Earth’s spin, create unique atmospheric patterns. These movements help to transfer heat from the equator to the poles thus creating weather. Deep Learning is used to help predict the changes due to...
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Making a Self-Cleaning Anti-Scale Coating for Water Treatment Systems
Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s):: Mariana Quinn, Rice University, NEWT Center
How are Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) used in water treatment? This research focuses on harnessing the electrical properties of Carbon Nanotubes in order to create a coat that prevents scale and biofilm buildup in water treatment systems.
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Detecting Cancerous Pollutants
Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s):: Julia Dolive, Rice University, NEWT Center
Developments in machine learning software and nanoparticles-assisted Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) techniques have remarkable potential in improving the detection accuracy and sensitivity of pollutants molecules. A cancerogenic class of environmental and biological pollutants of...
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Designing a System that will Prevent Membrane Fouling in the Event of a Power Outage
Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s):: Enrique Gomez, University of Texas - El Paso, NEWT Center
This project focuses on finding a solution to prevent membrane fouling in the CERRO units located at the lower valley plants in the event of a power outage. Power outages are common in the 79907 area of El Paso, Texas especially during the summer season. In the event of a power...
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Cleaning Household Greywater for Reuse as Toilet Water
Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s):: Elliot Hall, Arizona State University, NEWT Center
Freshwater is becoming scarce while we use it as a limitless resource. Roughly 30% of our daily water usage is from toilets. Our project, funded by Gate Foundation is to recycle household greywater, clean it, and reuse it in toilets. In this work, the physical foam fractionation is...
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The Importance of Fish Poop
Animations | 21 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s):: Julie Cooper, Rice University, NEWT Center
Stony corals engage in symbiotic relationships with photosynthetic dinoflagellates (Family Symbiodiniaceae). As corals become more susceptible to bleaching events the rate at which they reacquire Symbiodiniaceae into their framework is key to their survival. Symbiodiniaceae can be dispersed...
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TiO2 Everywhere!
Animations | 20 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s):: Tabatha Schacht, University of Texas - El Paso, NEWT Center
How much Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) is present in the water we drink? This research focuses on terephthalic acid (TPA) and UV light in order to detect the levels of TiO2 present in drinking water and thus ensuring the levels are within the safe parameters of consumption.
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A Boron Solution
Animations | 20 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s):: Carl Boyd, Rice University, NEWT Center, Mariana Quinn
What is a hexagonal Boron Nitride hBNs coating? This project focuses on developing a method for layering hBN coats on materials for their ability to prevent corrosion and abrasion.
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Removal of PFOAS & Nitrate From Waste Water
Animations | 20 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s):: Sheena Carbaugh, Arizona State University, NEWT Center
How do per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs or PFOAs) and nitrates affect the food we consume? This study focuses on how naturally occurring PFAs/PFOAs and nitrates, which are harmful when consumed in large quantities, can be removed via biodegradation.
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Using UV-C LEDs for Water Disinfection
Animations | 20 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s):: Scott Currier, Arizona State University, NEWT Center
Biofilms can develop over treated water causing harm to humans. This project focuses on utilizing UV-C LEDs for disinfection of stored water.
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Desalination and Brackish Water
Animations | 20 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s):: Christina Pasillas, University of Texas- El Paso, NEWT Center
What is Electrocoagulation? This study focuses on utilizing Electrocoagulation in the removal of colloidal silica particles and thus improving the Reverse Osmosis (RO) recovery rate in brackish water.
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Why Lithium is Important?
Animations | 20 Aug 2022 | Contributor(s):: Mallam Phillips, Rice University, NEWT Center
How is lithium obtained from the environment? Lithium is a highly reactive metal with unique properties including a high degree of heat and electric conductivity. This research focuses on using Electrodialysis to obtain lithium from brine reservoirs.