Recommended Poster Sizes:
30” H and 40” W
Rules / Guidelines:
Please submit entries by Saturday, March 9. Presentations will be held Saturday, April 6 in the morning.
Contact us at [email protected] with any questions!
30” H and 40” W
Rules / Guidelines:
- Be punctual. Presenters should arrive at the designated location (TBD) and be prepared to set up their posters at least 15 minutes before the poster competition is designated to starts (the competition starts at 9:00 AM on Saturday, April 6).
- The criteria that your posters will be evaluated with is primarily based on the presentation of the poster and the formatting of the information present within the poster. The aspects of the presentation that will be evaluated are how concise, engaging, and informative the presentation is. The poster will be graded on efficiency of presentation of information, professional formatting, and originality. Try to keep the presentation at ~5 minutes.
- If the presenter is not present at their poster when a judge arrives the criteria for presentation quality will instead be used to further judge the poster, i.e. all factors listed above will be used to judge the poster.
- Poster stands, tables, or tape will be provided at the event as needed. If you have a prefered method of presentation please contact us by email ([email protected]) so we can arrange and help set up what you need.
- Be prepared to present. While not required, it is encouraged that presenters dress in business casual, conduct themselves in a formal manner, and try to have fun with the experience.
- Winners will be announced at the awards banquet. Make sure to show up to claim your reward.
- If you have additional questions please contact the email at [email protected].
Please submit entries by Saturday, March 9. Presentations will be held Saturday, April 6 in the morning.
Contact us at [email protected] with any questions!
Poster Abstracts:
*Best viewed in full screen on a computer*
*Best viewed in full screen on a computer*
Qualitative Phytochemical and Antioxidant Analysis of a Tropical Plant in Search of a Cancer Cure: The goal of the first phase of this research project evaluates the most efficient methods to extract cancer-fighting (antioxidant) properties of a primarily tropical plant, grown in the southwest part of the United States. The second phase of the project will design an engineering technique which will destroy cancerous cells and aid in rapid cell regeneration. During this phase of the project the phytochemical properties of the tropical plant were analyzed utilizing HPTLC (High-performance thin-layer chromatography), DPPH (C18H12N5O6--2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), and ABTS (C18H18N4O6S4--2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) assays. The preliminary results indicate that the tropical plant in question, contains high number of antioxidant properties as well as a high degree of free radical scavenging activity. The results of the trials were then compared to those of a well-established antioxidant compound.
Exploiting Latent Metathesis for In Situ Modification of Polybutadiene Networks: The use of Ru carbene catalysts to alter the structure of unsaturated polymers, such as polybutadiene (PB), for the potential recycling or disposal of these materials has been explored extensively in recent years. Previous work has utilized traditional Ru carbenes, such as Grubbs’ first- or second-generation catalysts or the Hoveyda-Grubbs catalyst. While these catalysts are powerful in their capacity to modify polydienes, they are highly active at room temperature, such that they can only be incorporated at the end of a polymer’s lifespan or must be delivered with a solvent. In this work, we have investigated a unique Schiff base Ru carbene – HeatMet – as a latent catalyst enabling the thermal depolymerization of crosslinked PB networks in situ. Through a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and rheology, we show that HeatMet can be incorporated into PB with minimal evidence of metathesis. Subsequent UV or mild thermal crosslinking yields elastomers with mechanical properties similar to catalyst-free controls. Upon further heating, the latent catalyst initiates depolymerization of the network strands, primarily by ring-closing metathesis. Importantly, appropriate control of catalyst concentration enables conversion of these elastomers to de-gelled, soluble oils. These novel features are expected to open new avenues for polydiene rubbers to perform as smart materials with programmable property modification profiles for a range of applications.
13C-MFA in a Fast Growing Limonene Producing Cyanobacterium: In response to increasing global temperatures and rising levels of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, metabolic engineering efforts to develop sustainable fuel and chemical sources have increased, bringing with them a particular interest for cyanobacterial platforms. These photosynthetic bacteria are particularly promising because they are capable of directly producing high-value chemical products from naturally abundant CO2 and do not require an expensive carbohydrate feedstock for large-scale production.
Terpenoids are a promising class of chemicals for biofuels, due to their high energy density and structural diversity that provide similar properties to current fuels (gasoline, diesel,and jet fuels). The monocyclic terpenoid limonene (C10H16) has properties that make it a promising source for renewable aviation fuel as well as a fuel additive to enhance cold-weather performance. Limonene is currently extracted from the peels of citrus fruit as a byproduct of juice processing, a production method that is energy-intensive and subject to volatile pricing fluctuations from seasonal farming yields. We have engineered the model cyanobacterium, Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002, for the photosynthetic production of limonene from CO2 via the non-mevalonate (MEP) pathway. Our current strain produces over 4 mg limonene per L culture (with a rate of 50 μg L culture-1 hour-1 during exponential growth phase). To address the goal of engineering a commercially competitive strain, it is imperative to further increase limonene titers.
We have identified an antibiotic compound that inhibits the MEP pathway, fosmidomycin. However, when fosmidomycin is introduced in concentrations as high as 1 mM to cyanobacteria, growth inhibition is unaffected [6]. This supports the idea that there exists an alternate terpenoid pathway in Synechococcus that could be utilized for engineering limonene production. We hope to investigate this pathway both to gain a better understanding of cyanobacterial metabolism and for the potential to further alter the pathways in the organism to increase the titer of limonene production from the engineered strain in the future. To investigate the effect of fosmidomycin on the growth of Synechococcus, we will perform 13C-MFA on a WT strain and a strain grown in the presence of fosmidomycin to help identify differential regulation when compared to heterotrophic bacteria.
2019 Chem-E-Car: Oxygen Reduction Batteries and Electrochromic Stopping Device: American Institute for Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Chem-E-Car challenges students to develop a shoe-box sized car that will travel a distance of 15-30 meters, while carrying a load of 0-500 mL of water within a time frame of 2 minutes. The developed car needs to start and stop using only chemical means. The University of New Mexico (UNM) has developed a car to accomplish the given prompt. UNM’s North American Racing Design System (N.A.R.D.S.) has a LEGO chassis, which is lightweight and allows for modular design. The propulsion system is comprised of zinc-air batteries arranged in series and parallel to achieve a working voltage of 2–6 Volts. The stopping mechanism is based on a Prussian Blue thin film deposited on a fluorine doped tin-oxide (FTO) glass slide, which will change color based on applied voltage vs. time. This change in color is detected by a photoresistor which interacts with an Arduino Uno microcontroller. The microcontroller cuts power to the motor stopping the car at the specified distance.
Optical Nanosensors for Quantitative Monitoring of 3D Oxygen Gradients in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms: Bacterial biofilms can form persistent infections on wounds, on implanted medical devices, and are associated with many chronic diseases, such as cystic fibrosis. These infections are medically difficult to treat due to slow antibiotic penetration through the biofilm matrix making biofilms more resistant to antibiotic attack compared to their planktonic counterparts. Being able to monitor target analytes within the structure of the biofilm is critical for understanding biofilm disease biology and its response to treatment. Oxygen consumption can be used as a measure of metabolic activity in facultative aerobes, but current methods such as microelectrodes limit monitoring to one dimension and cannot adequately capture dynamics. However, biofilms are complex three dimensional structures that require higher resolution approaches to gain a more complete understanding of activity. Traditional measurements require physically moving the microelectrode, which is inherently disruptive to biofilm structure and obscures rapid dynamics within the system, which can potentially alter results. Nanosensors are a new technology which can overcome the limitations of current measuring methods by enabling continuous monitoring of analyte concentrations in growing biofilms. Here, we demonstrate optical oxygen-sensitive nanosensors that were used to measure 3D oxygen gradients in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms with minimal disruption to the biofilm structure. We created and characterized optical nanosensors for detection of molecular oxygen which can be incorporated into the biofilm structure during growth. Using this approach, we improved on traditional electrode-based 1D methods of measuring oxygen profiles by investigating both the spatial and temporal variation in oxygen concentration during biofilm growth and under antibiotic attack. The use of our optical nanosensors provided a temporal resolution of 5 minutes over 2 hours, during which we were able to observe spatial gradation in oxygen concentration during interrogation with different antibiotics and found that oxygen was present at greater depths compared to untreated controls, consistent with cell death or a transition to anaerobic respiration. These observations allowed for an in vitro differentiation between the wild-type PAO1 strain and several clinical samples cultured from cystic fibrosis sputum. This new approach to biological interrogation provides higher resolution data, with improved temporal resolution, while minimizing the impact of the measurement on the biofilm itself. Increased resolution allows for better observation of in vitro biofilms to determine kinetics and presents a new way to screen antibiotic efficacy against clinical isolates that is faster than traditional methods.
Synthesis and Characterization of Chemotherapeutic Prodrugs for Enhanced Delivery using Lipid-Based Vehicles: The challenge with current chemotherapeutic treatment methods is maximizing the amount of drug that reaches the targeted area without harming healthy tissue during the delivery. This results in higher doses required that can increase the number of possible side effects. Through conjugation of a clinically used chemotherapeutic drug to a phospholipid (lipid prodrug), the loading efficiency of the drugs can be increased within lipid-based vehicles. In this study, two different chemotherapeutic drugs (cytarabine and topotecan) were used. A phospholipid was successfully conjugated to both drugs either through an amino attachment (cytarabine) or a hydroxyl attachment (cytarabine, topotecan). Reaction progression was checked using thin layer chromatography (TLC) and the lipid prodrugs were purified through chromatographic separation using 3:1 CH2Cl2: MeOH (2T-C, NH2), 1:1 CH2Cl2: MeOH (2T-C, OH), and 4:1 CHCl3:MeOH (2T-T). Structures of the lipid prodrugs were verified through 1H and 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometry (NMR) and yield was found to be 23% for 2T-C (amino), 7% for 2T-C (OH), and 19% for 2T-T. To determine biological activity, the lipid prodrugs were loaded into liposomes and an MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) cell proliferation assay was performed. The activities were compared to the MTT results for cytarabine and topotecan respectively. Finally, the lipid prodrugs were loaded into liposomes and the maximum loading capacity within liposomes was determined. Future work includes finalizing characterization studies and mass spectrometry to verify structures.
Remediation of Soil and Water at Legacy Uranium Mining Sites: Legacy uranium mines in northwestern New Mexico pose potential environmental and health hazards. Leaching from spent ore piles and mine tailings, and small particles moved by the wind, have concentrated uranium and uranium decay products (especially radium) in the soil and water near the mine. While uranium and radium are found naturally in the environment, exposure to these elements can lead to severe health conditions. According the U.S. EPA, the most likely source for human expose to uranium and radium is through drinking water. One effective approach for preventing exposure is a combined remediation of the water and soil, thus groundwater flowing onto the treated soil does not introduce additional contamination, and vice versa. In this project, algae will be used to extract uranium and radium from contaminated groundwater; plants will be used to extract the elements from the soils. Biomass from the algae and terrestrial plants will be evaluated for their potential to produce biofuels.
The primary goal of this study is to develop methods to quantify concentrations of uranium and radium absorbed through each of the remediation strategies. Soil and biomass samples will be prepared using ashing, acid digestion, and ion exchange columns to remove other elements that interfere with detection of uranium and radium. The concentration of uranium and radium in the samples will then be measured by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry with both optical emission (ICP-OES) and high resolution mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) detection. Once the method for quantification is set up, a greenhouse study will be conducted growing native and oil-seed species in the contaminated soil. The fate and partitioning of the uranium and radium absorbed in the plant biomass will be further analyzed. Preliminary soil analysis results found the electrical conductivity of the soil and water to be 0.5 dS/m and 2.3 dS/m, respectively. Current efforts are focused on optimizing sample preparation and handling to lower the limits of detection.
Dynamics of Graphene Sheets at a Water-Vapor Interface: A Molecular Dynamics Study: Understanding the dynamics of particles at fluid-fluid interfaces has attracted considerable research interest over the past several decades as fluid interfaces create an environment where monolayer thin films can be assembled through a ‘bottom-up’ approach. For example, fluid-fluid interfaces have been used to manufacture highly transparent and electrically conductive thin films of graphene flakes as it has been shown that graphene flakes are thermodynamically favorable at the interface between two immiscible fluids. However, the dynamics of film formation and the interactions between graphene flakes are currently not understood. Furthermore, it has proven difficult to isolate and experimentally probe the dynamics of pristine monolayer graphene flakes at fluid-fluid interfaces. This study aims to address this gap by using computational simulations, which have been shown to reliably estimate real-world experimental scenarios. Molecular dynamics simulations were employed to investigate the lateral interactions and stacking dynamics of mono- and few-layer graphene flakes at a vapor-water interface. Applied biasing force (ABF) simulations were used to render potential of mean force profiles and identify different stacking pathways. Additionally, distance versus time profiles were generated for two interacting monolayer flakes and the results were fit according to a power law relation to understand how the interaction pair potential scaled with center-to-center separation distance. Ultimately, this study offers a new perspective into the investigation of interactions between interfacially-bound particles.
Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Wastewater Algae: Wastewater algae can be used to produce bio-crude oils through hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL). Co-solvents, glycerol in particular, may have the ability to improve the yields and quality of the bio-crude oils from HTL of wastewater algae. Glycerol is a byproduct of biodiesel production that could potentially find a higher-value and fuel-related application as a co-solvent. In this study, wastewater algae was acquired the 700 L pilot photobioreactors at the Jacob A. Hands Wastewater Treatment Plant in Las Cruces, NM. HTL was performed in a 1.8 L batch reactor using reagent-grade glycerol and crude glycerol from a local biodiesel company. HTL uses subcritical water (270°C-350°C and 8-18 MPa) as both a solvent and reaction medium to convert complex organic matter into energy-rich bio-crude oil. Product yields and other characteristics can help to understand the effects of impurities in the crude glycerol relative to reagent-grade glycerol. Crude glycerol would represent a value-added use for another biofuel process, allowing biofuels to be produced from a lipid-rich algae (as biodiesel) and a lipid-poor, protein-rich algae from wastewater treatment. Results from bio-crude oil characterization, such as bomb calorimetry, CHNS elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and high-resolution mass spectroscopy (MS), will help to understand the reactions that happen in co-solvent HTL compared to HTL with just water. This will allow for the optimization of the yield and potential for upgrading for bio-crude oils from wastewater algae.
Alternative Dye Systems in Detection of Target Analytes: Traditional nanosensors have the ability to evaluate one or two analytes, depending on the mechanism. Sensors can detect a wide range of analytes, including pH and concentrations of metals, gases, enzymes, and other molecules of interest. However, there is a need for sensors that are able to detect multiple analytes simultaneously, widening the range of potential uses. This is being completed through research into alternative dye systems, differing from those used in traditional sensing systems. Traditionally, a chromionophore-ionophore system has been used to detect desired analytes; alternative dye systems have the potential to include upconverting nanoparticles, lanthanide chelates, and various other components that allow for more complete detection. These alternative systems have the potential to allow for the same or better selectivity, sensitivity, and reproducibility as traditional systems with the improved ability to detect multiple analytes within one system. Long term, alternative dye systems have the potential to create significant change in the field of diagnostics and patient care.
Residents in an unincorporated part of Luna County, NM complain that they experience flu-like symptoms after the weather gets very hot and a strong fecal smell lingers throughout the day around several commercial septic tanks and an open waste water treatment facility in the area. The focus of this four year project is to identify the best approach to ascertain the prevalence and effects of air pollutants like bacteria, mold, gut microbiota, and/or volatile fecal matter in and around septic tanks in rural counties of southern New Mexico. This portion of the research project, focuses on assessing the feasibility of utilizing flow cytometry and other engineering technology to remediate harmful air toxicity. to identify the prevalence and effects of gut microbiota and volatile fecal matter in and around septic tanks in rural counties of southern New Mexico.
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The endocytotic fate of a mesoporous silica nanoparticle supported lipid bilayer CRISPR delivery vehicle: CRISPR gene editing technology is strategically foreseen to control diseases by correcting underlying aberrant genetic sequences. In order to overcome drawbacks associated with AAV-CRISPR, the establishment of an effective non-viral CRISPR delivery vehicle has become a primary goal for nanomaterial scientists. Herein, we introduce the first monosized lipid-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticle (LC-MSN) delivery vehicle that enables loading of CRISPR components (11% wt RNP) with efficient release within cancer cells (~70%). With a low toxicity and a clathrin-mediated endocytotic internalization pathway, the gene editing efficiency in a reporter cell line was up to 10% using ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex (Cas9/gRNA) and a CRISPR plasmid. The structural and chemical versatility of the silica core and the lipid coat along with their biocompatibility make LC-MSN a promising vector towards safe CRISPR components delivery and enhanced gene editing.
MFiX Simulation Validation: Developing fast and accurate simulations can help alleviate costs associated with important studies on industrial fluid-particulate systems like catalytic cracking of crude oil, gasification of biomass, or ash deposition in a coal-fired boiler. Applying numerical method strategies to model complex multiphase fluid flow with computational fluid dynamic software like MFiX, is crucial in facing current engineering design and industrial scale-up challenges. A fluidized bed was simulated using MFiX, and the results were validated against experimental data from NETL’s Small Scale Challenge Problem I. The pressure equation required the most rigorous solving, resulting in a bottleneck in the simulation and calculation of the pressure gradients across the bed. Results showed that reducing solver tolerances and discretizing the pressure equation helped increase the accuracy of MFiX for fluidized bed cases. Model validation efforts are an important step in developing robust solvers that can handle the need for problem solving simulations in industry.
Bioproduction/Optimization of Magnetic Nanoparticles from the Bacterium Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1: The magnetotactic bacterium Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 naturally produces magnetic nanoparticles through the uptake of iron and subsequent synthesis of magnetite (Fe3O4) in microaerobic conditions. Desirable properties of these nanoparticles include biocompatibility and a magnetic dipole at room temperature, ideal for biomedical treatments such as hyperthermia cancer treatments, immunoassays, drug delivery, and improved magnetic resonance imaging. Other metals can be added to growth media for incorporation into magnetic nanoparticles, forming crystals that are not pure magnetite. This process, called doping, can alter nanoparticle size and magnetic properties.
In this work, carbon and iron sources in growth media were optimized for bacterial growth and magnetic nanoparticle formation, and magnetite nanoparticles were doped with rare earth metals. We hypothesized that rare earth metals with smaller atomic radii would incorporate into magnetite more than those with larger atomic radii, as the smaller metals have a radius closer to that of iron. Using various methods, such as energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Curie Point determination, we verified the presence of dopants, measured their size, and measured their magnetic properties. We concluded that our hypothesis was wrong, as no dopant incorporated into the magnetite with any of the metals.
Rational Design of Genetically Engineered Gold and Cell-Binding Polypeptides for Fabricating Thermally Responsive Cell Culture Substrates: Current technologies for chronic wound healing are aimed at dressings which consist of various hydrogels and collagen. Modern tissue engineering methods aim to expand the understanding of cell sheets and cell hydrogels which could form a ‘cellular scaffold’ to improve recovery time. However, these methods often rely on proteolytic enzymes such as trypsin, which damages the extracellular matrix (ECM), cell-cell junctions, and surface cell receptors. For this study, elastin-like-polypeptides (ELPs) were designed with a thermally responsive motif, allowing us to control and target cell binding and detachment in culture without damaging the ECM. The proteins were deposited onto gold surfaces via specific cell-binding cysteine domains. The location of the cell binding motifs within the ELP proved to be an important factor for detachment of the cells. Decreasing temperature below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) causes the ELPs to adopt a random coil formation, which leads to retraction of the cell binding motifs, thus detaching the adherent cells. Additionally, the behavior of the ELPs acting as polymers on the surface can be modeled in MATLAB according to Flory-Huggins solution theory. This study indicates that varying cell lines (HUVECs, BAECs) can be consistently recovered from the surfaces as cell sheets for tissue engineering purposes.
Ammonia Synthesis: Using Yittria Stablized Zirconia (YSZ) as a Support for Membrane Synthesis: Ammonia (NH3) is critical to today’s society because it serves as the raw material for fertilizer production. Conventionally, NH3 is produced through the well-known Haber-Bosch process at temperatures and pressures such as 400-500°C and 100-150 bar. Such critical reaction conditions and massive scale production (145 mt of NH3 in 2014 globally) together make NH3 synthesis one of the most energy extensive processes in the world, consuming 1-2% of the total energy expense. YSZ is a more active Ru catalyst support than traditionally used supports such as Al2O3. Cs as a promoter increases the reaction rate up to an order of magnitude higher by reducing the apparent activation energy from 123 kJ/mol to 75 kJ/mol. This rate enhancement is insensitive to the amount of promoter addition, with Cs outperforming Ba and K by up to 2 times. At low temperatures (< 350°C) the rate becomes inhibited by H2 absorption, but the use of lower H2:N2 ratios enables the rate to remain comparable to what is observed in stoichiometric mixtures at temperatures > 400°C. Relative to a typical ratio of H2:N2 = 3, operating at an optimized H2:N2 ratio enables a positive pressure dependence of the reaction rate, especially at temperatures < 350°C. The superior performance of the YSZ supported Ru catalyst suggests that it is promising for innovative NH3 synthesis processes operating at reduced temperatures and pressures.
Lipid Nanoemulsion Nanosensors: Ion Detection in Biological Systems: We have developed and tested wax-based (lipid nanoemulsion) nanosensors that detect calcium in biological systems. Previous nanosensors did not have the necessary specificity for calcium or control over sensor size. In application, these sensors could be used to measure blood analyte levels continuously within the body, eliminating the need to draw blood. We synthesized these nanosensors with sensor components from ion selective electrodes and are based on extracting target ions into the organic phase of the nanosensor, which changes the fluorescence of a reporting group inside the sensor. The sensor component ratios were varied to determine the effects of each component on both the size of the sensor (demonstrating relative size control) and response (varying the fluorescence intensity and response midpoint). Importantly, these sensors are selective to calcium and not other ions. Other experiments included determining nanosensor reversibility and measuring the nanosensors’ functional lifetime, in which we found the sensors to be highly reversible with a lifetime of approximately two weeks. In addition, oxygen specific LNEs were synthesized with the same methods and deemed functional. Overall, LNEs show promise as a biologically compatible method for ion and small molecule detection.
Co-Solvent Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Wastewater Algae: As fossil fuel supplies dwindle, creating a new, renewable fuel source to meet our growing energy needs is critical. Wastewater algae is an attractive option owing to its potential abundance, synergy with waste management, and suitability for conversion into fuels. Through the thermochemical process of hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), heating in pressurized liquids, algal biomass can be converted into liquid bio-crude oil and solid char for liquid fuels and nutrient recovery, respectively.
The aim of this research is to assess the effects of different alcohol co-solvents on the yields and quality of products from the HTL process. The alcohols tested included ethanol, isopropanol, and glycerol. Results from HTL runs at 310°C for 30 min of wastewater-grown algae showed that glycerol produces the highest yield of desired products when used as a co-solvent. Current work is focused on glycerol-water HTL reaction optimization through modification of co-solvent ratio, reaction temperature, and residence time. HTL products are also being analyzed to determine their composition and relative quality as a fuel intermediate.
Oxygen Ion Conducting Supports for Nickel Catalyzed Aqueous Phase Reforming of Ethanol: A growing interest in cleaner energy and a shift from a fossil fuels based system to a hydrogen based one has increased significantly. The aqueous reforming of ethanol is a useful method of converting a water/ethanol mixture into hydrogen due to the ability to feed the fermentation broth without distilling the ethanol along with producing low amounts of carbon monoxide. In this research a series of different catalyst supports utilizing a nickel catalyst in the aqueous reforming of ethanol were investigated.
Past studies have shown that alumina shows issues with carbon formation, while ceria, having a higher oxygen mobility, showed less carbon formation and higher activity. Doped ceria is known to exhibit even higher oxygen ion mobility than ceria. Gadolinium doped ceria (GDC) as well as yttrium-stabilized-zirconia (YSZ), another known oxygen ion conductor, were compared to an alumina standard. It is hypothesized that with higher oxygen conductivity there will be greater overall activity thus greater performance while decreasing carbon formation over time.
Analysis methods include using gas chromatography as well as using temperature programmed oxidation, and thermal gravimetric analysis. This analysis has revealed that materials with higher oxygen ion conductivity can in fact outperform ones with low conductivity. Greater conversions in the GDC and YSZ as well as no deactivation at increased running times were observed. Further work is needed to better determine the traits leading to the greater conversions.
Microbubbles: Innovation of a microbubble pressure sensor system has the potential to greatly impact the medical field, specifically in measuring increased intraocular pressure, the only modifiable risk factor for glaucoma. The biocompatible microbubbles contain a perfluorobutane gas core surrounded by a lipid layer, synthesized with Laurdan via sonication. Under applied pressure, the microbubbles decrease in size, changing the fluorescent response of the Laurdan as measured by fluorescence spectroscopy. The microbubbles were analyzed with and without pressure, yielding a consistent cyclic fluorescent response.
Drop Based Microfluidics: Emulsions as Oxygen Sensors: Drop-based microfluidics uses different techniques to create ultra-small volume, monodispersed drops at high rates, which is advantageous for performing high-throughput screening and biological assays. In recent years, there has been significant development in the field of microfluidics, which yields high potential for a wide variety of chemical and biomedical applications.
The objective of this project is to successfully produce biologically compatible, double emulsions to serve as oxygen sensors such that, when analyzed through magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM), local oxygen concentration can be measured. These micro-particles will be used as packed bed media, on which biofilms can grow. This will allow researchers to monitor oxygen diffusion through biofilm systems as they mature.
Using this analysis is novel because oxygen is relatively hard to detect, especially in environments that are not easily accessible. The ability to do this on a micro-scale, using biocompatible materials and noninvasive techniques is unprecedented.
Single Atom Trapping on Ceria: Ceria has been known to be a beneficial oxide support for multiple catalytic reactions. The reason for this is ceria’s ability to change oxidation states, which may provide alternate pathways in catalytic reactions. The problem with ceria is it loses surface area (sinters) and catalytic activity when it is exposed to higher temperatures (>500C) unless a metallic species is atomically dispersed. Ceria has also been shown to trap single atoms of platinum up to 3 wt.% and maintain atomic dispersion at high temperatures (>700C). In the present work, the trapping ability of ceria was investigated with metallic species other than platinum. If the species stays atomically dispersed, the sintering of ceria can be hindered and the surface area preserved. Data indicates that ceria can, in fact, interact strongly with surface dopant atoms other than platinum. This suggests that ceria can trap single atoms and/or very small clusters (<2 nm) of many different transition metal elements; this is an important outcome as single atom catalysis is largely an emerging field of catalysis and remains relatively unexplored.
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