Plastic takes many years to decompose and continues to pollute the environment. This necessitates the need for biodegradable plastics that can replace the current fossil fuel based plastics. Furthermore, an enormous amount of organic waste is produced every year. This study aims to synthesize cellulose and starch based bioplastic from food waste material. While there are current studies that describe some processes for this synthesis, current bioplastics are unable to match the performance of conventional plastics. Through this project, we examine alternative biodegradable plastics to enhance the mechanical and thermal properties of bioplastics and decrease costs by using waste products as raw materials.

This project focuses on the expansion of the Rainbow Valley Water Reclamation Facilities process capacity from 0.75 MGD to 1.5 MGD. The expansion will take place while keeping the plant operational during construction and will include a liquid and solid processing train to meet A+ reclaimed water and class B biosolid standards, each with operational redundancy. Odor control and improvement on the site's current biosolids storage and treatment process will also be addressed.

Create method for in-house foam part production

Enhanced oil recovery is a method of extracting additional oil from oil fields. This process is accomplished by reinjecting liquid and/or gas back into the oil reservoir to re-establish the lost pressure from pumping out the oil. This project focuses on the reinjection of gas into the oil well using the tertiary reinjection of methane, specifically in an Alaskan oil field. Before being reinjected into the reservoir, the methane must be separated from the oil and water that is entrained in it. This is done by using a series of heat exchangers, separators, and compressors to safely and efficiently separate the different components out for use in their own streams. The safety of this process is of utmost importance since many pieces of equipment are operating at a high pressure and high temperature. To reduce operator injuries and prevent the need for maintenance, misters and control valves will be used to maintain safe operations at all times. Optimal operations for this process will yield an increased separation and recovery of oil and natural gas as well as increase safety and decrease the need for maintenance.

Currently within the perfume manufacturing industry, there is a lack of sustainable energy usage and the process is typically solely powered by the electrical grid. By implementing sustainable energy through use of solar panels to power the manufacturing process, the environmental impact is alleviated which sets a standard for other plants to follow.

Perfume has a long history of being worn for a variety of personal or cultural reasons. The perfume industry is a growing market, especially for products targeted towards day to day wear. The perfume formulated in this manufacturing process was Eau de Parfum with 15% essential oil concentration, most common for everyday wear. The scent of the perfume has notes of orange, cinnamon, and vanilla with the orange and cinnamon essential oils extracted from raw materials through steam distillation.

Hemodialysis functions to remove the build up of salts, water, and toxins from the body when a patient's kidneys are not working adequately. For many patients, receiving hemodialysis treatments means traveling to a hospital or dialysis center several times each week for hours at a time. With an increase in remote healthcare technology, hemodialysis has expanded to the home. Within the hospital or home setting, hemodialysis devices are still a water intensive process that results in all wastewater being disposed of. Dial-Assist supplements commercial portable hemodialysis systems by recycling the effluent wastewater, also known as dialysate, to minimize the need for a tap water connection and increase the independence of the patient. The system is comprised of sorbent canister to remove salts and uremic toxins and utilizes UV sterilization to destroy bacteria. The effluent dialysate is recycled to a purity level that allows it to be reused by the patient once the prescribed amount of salts and other dialysate components are re-added. The entirety of the device fits in a compact container above the portable dialysis system. Dial-Assist will aid in the progression of more independent hemodialysis treatments so that patients dealing with kidney disease may have a higher quality of life.

Design of a recycling stream from rinse chamber with its auxiliary equipment for rinsing of patterned wafers connected to either individual rinse chamber or fab recycled water during semiconductor manufacturing. 

Making Bio aviation fuel using algae as a feedstock

There is a growing need to find creative ways to conserve water in Arizona. The Coloroado River, which supplies the water for Phoenix and Tucson through the Central Arizona Project (CAP) canal, is currently in a Tier 2 draught, causing Arizona's water allotment to be cut by 21%. This project evaluates the economic feasability of using solar covers to reduce evaporation along the CAP canal.

The proposed design consists of solar structures over the CAP canal, with a corresponding model of energy collection and evaporation reduction. The team developed a model that can adequately respond to various input conditions based on seasonal trends. The model was used to determine sections of the canal that a solar structure would have the largest positive impact on the specified objectives. With adaptive and assumption based modeling techniques, the feasibility of solar structures can be determined.

This project explores adding a microbial electrolysis reactor in series with a hydrogen fuel cell to a water treatment facility to generate electricity. A microbial electrolysis reactor (MER) is a device that utilizes an anode and a cathode to produce hydrogen gas from microbial growth within wastewater. The hydrogen gas is then sent to a fuel cell, where it combines with oxygen to produce electricity. The team researched both hydrogen production and hydrogen fuel cells in order to create a system that would generate electricity from only wastewater. The generated electricity could be used for many different applications, including powering different machinery in the water treatment plant or adding the electricity to the grid. The system was optimized so that it was both economically and environmentally friendly.