Professor Xiao Su and researchers at the University of Illinois have developed an electrochemical/electrocatalytic system capable of separating PFAS from solution and...
Professor Xiao Su and researchers at the University of Illinois have developed an electrochemical/electrocatalytic system capable of separating PFAS from solution and degrading it in-situ. This electrochemical system is comprised of a redox-polymer working electrode, that that is responsible for electrochemically separating the PFAS (charged or uncharged) from solution, and a counter electrode that is responsible for electrochemically degrading the PFAS. When incorporated into an electrochemical device the redox copolymers presents an exceptionally high adsorption capacity for PFAS (>1500 mg PFOA/g adsorbent) and separation factors (500 vs. chloride), and demonstrates exceptional removal efficiencies in diverse per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and halogenated aromatic compounds. This technique represents the state of the art in PFAS remediation, and is more versatile than activated carbon, less expensive than ion exchange systems, and capable of handling large loads than high pressure membranes.
Rare-earth metals are increasingly incorporated into our technology. These natural resources are limited, and there are currently few recycling efforts for these raw...
Rare-earth metals are increasingly incorporated into our technology. These natural resources are limited, and there are currently few recycling efforts for these raw materials. Furthermore, the release of rare-earth metals into streams and rivers is a major concern for the environment with unpredictable impact on wildlife. Using electrochemistry, the Su Lab has developed a material that can selectively capture these rare-earth metals from streams and rivers in a green and sustainable manner, thus providing a way to for recycling and water-remediation.
Dr. Kyle Smith and his research group have developed a battery-based alkaline electrochemical cycle that can capture CO2 under concentrated and atmospheric conditions and...
Dr. Kyle Smith and his research group have developed a battery-based alkaline electrochemical cycle that can capture CO2 under concentrated and atmospheric conditions and mineralizing it. This invention has a CO2 capturing efficiency of rates up to 1000 times greater than other similar electrochemical cycling methods. Indeed, a prior test found that using the new approach developed by Dr. Smith, up to 2 mol- CO2 /L were absorbed, while under the traditional approach only 2 μmol- CO2 /L were absorbed. This invention can be applied toward the capture and storage of CO2 from flue gas and also applied towards the capture of CO2 under atmospheric conditions.
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is a widely used polymer in consumer goods like plastic bottles and is highly accepted for recycling due to its lightweight, durability,...
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is a widely used polymer in consumer goods like plastic bottles and is highly accepted for recycling due to its lightweight, durability, and low oxygen permeability, which helps keep foods fresh. PET can be recycled mechanically or depolymerized into its chemical components, but only 9% of the 35.7 million tons of plastic waste generated in 2018 was recycled. Recycled plastics often suffer from lower quality due to contamination and physical damage, and they can be more expensive than virgin plastics, as seen with Coca-Cola's reduction in recycled plastic usage. Upcycling plastics with engineered microorganisms offers potential cost and environmental benefits, though it has not yet been proven viable on an industrial scale.
University inventors have developed genetically-engineered Pseudomonas putida strains that synergistically degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic into building blocks that can be used to create new materials. The use of multiple strains of bacteria instead of a single one allows for the use of a greater number of degradation pathways. This alleviates the metabolic pressure on the strains and reduces the effects of toxic starting materials and degradation products, increasing efficiency.
Chemical agents such as sarin gas are extremely potent, with exposed victims succumbing to repiratory paralysis within minutes of inhaling a lethal dose. Although sarin...
Chemical agents such as sarin gas are extremely potent, with exposed victims succumbing to repiratory paralysis within minutes of inhaling a lethal dose. Although sarin gas was outlawed by the Chemical Weapons Convention and is classified as a Schedule 1 substance, its use by the Syrian government in 2011 and subsequent uses of chemical weapons by Russia in Ukraine have increased the awareness and risk of exposure for military personnel and security contractors. Extremely sensitive detection of chemical agents is imperitive for providing personnel with the information necessary to avoid dangerous levels of exposure while confirming the presence or use of these agents.
Existing techniques for detecting nerve agents such as sarin are slow and have difficulty detecting levels below one part per billion, or ppb. This inability to identify trace levels makes it difficult to control or confirm exposure to this dangerous substance. Professor Paul Braun has developed a postage-stamp-sized device that is deployable in the field and is capable of detecting sarin at levels below 1 ppb.
Benefits
Extremely sensitive (part per billion) detection of sarin gas or other chemical agents
Field deployable
Publication
Amplified Detection of Chemical Warfare Agents Using Two-Dimensional Chemical Potential Gradients. Mohammad A. Ali, Tsung-Han Tsai, and Paul V. Braun. ACS Omega 2018 3 (11), 14665-14670
