Research
Microbial Fuel Cells
The Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) Creative Inquiry focused on creating a prototype wind-driven cathode, sediment microbial fuel cell. During the course of the CI, an MFC prototype was stationed in what was previously Clemson’s partitioned aquaculture pond to help imitate the types of environments an MFC would be implemented to obtain high power outputs. MFCs are a developing technology that utilize electrons released by microbes in anaerobic environments, combined with basic electrical engineering design principles to create a power output in environments that would otherwise be difficult to connect to a power source. My fellow project members and I would go to the pond and measure the MFC’s voltage output over the course of two weeks in order to see how much power could potentially be produced by this design. This research was then presented in Detroit, Michigan at the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) International Conference in the summer of 2018.
My group members and I presenting our MFC research at the ASABE International Conference held in Detroit, MI during the summer of 2018.
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Below is a downloadable version of the poster we presented.
Hydrogen Biofuel Production
This Creative Inquiry focused on developing a sustainable bioprocess to convert cull fruit to H2 gas and other biobased products. With climate change threatening the well-being of all organisms on Earth, sustainable energy sources must be developed. Hydrogen gas, a sustainable energy source, is produced by the bacterium Thermotoga neapolitana as it undergoes fermentation. In this Creative Inquiry, the fermentation of cull peaches by T. neapolitana was studied. The bacteria was first inoculated into four pressurized serum bottles containing a low-cost fermentation medium. It was then incubated for two days at 77 °C. Since this Creative Inquiry has not been offered in the past six years, this is as far as the Spring 2019 Creative Inquiry team has progressed. For future progression of this research, we plan to design a system to capture the hydrogen gas as well as develop a pilot scale fermentation system, including heat exchangers, a solar water heater, and a PEM H2 fuel cell.
Clemson University RISE Adopt-a-Stream
The Clemson University RISE Adopt-a-Stream club monitors the health of Hunnicutt Creek, which flows through the South Carolina Botanical Gardens. In order to monitor the health of the creek, measurements such as dissolved oxygen, pH, water temperature, conductivity, phosphate concentration, nitrate concentration, and CFUs of E. coli are taken monthly. Tri-annualy, we also count the amount and the diversity of macroinvertibrates present in the stream. This data is entered into the South Carolina Adopt-a-Stream online database, which is monitored by SCDHEC. Over the past 3 years, this stream has stayed in a healthy condition and there have not been any incidences of pollution. As president of this club, I enjoy getting people involved in citizen science through the Adopt-a-Stream club. As the club grows, we plan to monitor another nearby stream, to expand our impact on the health of the community.
A stonefly nymph from a macroinvertibrate sampling. Stoneflies are pollution sensitive, and are found in healthy streams.
This test tube shows the result of a pH test. This color indicates a pH of about 6.8, which is very close to neutral.
To begin each sampling, we have to observe and record the current weather conditions, water level, and anything that may be of concern, like litter.
This bottle shows an intermediate step of a dissolved oxygen (DO) test. The precipitate has settled to the bottom of the bottle, and is ready for the next step of the test.