Our lab had boxes everywhere today because this week we moved into our new space. The newly renovated space is located at the second floor of Perry Hall (Lowell, MA) with ~600 sq. ft. area, 10 adjustable bench/workstation, sink, blast gates, explosion proof cabinets, access to four fume hoods, plenty of cabinet, drawer and shelf storage and a nice view devoted to overcome barriers in front of nanotechnology-enabled drinking water treatment processes.
Apul Lab was awarded UMass Acorn Technology Transfer Funds to support the project titles: "Readily Deployable Cartridge for Lead Removal from Water Distribution Pipelines". Our research team is going to investigate composite electrospun fibers enabled with nano-scale carbon-based adsorbents.
Apul lab published a frontier review article on nano-enabled technologies for removal of perfluorinated chemicals from aquatic environments. Arsalan Khalid collaborated with researchers from University of Texas at Austin, Washington State University, University of Nevada Reno, and Exponent. Congratulations to all!
Onur Apul gave a flash talk in 2018 Faculty Symposium titled: "nano-innovations in drinking water treatment". Apul Lab was recognized in two categories: "Most Published Faculty Member in Francis College of Engineering" and "Commercialization and New Ventures". Congratulations to the members of the lab for their contributions to this achievement.
Ritchie LaFaille -Civil and Environmental Engineering undergraduate student and researcher- represented Apul group in New England Graduate Student Water Symposium. His poster presentation was about activated sludge pretreatment using nanomaterial augmented microwave irradiation. His long term vision is using this technology in wastewater treatment plants to maximize biogas production. His work is supported by Lowell Wastewater Utility and Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. Congratulations Ritchie!
Arsalan Khalid successfully presented his work at American Chemical Society (ACS) Meeting in Boston in the Advances in Carbon Nanomaterial Design & Applications for Environmental Sustainability Session. His work is revealing adsorption mechanism of THC by three types of carbon-based adsorbents. Congratulations to Arsalan. Apul group also co-authored two presentations in the meeting: Implications of Nano-Bubbles in Water Treatment presented by Dr. Ariel Atkinson and Removal of Bromide by Silver-Impregnated Graphene-Oxide presented by Ana Barios from Arizona State University.
Apul Lab hosted four-talented high-school students participating the 2018 Future Engineers for Sustainability Summer Camp. The guest researchers successfully conducted experimental work on re-usable water filters and presented their findings at the end of the camp. This event was organized by UML Francis College of Engineering.
Apul group welcomes three new undergraduate researchers (Mr. Jana Latayan, Mr. Ritchie LaFaille, Mr. Joseph Egitto) and one graduate researcher (Mr. Yigit C. Bozkurt). Good luck and best wishes for all of them.
Drs. Apul and Kurup from Civil and Environmental Engineering and Dr. Toof from Center for Community Research & Engagement are selected to participate a nationwide drinking water quality awareness poll. This effort is coordinated by UML Center for Public Opinion. The water quality awareness survey is going to collect participants' opinions about possible occurrences of nanoparticles, illicit drugs and other pollutants in drinking water. The findings from this exciting civic engagement is going to be shared with public.
Our collaborative article exploring the selective removal of bromide from natural waters were published in Journal of American Water Works Association as the front cover article of the issue.
