Research Focus 1: Mitigating Harmful Algal Blooms through Mineral-Hydrogel Composites
Harmful algal blooms (HABs), which can produce cyanobacterial toxins, degrade water quality, threaten public health, harm ecosytems, and impact the economic output of industries such as fisheries and tourism. One major contribution to HABs is nutrient pollution from anthropogenic activities. To address nutrient pollution, we are developing novel mineral-hydrogel composites to effectively remove phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N), and we are determining the composites’ effects on algal growth. The undergraduate researcher will involve in wet chemistry experiments to synthesize mineral-hydrogel composites and to analyze their performance to remove P and N. The student will learn how to design and to conduct experiments, to analyze experimental data, to present the results in professional oral and written formats.
Research Focus 2: Nanoplastics and Metals: An Examination of Redox Dynamics
Large quantities of plastics are produced annually, and many of them are discharged into the environment, where they degrade into tiny plastic debris (e.g., macro-, micro-, and nano-plastics). There are increasing concerns about the adverse effect of these plastics, especially nanoplastics, because they can more easily interact with heavy metals and organic contaminants. Compared with large pieces of plastics, nanoplastics have substantially larger surface areas and more exposed surface functional groups, allowing them to interact with surrounding substances much more easily and significantly. Although the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been detected during photolysis of polystyrene-based (PS-based) nanoplastics, so far, little is known about the oxidative roles of nanoplastics in inducing redox reactions with heavy or transition metals. The undergraduate student researcher will examine manganese and nanoplastics interactions. The student will learn how to design and to conduct experiments, to analyze experimental data, to present the results in professional oral and written formats.
Requirements
General chemistry and enthusiasm
