(FY2) New Generation of Thinkers and Leaders

Author: Cesar Guillen

Advisors: Universidad de Los Andes Professors and La La Salle Merida

Abstract:

An educational application for high school students in Latin America focused on the preparation for higher education and professional development. Providing the guidance and also the establishment of community projects led by Professors and the guidance to overcome the crisis in Latinoamerican countries.

“A place for the development of masters,
a place for the new leaders;
For those willing to learn,
for those committed to transcending.

The community of leaders and makers of today”

(FY1) Using Media to Influence Agricultural Perceptions on Climate Change

Authors: Nick Tomasetti, Nico Alvarado, Ben Mason, Anonymous

Advisors:

Category: First Year

Abstract:

Perceptions of climate change vary in the agricultural demographic as only around half of the farmers believe in human-induced climate change (Arbuckle et al., 2015). Through the creation of a pamphlet, based on psychological principles to maximize impact, we aim to alter unproductive perceptions of climate change. Changing perceptions, we hope to inspire action and lessen our impact on climate change one demographic at a time.

Sources:
Arbuckle, J. G., Morton, L. W., & Hobbs, J. (2015). Understanding Farmer Perspectives on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation: The Roles of Trust in Sources of Climate Information, Climate Change Beliefs, and Perceived Risk. Environment and Behavior, 47(2), 205–234.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916513503832. ​

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(GR10) Self-healing Concrete and Enzymatic Construction Material

Authors: Shuai Wang

Advisors: Nima Rahbar

Category: Graduate

Abstract:

We have developed three different applications that will have an extraordinary impact on worldwide concrete consumption and emissions.

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(GR9) Rare Earth Metal Recycling Using a Novel, Low-cost Distillation Technology

Authors: Chinenye Chinwego

Advisors: Adam Powell

Category: Graduate

Abstract:

We are perfecting a technology that will extract rare earth metals from magnet scrap because rare earth metals are in short supply in the United States. 95% of rare earth metal production is carried out in China, and right now, there are no U.S. producers. The only non-Chinese producers are Estonia, Vietnam, and Thailand- a small market.

We are looking to build a start-up in the U.S. to fill the vacuum, and part of our research is to prove that out.

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(GR8) Design of a Molten Salt Metal-Air Battery with High-Energy Density

Authors: Amanda Lota, Nicolas Masse, Mahya Shahabi, Lucien Wallace

Advisors: Adam Powell

Category: Graduate

Abstract:

Decarbonization of long-haul transportation i.e. ships and trains is among the toughest challenges toward eliminating greenhouse emissions, but metal-air batteries have extraordinary potential to meet this challenge. This talk will present experimental and modeling results for a novel molten salt magnesium-air battery with a MgCl‚-NaCl-KCl-MgO electrolyte operating at 420-620°C. O² dissolves at the cathodes and Mg² at solid magnesium anodes. Experimental results show 1.9 V open circuit voltage, which is the highest to date for an Mg-air battery. Modeling shows up to 0.5 W/cm² at 80% efficiency or 3.3 W/cm² at 42% efficiency. Directional solidification removes MgO reaction product from the molten salt electrolyte. The stability of the cathode material is another criterion for this fuel cell. This battery has the potential for 30-40 times the energy of lithium-ion batteries at very high efficiency, and its Mg anode and molten salt materials are abundant in seawater.

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(GR7) Gravity-Driven Multiple Effect Thermal System (G-METS) Distillation for Efficient Low-Cost Magnesium Refining

Authors: Armaghan Ehsani Telgerafchi, Gabriel Espinosa, Daniel McArthur, Madison Rutherford

Advisors: Adam Powell

Category: Graduate

Abstract:

The process of multiple effect distillation for the recycling of magnesium can both increase efficiency and reduce cost by up to 90% when compared to batch distillation refinement. This presentation will detail goals and applications of a novel continuous gravity-driven multiple effect thermal system (G-METS) distillation process for magnesium alloys.

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(GR5) Machine Learning for Materials Informatics

Authors: Eric Vertina*, Emily Sutherland Drew Fitzgerald

Advisors:

Category: Graduate

Abstract:

MXenes are a hot topic in materials science research because of their expected unique properties and myriad applications, such as more efficient energy conversion in batteries and solar cells, environmental and water treatment, and many additional applications. This project aims to produce Machine Learning (ML) models that accurately predict certain MXene properties – like electrical conductivity, work function, carrier density, mobility, life-time, and sensitivity to disorder – based on standard elemental information (e.g., electronegativity of each constituent element of the MXene, atomic mass of a MXene molecule, etc.), with training data found from literature as well as data produced by our project’s Density Functional Theory (DFT) team.
*This project is part of the NSF Circular Economy and Data Analytics Engineering Research for Sustainability (CEDAR) grant WPI has received.

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*This author is submitting separately, as each member contributes to vastly different aspects of the project

(GR4) The Path Towards Fossil Fuel Disruption: Predicting Biofuel Costs with a Single Experiment and Thirty Seconds

Authors: Muntasir Shahabuddin

Advisors: Michael Timko, Nikolaos Kazantzis

Category: Graduate

Abstract:

Our current response to climate change has been through broad-spectrum electrification, as seen in electric vehicles, through the use of energy storage technology. However, to enable the long-distance travel required for freighting and aviation, the energy density of hydrocarbon fuels have yet to be beaten. We can leverage organic wet wastes to produce renewable, low carbon intensity biofuels using hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL).

With relative maturity on the benchtop, dozens of economic analyses have been performed to elucidate HTL’s viability. These economic analyses assume case-by-case plant design solutions, which are time and resource intensive. This talk will present a model developed to drastically shorten this economic viability screening time using only the results of a single experiment to expedite widespread deployment of HTL.

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(GR3) Hydrothermal liquefaction of solvent-fractionated lignin for aromatic monomer production

Authors: Feng Cheng, Geoffrey Tompsett, Brent Scheidemantle, Charles Cai, Klaus Schmidt-Rohr, Ronish Shrestha

Advisors: Michael Timko

Category: Graduate

Abstract:

Lignin is a natural aromatic biomacromolecule that exists as the second most abundant polymer. Its phenolic structure makes it a potential renewable source for organic compounds, especially those containing electron rich aromatic rings. However, valorizing lignin has presented a huge challenge owing to its recalcitrant nature. Co-solvent enhanced lignocellulosic fractionation (CELF) is an advanced biomass pretreatment technique that gives us a clean lignin byproduct. Depolymerizing CELF lignin via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), which is a green wet-based thermochemical conversion technique, produces aromatic hydrocarbon-rich biocrude or phenolic monomer chemicals. Hardwood derived CELF lignin yields approximately 52wt% of biocrude with valuable monomers like guaiacol, syringol, creosol, butylated hydroxytoluene, etc. Further processing and upgrading of biocrude could lead to production of usable biofuels.

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