(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.

UN SDGs:

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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.

UN SDGs:

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(UG06)* Identifying barriers and developing solutions to meet water conservation needs on Oʻahu

Author(s): Maggie Paratore, Randy Dyer, Kendall Haddigan, Avery Purtell

Advisor(s): N/A

Category: Undergraduate

Abstract: Hawai’i’s freshwater is a limited resource facing multiple threats. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply works to spread the importance of water conservation to residents through educational outreach and communication methods. The challenge is to convey the same water conservation message to reach varying age groups. Our project focused on identifying potential barriers that prevent people from conserving water and addressing them through the creation of communication tools. Our research was completed through data analysis, surveys and semi-structured interviews. The results were used to develop proposals for targeted age groups of K-12 and 18-45, which the BWS can use in its efforts to enhance their future outreach methods to further encourage water conservation.

UN SDGs: SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production

*video presentation omitted as this group opted out of the competition judging*

(GR08) Enhanced Waste-to-Energy Conversion Solution for Application in a Municipal Wastewater Plant

Author(s): Julian Bennett

Advisor(s): Michael Timko and Aidin Panahi

Category: Graduate

Abstract: Municipal Waste Treatment Plants typically collect sewage from our homes and industry and treat them to remove pollutants before dumping them in rivers or oceans, however, there is the possibility to extract energy from the treated sewage via hydrothermal liquefaction to obtain biocrude, a renewable biofuel, some of which can be used to power the municipal plant, and the rest channeled towards supplying power to neighboring homes. The purpose of this project is to explore the feasibility of a commercially viable energy conversion system that can be installed within the municipal plant to extract the biocrude.

UN SDGs: SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy

Video Presentation:

(GR06) Environmentally friendly recovery of valuable metals from e-wastes

Author(s): Hui Zhang, Chaoran Wang

Advisor(s): Jianyu Lian

Category: Graduate

Abstract: E-waste is considered a potential resource. However, the current e-waste recycling is only 17.4%. E-waste management and recycling are crucial to environmental sustainability and carbon emissions reduction. Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are a valuable sub-system of e-waste. Although PCBs account for 3−6 wt.% of the total e-waste, they contain lots of valuable metals such as Cu, Zn, Ag, and Au, especially compared to natural ores. It was estimated that the cost of mining natural oral is nearly 7 times that of recycling PCBs to produce the same quality of Au, Ag, Cu, Al, and steel. However, the main used methods for PCBs treatment, landfill and pyrometallurgy, cause serious environmental and health concerns. Our objectives are: to create an efficient method to remove ECs from PCBs,
to recover critical materials from waste PCBs to minimize military logistic tail, to improve the environmental friendliness of the e-waste recycling process, and to enable the technology transfer to industry.

UN SDGs: SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 15 – Life on Land

Video Presentation:

(GR01) A Nanosilver-Enabled Composite System for Point-of-Use Potable Water: Towards Safe and Affordable Drinking Water for Everyone!

Authors: Jihan El Ouaragli

Advisors: NA

Category: Graduate

Abstract: Safe and affordable drinking water is an important and basic indicator of sustainability. Its availability at the point of use can save over 2 million human lives every year and prevent over 2 billion diarrheal diseases. Here, we propose a passive and compact nanosilver-enabled composite system for point-of-use drinking water treatment that can provide around 10 liters of clean water in 1 hour for just $ 2.5 per year per family.

UN SDGs: SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 5 – Gender Equality, SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 15 – Life on Land

Video presentation: https://echo360.org/media/0031dfb6-bb5f-4f38-b1ab-b47d397ee0e3/public