There are 15 projects and 18 positions listed on this page
SYLVAIN COULOMBE
RESEARCH AREA: Plasma Science
TITLE: Non-thermal Plasma Jet Device for *OH Radical Production
PROJECT NUMBER: CHEM007
DESCRIPTION: The student will join a team whose aim is to develop a high pressure non-thermal plasma jet device for the production of active radicals. In particular, the team's current interest is the development of a non-thermal steam plasma jet device to be used for the production of hydroxyl (*OH) radicals. The targeted application is plasma-assisted combustion (PAC). The ideal candidate demonstrates a strong interest in Chemical Engineering fundamentals, as well as a genuine interest for the fourth state of matter. The candidate must also demonstrate maturity and autonomy, and is bilingual (English and French). As it has been the case in a few previous instances, the project may lead to a Masters project.
TASKS:
Develop and implement a heated jacket for plasma device nozzle (steam production); Heat transfer analysis: Energy balance; CAD drawing; Shop work order and follow-up; Validation of the prototype; Plasma diagnostic with the help of graduate students.
DELIVER:
A working prototype, hopefully
RESEARCH AREA: Plasma Science
TITLE: Plasma Source Design and Instrumentation
PROJECT NUMBER: CHEM014
DESCRIPTION: The summer intern will work directly with Professor Coulombe on the design and instrumentation of a novel mid-power plasma jet device (<1 kW) to be used for the synthesis of nanomaterials and coating formation. The ideal candidate demonstrates superior abilities to conceptualize and assemble mechanical parts, is able to produce 3D CAD drawings, and has a keen interest in instrumentation and process control.
TASKS:
In collaboration with Prof. Coulombe, the summer intern will finalize the design, produce the CAD drawings, supervise the machine shop work, develop the control system and draw the P&ID, and assemble the system for initial testing. Potential candidates must be in their final UG year and bilingual (English and French)
DELIVER:
A working prototype
PIERRE-LUC GIRARD-LAURIAULT
RESEARCH AREA: Plasma Science
TITLE: Surface Engineering of Polymers using Plasma Deposited Coatings
PROJECT NUMBER: CHEM005
DESCRIPTION: Synthetic Polymers are used in several technological applications due to their many desirable properties: low cost, good mechanical properties, resistance to corrosion and durability. However, their surfaces are typically hydrophobic which limits their wettability and biocompatibility. This issue can be addressed using surface engineering: selectively tailoring the surface properties without affecting the desirable bulk properties. Cold reactive plasmas (ionized gases produced by an electrical discharge) can be used to alter a surface by the addition of functional groups or a functional layer. For sensitive applications, such as biomedical ones, it must be ensured that the surface modification process does not induce the release of significant amounts of oligomers in solution, which could affect living cells.
The project will first involve the preparation of plasma deposited organic coatings on polymer films and their surface chemical characterization. A methodology will then be developed to characterize and quantify oligomers released when the surfaces are immersed in aqueous media. This will be performed using suitable fluorescence markers, which will be quantified using spectrophotometric methods. The project involves the use of ultra-high vacuum reactors and surface analysis equipment. The candidate should demonstrate scientific curiosity as well as maturity and autonomy. This project may lead to a Masters project.
TASKS:
Experiment design; Deposition of thin organic coatings using plasma and vacuum ultraviolet technology; Surface analysis and characterization of the deposits; Literature search; Evaluation of the stability of coatings to aqueous media.
DELIVER:
An experimental procedure to quantify the release of plasma polymer oligomers in solution.
JEFF GOSTICK
RESEARCH AREA: Energy
TITLE: Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Electrode Studies
PROJECT NUMBER: CHEM002
DESCRIPTION: Direct methanol fuel cells are promising for personal and portable energy applications due to the high energy density of methanol. Conversion of methanol produces gas bubbles in the electrode that must be removed from the cell. A better understanding of the pore structure, wettability and capillary properties of the CO2-methanol-porous electrode system is necessary to improve the design and operation of these devices.
TASKS:
The wettability of electrode materials to methanol-water solutions will be assessed by various techniques including capillary rise, sessile drop, capillary pressure curves and pore size distributions.
DELIVER:
The student will prepare a written report at the end of the term summarizing the data and results obtained, as well as all experimental methods and protocols that are developed as part of this work.
RESEARCH AREA: Energy
TITLE: Pore Network Modeling Software Interface Development
PROJECT NUMBER: CHEM003
DESCRIPTION: Pore network modeling is a well established approach to modeling transport in porous materials, such as fuel cell electrodes, bone and oil reservoirs. There is not presently a widely available and free software package for such modeling. This project will develop a graphical user interface with the aim of creating free, publicly available software package that allows non-expert users to harness the power of pore network modeling.
TASKS:
The primary task will revolve around the development of a graphical user interface for code and algorithms available at McGill and in the academic community. This project requires a high degree of skill in the development of GUIs and general software development.
DELIVER:
The student will produce a graphical user interface for various pieces of source code that already exists. The student will also be required to write some source code as needed.
ELIZABETH JONES
RESEARCH AREA: Bio-Engineering
TITLE: Arteriovenous Differentiation Under Flow
PROJECT NUMBER: CHEM010
DESCRIPTION: In the cardiovascular system, mechanical forces play a significant role in regulating many biological and physiological functions. Vascular endothelial cells are forming a continuous layer located on the interior wall of blood vessels and are continuously exposed to mechanical forces from blood flow. Arteries and veins begin their development similarly, but at the onset of flow, their paths diverge. Several studies suggest that endothelial cells are genetically predetermined arterial or venous, but that these cues can be overridden with changes in hemodynamics. We want to explore the role of arterial and venous genes in mechanotransduction. We study this using a parallel plate flow chamber and a pump configuration consisting of a peristaltic and a syringe pump to mimic oscillatory, embryonic and pulsatile flow, as well as laminar flow.
TASKS:
Mammalian cell culture, RNA extraction, PPFC set up for different flow regimes
DELIVER:
Gene expression changes for arteriovenous gene expression under different flow conditions.
RESEARCH AREA: Bio-Engineering
TITLE: Glycocalyx in Maternal Diabetes
PROJECT NUMBER: CHEM009
DESCRIPTION: Diabetic mothers have a five time higher chance of giving birth to children with cardiovascular malformations than women without diabetes and also have a much harder time conceiving and a higher rate of first trimester miscarriage. These early miscarriages are believed to be due to abnormal vascular development. Diabetes is associated with an increase in vascular permeability. In the adult, a layer called the glycocalyx is important for both controlling vascular permeability and this layer has recently been found to be thinned in diabetics. Our objective is to study the glycocalyx in a model of maternal diabetes to investigate perturbation of the glycocalyx in the presence of high glucose levels.
TASKS:
Histological sectioning of tissues, antibody staining for glycocalyx components, confocal microscopy
DELIVER:
Imaging of vascular glycocalyx for embryos under normal and or diabetic conditions.
ANNE KIETZIG
RESEARCH AREA: Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials
TITLE: Adhesion Reduction Between Epoxy and Mold
PROJECT NUMBER: CHEM008
DESCRIPTION: Polymer and epoxy casting and molding are widely used methods in the automotive, machinery and aircraft industries. One of the problems the industry encounters is the adhesion of the formed part to the mold surface. Deforming the part often requires various chemical release agents, tight control over the process parameters and process downtime due to cleaning steps required for the subsequent use of the mold after deforming one part. Innovative ways to decrease the amount of mold release agents and cleaning times will reduces environmental hazards and save production costs.
The underlying idea of this project is to reduce adhesion between the formed part and the mold by exploiting physical principles found in nature, e.g. the leaf frog’s toes. A systematic reduction of contact area between the part and the mold without compromising the final shape of the formed part is the goal of this project. This requires testing adhesion between epoxy samples and newly creating anti-adhesive mold surfaces. The contact-reducing and thereby anti-adhesive property of the mold will be induced by femtosecond laser micromachining a distinct micro- and nanostructure onto the mold surface. Thereby, previous experience from the group will help to determine the geometric parameters.
TASKS:
The student will design and set-up two experimental steps: (1) an epoxy-molding experiment using a hot press; (2) a force measurement deforming experiment following tensile strength test principles. Using this setup several combinations of laser machined surfaces and process parameters will be investigated for optimal results. The project therewith requires an approach across disciplines. The student will work both in Prof. Kietzig’s lab in Chemical Engineering and in Prof. Hubert’s lab in Mechanical Engineering. Chemical engineering skills have to be linked with some insights in materials and mechanical engineering to obtain the best possible results. The student will be able to conduct his own project covering all steps of design until the presentation of the proof of principle.
DELIVER:
Design of a customized mold for epoxy molding process and proof of principle experiments to demonstrate reduced adhesion between mold and polymer.
MILAN MARIC
RESEARCH AREA: Advanced Materials & Polymers
TITLE: Polymers for Photovoltaics, Sensors and Gas Hydrate Inhibition
PROJECT NUMBER: CHEM001
DESCRIPTION: The ability to tailor the precise architecture of a polymeric material has long been targeted to enable specific properties that could not be otherwise attained. Traditional methods to form polymers with such microstructural control were long the domain of tedious ionic or “living” polymerization methods. During the last 15 years, controlled radical polymerization (CRP) strategies have emerged that rival the precision of ionic polymerizations but employ conditions similar to conventional free radical technologies. Further, some copolymers that are attainable by CRP cannot be accessed via ionic polymerizations. This project involves making polymers in the form of random or block copolymers for organic photovoltaics, sensors and gas hydrate inhibitors. The project will use combination of monomers to tailor the chemistry to each of these applications. For organic photovoltaics, block copolymers consisting of electron-donating and electron-accepting segments that can self-assemble at the nano-scale will be synthesized by CRP for charge transfer layers. For sensors, the same electron-donating or electron-accepting monomers will be copolymerized with water-soluble monomers to make stimuli-responsive materials that exhibit lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behaviour. For gas hydrate inhibitors, water-soluble, biocompatible polymers derived from the same water-soluble monomers described above for sensors can be applied in a different manner to disrupt the cage-like water structures formed around gases such as methane. The project will involve the student using state-of-the-art CRP strategies to synthesize polymers with various functional groups. Polymerization kinetics will be estimated using a combination of gel permeation chromatography (GPC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron spin resonance (ESR) while solution properties will be examined using UV-Vis spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS).
TASKS:
The student will perform polymer synthesis and analyze kinetic results to enable targeting of specific polymer structures. The student will also characterize the polymer properties in organic and aqueous solutions.
DELIVER:
The student will provide synthesis data of novel polymeric materials and characterization data of the materials. They will be used to help initiate design of systems for the applications cited.
JEAN LUC MEUNIER & RAYNALD GAUVIN
RESEARCH AREA: Advanced Materials & Polymers
TITLE: Studies on Aluminum – Carbon Nanotubes Composites Formation
PROJECT NUMBER: CHEM013
DESCRIPTION: Important efforts are made worldwide (particularly in Korea for the car industry) to generate aluminum – carbon nanotube (Al-CNT) composites for enhanced structural and transport properties. Our teams in Chemical and Materials Eng. have worked on trying to generate such composite structures. Results indicate a strong difficulty for a proper mixing of the two phases, the CNT agglomeration being a consistent bottleneck in the process. Techniques have however been developed at McGill to grow CNT directly as a nano-scale forest on stainless-steel (SS) particles; this technique was in fact expanded in a fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system. Other preliminary results showed this growth technique could be transferred to aluminum metal, and to aluminum samples having a specific anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) surface. The result on Al metal needs to be confirmed and studied using our conventional CVD furnaces and various Al-based alloys. If CNT growth on Al metal proves to be comparable to the SS system, the fluidized bed technique could be applied to generate a large amount of precursor for Al-CNT composite consolidation. Another avenue we currently use is a plasma-based surface functionalization of the CNTs to make them hydrophilic. This is typically made with polar groups for water dispersion and would not really be applicable to aluminum. However, we also decorate the tubes with well dispersed nanoparticles on the entire CNT forest; Al nanoparticles being possible candidates. Such dispersion of nanoparticles having a strong bonding interaction with the CNTs should allow improved wetting properties of these nanostructures in the liquid metal. If the decorated CNTs are maintained on the metallic substrate (typically SS), the good heat transfer phenomena should maintain the integrity of the Al nanoparticles during liquid-Al impregnation. Tests along this idea of creating first an Al-CNT composite layer on a substrate will be made during the summer project. Such testing involves growing the CNT layer on SS, decorating the CNT with Al nanoparticles using laser ablation, and then impregnation.
TASKS:
A. Evaluating the possibility of th-CVD growth of carbon nanotubes on an Al substrate. The workload first involves learning the thermal-Chemical Vapor Deposition (th-CVD) technique to grow nanotubes through a formation period with a graduate student. Tests are then to be performed on a series of Al substrates in order to evaluate the type of Al alloy materials allowing good CNT growth. Successful result on this step would lead to growth on Al particles and a consolidation of these particles into a bulk material.
B. Evaluating the wetting properties of CNT on functionalized SS substrate by liquid aluminum. The initial workload is the same as above. Growth samples are then produced on stainless-steel (SS) substrates, these being functionalized using two different routes: a) our standard chemical functionalization using a plasma within the th-CVD furnace adding polar groups to the CNTs, (b) adding Al nanoparticles to the CNT forest using laser ablation on Al targets. Wetting efficiencies by liquid Al will then be evaluated in a furnace using a small amount of solid Al melting on the CNT forest.
DELIVER:
A. CNT growth efficiency as a function of Al alloy composition; B. Wetting efficiencies of liquid Al on various functionalizations of CNT forests.
SASHA OMANOVIC
RESEARCH AREA: Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials
TITLE: Nano-structured Electrodes For Bioreactors
PROJECT NUMBER: CHEM006
DESCRIPTION: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide NAD(H) is a cofactor that is involved in a large number of biochemical processes. It plays the role of electron and hydrogen shuttle in most of the biochemical reactions catalyzed by redox enzymes. In its reduced and enzymatically active form (1,4-NADH), the molecule transfers two electrons and a proton to a substrate in the presence of a suitable enzyme to form NAD+. The high cost (up to $3000 per gram) of NADH is one of the major limitations for its large-scale industrial use. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop methods that could regenerate NADH in-situ and allow its catalytic quantities to be used. Electrochemistry offers a number of advantages compared to (bio)chemical processes used for NADH regeneration. The objective of the summer research project will be to develop new electrodes for the direct regeneration of NADH in a batch electrochemical bioreactor.
TASKS:
The role of the student will be to develop a method for the electrodeposition of selected metals in a three-dimensional vitreous carbon matrix. The student will subsequently perform electrochemical measurements to investigate the kinetics of NAD+ reduction and the efficiency of the new electrodes in regenerating enzymatically active NADH.
DELIVER:
Final report
PHILLIP SERVIO
RESEARCH AREA: Energy
TITLE: Investigating Induction Times of Gas Hydrate Forming Systems
PROJECT NUMBER: CHEM015
DESCRIPTION: Naturally occurring hydrates, containing mostly methane, exist in vast quantities within and below the permafrost zone and in sub-sea sediments. At present the amount of organic carbon entrapped in hydrate exceeds all other reserves (fossil fuels, soil, peat, and living organisms). Complications arising from hydrate formation also occur on a frequent basis in the oil and gas industry, specifically in the transportation of natural gas where hydrates can interrupt the flow. For example, in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico where British Petroleum’s containment dome was hindered by the formation of gas.
During the supercooling of a liquid system, the formation of minute solid bodies, a process called nucleation, must occur before crystallization can proceed. The process of nucleation is a stochastic event which is still not well understood and is of great importance in phenomena such as hydrate formation. In a hydrate forming system gas is dissolved into liquid water and supersaturates the liquid solution. The time it takes between the system being supersaturated and the formation of hydrate crystals, onset of nucleation, is call the induction time. This project will investigate induction times for methane and carbon dioxide hydrate forming systems in order to prevent environmental disasters such as the gulf of Mexico and advance the knowledge required to exploit gas hydrates in the fields of energy recovery, storage and transportation. In order to do so, a small volume of solution will be cooled linearly in an automatic lag time apparatus (ALTA) at high pressure. The pressure of the system will be kept constant by a positive displacement pump while the solution is cooled to below its three-phase equilibrium temperature. When the solution crystallizes, the system is reheated until dissociation is complete, following which the sample is recooled. This cycle is repeated several hundred times, yielding an average induction time. Other systems that will be investigated include mixtures of carbon dioxide and methane as well as systems with promoters and inhibitors such as surfactants and polymers. The work with promoters and inhibitors is necessary to scientifically quantify their performance for the oil and gas industry.
TASKS:
Setup a high-pressure nucleation time testing facility. Perform experiments on gas hydrates with respect to induction time.
DELIVER:
Obtain nucleation data on methane gas hydrate formation.
NATHALIE TUFENKJI
RESEARCH AREA: Environmental Engineering
TITLE: Evaluating the Transport of Emerging Agricultural Nanoparticles
PROJECT NUMBER: CHEM004
DESCRIPTION: Vive NanoTM, a Toronto based nanotechnology firm, is currently developing novel materials for use in crop protection. Their aim is to develop nanoscale polymers that will heighten crop yields, while decreasing the use of potentially harmful pesticides. Before these particles can be applied on a large scale, their behaviour in model soil environments must be determined. Vive NanoTM has teamed up with our research team to characterize their particles in soil environments. The aim of this project is to firstly characterize a variety of potential crop protection particles being developed. Once characterized, the transport and deposition behaviour of the particles in natural soil-packed columns will be investigated and an optimal technique for detecting the particles will be developed.
TASKS:
The student will become familiar with the scientific literature on the characterization and transport of nanomaterials. The student will acquire a range of experimental skills for nanoparticle manipulation, characterization and transport studies.
DELIVER:
Weekly written updates detailing experiments and experimental results will be expected. At the end of the summer, a written report containing all relevant methods and results, as well as a brief literature review will be submitted to Professor Tufenkji and Vive NanoTM.
RESEARCH AREA: Bio-Engineering
TITLE: Use of Plant Extracts for Targeting Bacterial Infections
PROJECT NUMBER: CHEM011
DESCRIPTION: Bacterial infections contribute to thousands of Canadian deaths and cost millions of dollars per year to treat. With bacteria becoming more and more resistant to existing antibiotics there remains the need to identify new strategies for rendering bacteria less pathogenic. Many natural compounds produced by plants have the potential to interfere with the behavior of pathogenic organisms making them less likely to cause disease. This project will investigate the ability of select compounds, such as cranberry extracts, to interfere with bacterial properties important for causing infections. Such properties will incorporate aspects of bacterial motility, toxin/enzyme production, antibiotic resistance and biofilm development. The student will work as part of a team with post-docs and graduate students who are also conducting research in this field. In the first month, the student will receive a lot of training in the lab and then be able to work more independently. There will be opportunities to continue this research as a graduate project in the future. Preference will be given to students who have undertaken a Biotechnology/Microbiology course.
TASKS:
The student will be trained in a range of areas that may include: bacterial manipulation, examining bacterial adherence and biofilm development using various experimental models, antibiotic susceptibility testing, microscopy, motility, toxin and enzyme assays and general laboratory practices. The student will be given ample guidance in improving their written and oral presentation skills, which will be invaluable for any future study/work environment.
DELIVER:
Weekly written updates will be expected after one month detailing experiments and experimental results.
RESEARCH AREA: Environmental Remediation
TITLE: Nanosized Zero-valent Iron Particles for Environmental Remediation
PROJECT NUMBER: CHEM012
DESCRIPTION: Nanosized zero-valent iron (nZVI) particles have been found to be effective for the removal of a wide range of water and soil contaminants, including chlorinated solvents, nitrates, and arsenic. Field studies have shown that deep injections of nZVI particles are very useful for remediation of dense non-aqueous phase liquids located in natural subsurface environments. The main problem encountered in this type of application is the limited transport of nZVI particles through soils towards the contaminated zone of interest. Although these reactive nanoparticles hold great promise for environmental remediation, their stability and mobility in natural aquatic environments are not well understood. Their behaviour is likely to be influenced by a number of environmental factors including water and soil chemistry (pH, ionic strength, and natural organic matter content) and hydrodynamic conditions. Hence, extensive research is needed to better understand the physicochemical properties and consequent transport potential of this engineered nanomaterial for subsequent application in environmental remediation strategies.
TASKS:
This project will aim to obtain a better understanding of the stability, transport and retention of nZVI particles developed for environmental remediation applications. A series of nanoparticle characterization techniques will be used to evaluate nZVI size, charge, and shape. The transport potential of the nanoparticles will be evaluated by chromatographic soil column experiments. Basic knowledge of transport phenomena and fluid mechanics prior to involvement in the project is desirable. Training on the experimental techniques will be acquired during the first month, while the remainder of the summer, the student will be expected to carry more independent work under the direct supervision of a PhD student.
DELIVER:
Weekly written updates will be expected after one month detailing experiments and experimental results. At the end of the summer, a written report containing all relevant methods and results, as well as a brief literature review is expected.