Undergraduate Research Day Projects
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Organized by the University of Houston Office of Undergraduate Research and Major Awards, Undergraduate Research Day is an annual event showcasing exceptional scholarship undertaken by the UH undergraduate community.
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Browsing Undergraduate Research Day Projects by Subject "Chemical Engineering"
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Item Chabazite Zeolite Synthesis Using Inorganic Structure-Directing Agents(2023-04-13) Varghese, NathanZeolites are aluminosilicate crystals with nanopores commonly used as adsorbents and catalysts in industrial applications. My zeolite framework of interest is chabazite (CHA), which is heavily used in industry to break down NOx emissions. In industry, most of this CHA is produced using organic structure-directing agents, which can produce CHA at high yields but is extremely expensive to use, is very dangerous to the environment, and cannot be recovered after synthesis due to calcination. In previous studies, inorganic structure-directing agents like potassium cations have been used to synthesize CHA instead of the traditionally used organic compounds, but this approach often yields CHA in a mixture of other different zeolite frameworks. Another approach to this issue is to use a mixture of inorganic structure-directing agents like lithium, sodium, and potassium cations to help isolate fully crystalline CHA. In previous studies led by Dr. Rimer and Dr. Mintova, combinations of potassium and strontium cations, as well as combinations of sodium, potassium, and cesium cations, have been used to synthesize relatively pure CHA yields. Over the Fall 2022 semester, I have been working with the Rimer group at the University of Houston to synthesize CHA at high purities and yields and across various temperatures and time ranges using multiple combinations of lithium, sodium, and potassium cations.Item Characterizing Z-rings in Persister Cells(2023-04-13) Ofomaja, MiraclePersister cells are a subpopulation of bacterial cells that survive antibiotic treatments without specialized mechanisms by temporarily entering a dormant state [1]. Because they proliferate into new bacterial populations after the antibiotic stress is removed, persister cells are associated with recalcitrant infections and antibiotic failure [1,2]. Hence, persisters are a significant public health challenge. It is also important to note that persister cell progeny consists of persisters and cells susceptible to the same antibiotics as the non-persister cells in the original population. Thus, persisters are a transient phenotype. This research project studies Z-rings, physiological structures in bacterial cells that form when the cells are about to divide into daughter cells. Z rings represent a potential biomarker for persister cells because there seems to be a correlation between their formation and persister resuscitation [3]. Specifically, this project aims to investigate this correlation in persister cells formed after ampicillin and fosfomycin treatments. If Z-rings are fundamental to persister survival, researchers can develop clinical therapies that target the Z-rings to sterilize persister cells and reduce recalcitrant bacterial infections. References: 1. Lewis, K., 2010. Persister cells. Annual review of microbiology, 64, pp.357-372. 2. Gollan, B., Grabe, G., Michaux, C. and Helaine, S., 2019. Bacterial persisters and infection: past, present, and progressing. Annual review of microbiology, 73, pp.359-385. 3. Mohiuddin, S.G., Massahi, A. and Orman, M.A., 2022. Lon Deletion Impairs Persister Cell Resuscitation in Escherichia coli. Mbio, 13(1), pp.e02187-21.Item Epoxidation and Curing of Bio-Renewable para-Coumaric Acid(2023-04-13) Sherif, NehaEpoxy resin is a thermoset polymer made from epoxy monomers combined with a curing agent. It is commonly used for products that require rigidness and durability, however, once they are no longer usable, they accumulate in landfill waste as they are not biodegradable due to their production from crude oil and thus are highly resistant to breaking down in the environment. Therefore, it is of interest to replace nonrenewable starting materials such as petroleum with a renewable feedstock. One such substance from which epoxy monomers can be derived from is lignin, a complex monomer found in the cell wall of plants that is often a waste by-product in the paper industry as it weakens the paper. Under the right conditions, lignin can be depolymerized into a mixture of small molecules that have rigid aromatic rings, making them a promising starting material for synthesizing epoxy resins. This project focused on a small molecule of the complex lignin structure called para-coumaric acid which was epoxidized and the new structure was characterized. This was done using a two-step synthesis where, first, the para-coumaric acid was allylated using allyl bromide. Once the allylated compound was verified using NMR, the double bond in the allylated coumaric acid was epoxidized with meta-chloroperoxy benzoic acid to get epoxy groups. NMR was once again used to characterize the new epoxidized para-coumaric acid. This novel monomer was then cured with an anhydride curing agent to create epoxy resin which was then tested to find its thermal properties.Item Z-Rings as a Biomarker in Persister Resuscitation(2023-04-13) Wagner, IvaBacterial infections that survive anti-microbial treatments are a growing concern in the medical field. Much of this research is focused on antibiotic resistance, but bacterial persistence is an equal contributor to the problem. Persister cells are a subpopulation of bacteria that are transiently capable of surviving antibiotics. The surviving bacteria remain after treatment and can resuscitate causing chronic infections. To research resuscitation in these persistent cells properly, we first need to be able to identify which cells to study; using biomarkers is one way to determine which persister cells are capable of resuscitation. One possible biomarker is the formation of z-rings during the growth-inhibited state. Using both Gentamicin and Streptomycin antibiotics, the length of time needed to kill off all but persistent cells is determined using a biphasic kill curve generated using survival assays. The length of treatment is used to treat a culture until only persisters remain. The persisters are then starved in PBS for two days to allow time for the formation Z-rings. The bacteria are then moved onto a microscope slide lined with LB agar which provides nutrients to facilitate resuscitation. Pictures in both phase contrast and gfp fluorescence are taken every hour after plating to monitor the growth and Z-rings. If the formation of Z-rings in the growth-inhibited state holds true as a biomarker, then we can use them to determine which cells are viable for resuscitation study; these cells can then be used to advance the field of persistence research further.