Bioplastic Synthesis Using Organic Waste Material

Team 23120

Project Goal

Develop a recipe for a biodegradable plastic that is less wasteful and environmentally damaging than conventional, fossil fuel-based plastics.

The aim of this project was to design a biodegradable plastic using waste materials. The main sources of polymeric material were orange peel waste and plant stems. In addition to recycling food waste, the project also provided data on synthesizing alternatives to conventional plastics, which take many years to decompose.

The team tested multiple recipes to determine the optimal ratios for strength and plasticity. For instance, they tested cornstarch to orange peel waste ratios ranging from 0 to 1:5, the use of both hydrochloric acid and trifluoroacetic acid, and the plasticizers glycerol and acetyl tributyl ester. They then characterized all of the samples based on their tensile strength and glass transition temperature. Tensile strength testing followed the American Society for Testing and Minerals (ASTM) standards for plastics. The team measured the glass transition temperature using differential scanning calorimetry. This project represents a significant step forward in the pursuit of sustainable and environmentally friendly plastics.

Dealcoholization of Red Wine Using Osmotic Distillation

Team 23121

Project Goal

Dealcoholize wine while retaining the visual, aromatic and flavor characteristics.

Climate change has caused the alcohol by volume (ABV) of wine to increase by 2% globally, resulting in undesirable flavor changes. Producing a low-alcohol wine would help to control wine quality and provide more options to consumers, as the demand for no- and low- alcohol drinks has been growing over the last few years. This project focuses on the dealcoholization of wine while attempting to retain the visual, aromatic and flavor characteristics. The team chose osmotic distillation to remove ethanol from red wine, as their research found it to be both the most affordable and most effective at retaining wine’s sensory characteristics. In this process, feed wine and stripping distilled water are run in counter-current flow over a hydrophobic polypropylene membrane. Ethanol moves from the wine into the stripping water, resulting in a reduced alcohol wine.

TEAM MEMBERS

Rudaina Jamal Alduaij, Chemical Engineering

Stephen Lee Farris, Chemical Engineering

Aakanksha Gadh, Chemical Engineering

Fatima Khan, Chemical Engineering

COLLEGE MENTOR

Kimberly L Ogden

SPONSOR ADVISOR

Victor Octavio Tenorio Gutierrez

TEAM MEMBERS

Kaylee E Franzel, Chemical Engineering

Jessica Ann Nicholls, Chemical Engineering

Daniella R Roberts, Chemical Engineering

Sarina A Tuskey, Chemical Engineering

COLLEGE MENTOR

Adrianna Brush

SPONSOR ADVISOR

Suchol Savagatrup

TEAM MEMBERS

Brendan Christopher Greene, Chemical Engineering

Samuel Herschler, Chemical Engineering

Bryce Sterling Long, Chemical Engineering

Arleth Adamaris Ortiz, Chemical Engineering

COLLEGE MENTOR

Adrianna Brush

SPONSOR ADVISOR

Lisa A Jones

HMF Production Using Agro-Waste

Team 23122

TEAM MEMBERS

Meghan S Greenslade, Environmental Engineering

Mia Mai Migliore, Chemical Engineering

Caroline Renee Webster, Chemical Engineering

Gavin C Wolkon, Chemical Engineering

COLLEGE MENTOR

Kimberly L Ogden

SPONSOR ADVISOR

Yadi Wang

Project Goal

Produce HMF for potential use in other applications by using agricultural waste.

This project focuses on designing a process for year-round production of at least 95% pure (5-Hydroxymethylfurfural) HMF. It uses multiple agricultural waste inputs that are readily available in Arizona, while minimizing the use of hazardous reagents. This process will help farms and farm industries manage environmentally harmful agricultural waste while maximizing the production of HMF, a component used in the creation of the biofuel 2,5-Dimethylfuran (DMF), as well as potentially in polyester manufacturing.

Agrivoltaics

Team 23123

Awareness Ranch

PROJECT GOAL

Create a mobile photovoltaic system that provides shade to agriculture and grazing animals. This system will incorporate agrivoltaic concepts including evapotranspiration and solar tracking.

The team designed a mobile photovoltaic system to provide shade to agriculture and grazing animals while harnessing solar energy to produce electricity. The designed system consists of a hitched, moveable trailer carrying two 500-gallon open storage tanks to allow for evapotranspiration, 12 solar-tracking panels secured on top, and a water trough secured on the back for livestock. The agrivoltaic design will maximize the use of available land by combining solar energy production with agricultural activities.

Heat Transfer Test Bed

Team 23124

Project Goal

Provide Hydronalix with a functioning heat transfer testbed and data analog system that provides live temperature data to reduce the chance of motor burnout while their unmanned boats are being operated.

The team designed and constructed a heat transfer test bed to find the necessary flow to cool the motors of unmanned boats, thereby improving lifespan and preventing burnout.

Investigation Into Steel Strip Cleaning Methods

Team 23125

Project Goal

Improve the strip cleaning section of a steel manufacturing line by implementing a more environmentally friendly degreasing method. Maintain industry specifications for cleanliness and comply with industry safety standards and regulations.

This project focuses on replacing the degreasing system of a steel tube manufacturing line for Atkore Allied Tube & Conduit in Phoenix. The degreasing system removes the oil, rust and dirt from the surface of the steel coil before it is formed and welded into its final tube shape. A clean steel surface helps prevent bare spots during paint application and reduces scrap.

The current degreasing system consists of a series of four caustic tanks with decreasing concentrations of sodium hydroxide solution, with the fourth and final tank being a water rinse. The sodium hydroxide tanks are also equipped with natural gas heaters to heat the solution to the ideal temperature for caustic degreasing (140 degrees Fahrenheit). The sodium hydroxide binds to the oil, dirt and rust molecules on the surface of the steel strip and is washed off with the water. This system costs $1.15 million annually to maintain and requires HAZMAT processing.

The team explored more environmentally friendly strip cleaning solutions, including using lasers, steam, dry ice and induction heating degreasing methods. They concluded the best option was to conduct experiments on induction degreasing, and this is the focus of the new steel degreasing design.

TEAM MEMBERS

Lily N Heuertz, Chemical Engineering

Meg Vivian Richards, Chemical Engineering

Curtis Shoemaker, Chemical Engineering

Reese C Tomooka, Chemical Engineering

COLLEGE MENTOR

Gregory Ogden

SPONSOR ADVISOR

Yadi Wang

TEAM MEMBERS

Olivia Culbertson McNally, Chemical Engineering

Amelia Ryann Talkington, Chemical Engineering

John Joseph Totaro, Chemical Engineering

COLLEGE MENTOR

Kimberly L Ogden

SPONSOR ADVISOR

Thomas Babb

TEAM MEMBERS

Kayla A Bansback, Chemical Engineering

Ashley Duncan, Environmental Engineering

Annissa Lopez, Environmental Engineering

Diego Salido, Environmental Engineering

COLLEGE MENTOR

Kimberly L Ogden

SPONSOR ADVISOR

Patrick Pasadilla

Solar Powered Aquaponics Design Exploration (SPADE)

Team 23126

PROJECT GOAL

Develop a sustainable and efficient system that combines aquaculture and traditional farming to provide a replenishable food source for long-distance space travel.

By combining aquaculture and traditional farming methods, the team developed a sustainable and efficient system to provide a replenishable food source for long-distance space travel. The aquaponic system comprises four rotating plant-growing towers mounted around an inner grow light. Each tower has a ball bearing and is belt-driven by a DC motor to expose the plants to the inner grow light at a specific number of revolutions per minute (RPM), ensuring even lighting in minimal space.

The effluent from a fish tank undergoes specialized built-in mechanical and biological filtration before being circulated to the grow towers and back to the fish tank. The growing columns spin through custom polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) fittings, while the rest of the unit remains stationary. Ultimately, the SPADE project aims to demonstrate the viability of aquaponics as a sustainable food source for space travel, ensuring sustainable human nutrition in extreme conditions.