SHOWCASE for Life Sciences and Natural Resources Graduate Student Research
Wednesday, April 11, 2012 Waterfront Place Hotel
1
Welcome, The WVU Office of Research and Economic Development, through support provided by the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, has launched an initiative to encourage innovation and commercialization through research. The initiative, titled LIINC (Linking Innovation, Industry and Commercialization), is designed to bring faculty and graduate student expertise and talent to the attention of our industry partners through networking events. This particular event focuses on life sciences and natural resources research. To our industry partners, we greatly appreciate your attendance at this event and we hope you will take this opportunity to learn about the research taking place at WVU. To facilitate new partnerships and future collaboration, this booklet contains brief abstracts of our graduate student and faculty research activities. We strongly encourage you to contact them to further learn about and discuss their research in greater detail. On behalf of our faculty and graduate students, we thank you for your participation and we hope you will see us as trusted partners for continued collaboration. Lindsay Emery Business Development Manager of LIINC WVU Office of Research & Economic Development 304-293-0391 lindsay.emery@mail.wvu.edu
Name Badge Key Blue: Industry Gold: WVU 2
GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Co-gasification of coal and hardwood pellets Gasification is the known technology for producing syngas, a mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and traces of methane, to be used for power generation, Fisher-Tropsch Liquid fuel production and other energy related applications. Co-gasification of a mixture of coal and biomass is capable of producing a low carbon-footprint compared to that of coal gasification alone. We are using a down-draft fixed bed gasifier coupled with a gas cleaning system and an electricity power generation unit for our testing. We are measuring the product gas composition, syngas carbon conversion efficiency and syngas energy conversion efficiency. Applications:
Synthesis of bio-diesel, ethanol by Fisher-Tropsch process
Production of electricity in remote areas
Advantages:
Low carbon footprints and low tar production
Utilization of forest residue
An integrated gasification to electricity system with 4’X5’ floor footprint
Student: Jagpinder Singh Brar paubrar@gmail.com PI: Kaushlendra Singh Kaushlendra.singh@mail.wvu.edu
Co-firing torrefied woody biomass with coal: A new challenge for power generation When combined with coal, woody biomass could account for up to twenty percent of the co-combusted material used in power plants. This feasibility has emerged as excellent option for voluntary reduction in CO 2 emissions,
3
however, woody biomass presents several limitations that are associated with its low energy density compared to fossil fuels, grinding energy, and variability in moisture content, and it is microbiological degradable during storing. Today, it is possible to improve all biomass disadvantages through the torrefaction process. Results obtained in our laboratories have demonstrated that red oak (Quercus rubra) can be efficiently torrefied in a fluidized bed reactor obtaining different grades of torrefied material. Likewise, preliminary experiments of co-firing torrefied red oak with coal showed promising results such as similar coal combustion behavior and less CO2 emissions. Products and applications:
Torrefied material: A product oriented to companies that are producing pellets as energy material for domestic and semi-industrial applications.
Blends of torrefied material and coal: Corresponding to a new raw material for energy application that can be used in domestic boilers and mostly oriented to power plants.
Advantages:
Torrefied woody biomass is an improved material compared with woody biomass since it has high energy density, easy grindability, less variability in moisture content, and no microbiological degradation during storing.
Co-firing of blending torrefied red oak with coal presents improved characteristics compared with woody biomass; that is, similar coal combustion behavior and less CO2 emissions.
Student: Juan C. Carrasco jcarasco@mix.wvu.edu PI: Gloria S. Oporto Gloria.oporto@mail.wvu.edu Chair: Jingxin Wang Jxwang@wvu.edu
4
Pelletizing torrefied woody residue with coal Bioenergy resources are an important area in the progression of alternative energy sources. A major obstacle to overcome lies in the ability to economically transport the materials. However, by pelletizing biomass into energy and dimensionally dense products, transportation costs are more easily justified. Torrefaction of woody biomass produces material with increased fuel properties and thermal decomposition behavior, compared to that of traditionally torrefied wood, increasing its attractiveness as a feedstock for gasification. By pelletizing the torrefied wood, economically feasible transportation can be achieved. Short rotation hybrid poplar trees established at WVU in 2007 will be further studied as a potential feedstock for gasification. Biomass from the hybrid poplars and other biomass residue will be mixed with various additives such as coal fines. The mixtures will be pelletized and investigated by material mixtures, particle size, moisture content, binder type, and temperature. Applications:
Use as an energy producing feed stock for power plants
Residential and commercial heating
Energy production through gasification
Advantages:
Reduce emissions currently observed from coal-fired power plants
Extend the life of coal reserves
Utilization of woody residue
Create energy-dense fuel that can be transported easily
Student: Greg Estep gdestep@gmail.com PI: David DeVallance David.devallance@mail.wvu.edu
5
Promoting low-value hardwood utilization for value-added bioproducts via the addition of urea to the hot water extraction process In Appalachia, there are significant amounts of woody biomass in the form of residue left in the woods after a logging operation is finished. The availability of these materials makes them desirable for utilization as a feedstock for the conversion into bio-fuels and other bio-products. The disclosed process is a method by which cellulosic woody biomass could be broken down into a second generation product: sugars such as glucose. The disclosed process uses urea as an additive to a hot water extraction to enhance the removal of hemicellulose and cellulose from woody biomass. This process would lead to a more efficient and cost effective method of producing sugars from cellulosic material, thus providing a new source of fermentable sugars for the production of liquid fuel. Applications:
Reduce the amount of slash left in the woods after a logging job
To produce second generation products, such as sugars
Production of sugars could lead to further refining into liquid fuels or other end products
Advantages:
Find a cheaper alternative to ammonia extraction yet produce similar yields
Readily available raw material without significant additional cost needed for harvesting
Student: Amy Everman aeverman@mix.wvu.edu PI: Jingxin Wang Jxwang@wvu.edu
6
Highly specific prediction of eukaryotic protein-protein interactions for network-based analyses Most biological processes are mediated through networks of interacting proteins, yet the experimental work required to verify these interactions is highly laborious and error prone. The disclosed computational process would allow researchers to quickly and exhaustively scan all proteins of a given organism for potential interactions while maintaining a low error rate. The disclosed method is based on a random forest prediction algorithm, which uses SVM-based subcellular localization predictions and conserved domain information to predict whether two proteins physically interact with one another. A whole proteome scan of the yeast proteome (~2.2×107 pairwise comparisons) takes approximately 2 hours on a desktop computer and yields over 8,300 known interactions out of 23,500 total predicted positives. The method may also be used on other eukaryotic genomes prior to downstream networkbased analysis. Our lab group will use these predictions to study the molecular basis of heterosis in poplars, an important crop for the production of biofuels. Applications:
Narrowing the scope of proteins to experimentally verify
Discovering protein-protein interactions for newly sequenced organisms prior to network-based analysis
Targeting groups of proteins for transgenic experiments following association studies
Advantages:
Extremely fast
Requires only primary sequence data
Method can easily incorporate other features useful for PPI prediction
Student: Eli Rodgers-Melnick erodger2@mix.wvu.edu PI: Steve DiFazio spdifazio@mail.wvu.edu
7
Conversion of recovered fish protein to value-added foods The disclosed protein recovery process presents a reliable method for extracting nutritionally valuable fish protein and oil from otherwise hard to process fish and its byproducts. The method disclosed would allow high protein recovery with similar or improved functional, textural and color properties of protein gels compared to the ones obtained by using traditional surimi processes. The disclosed protein recovery process relies on isoelectric solubilization and precipitation (ISP) to separate the muscle proteins from the fish frames, skin and scales. The recovered protein can then be infused with standard food additives to produce a protein gel that can be used in the production of nuggets, fish sticks, sausages and surimi. Therefore, this technology may increase the commercial viability of hard to process fish protein as a functional ingredient in value-added foods. Applications:
Using valuable fish resources efficiently while reducing byproduct waste
Producing value-added food products
Creating nutritious food for human consumption
Advantages:
Uses otherwise hard to process and invasive fish or by products
End product can be used in a wide range of marketable food products
Process can be tailored according to the intended end product properties
Student: Ilgin Paker Yikici ipaker@mix.wvu.edu Co-PI: Kristen Matak Kristen.matak@mail.wvu.edu Co-PI: Jacek Jaczynski Jacek.jaczynski@mail.wvu.edu
8
Synthesis of antimicrobial nanoparticles in cellulose-based materials for food packaging application The antimicrobial properties of copper nanoparticles are attracting important attention due to their feasibility for spoilage inhibition of packaging materials. Our research is focused on the use of nano-porous three-dimensional network structure and high specific surface of a cellulose derivative material as a template and stabilizer for the synthesis of metal nanostructures. The process disclosed herein is meant to promote the utilization of cellulose as a template for copper nanoparticles with emphasis of application as antimicrobial nanocomposites for packaging. The disclosed method uses carboxymethyl cellulose as a template for synthesizing copper nanoparticles through in situ approach. The main process consists of high-speed mixing carboxymethyl cellulose and copper sulfate solution followed by addition of sodium borohydride solution as a reducing agent to graft copper nanoparticles onto the surface of carboxymethyl cellulose. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analyses confirm the formation of copper nanoparticles on the surface of carboxymethyl cellulose. The ongoing work corresponds to optimizing the copper nanoparticles on the surface of the cellulose in terms of well-distribution and controlled particles size and evaluating antimicrobial properties of copper nanoparticles coated carboxymethyl cellulose. Our future work is to establish strategies for achieving controlled and prolonged release of copper nanoparticles from the cellulose and to evaluate its antimicrobial effectiveness with controlled release property. We also can apply this facile method to synthesize copper nanoparticles using other cellulose as templates to promote the utilization of cellulose from underutilized and sustainable materials. Applications: 
Inhibiting spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms that are contaminating foods

Extending the shelf life of the foods
Advantages: 
Promote the utilization of underutilized and sustainable materials for
9
high value products 
Environment-friendly biodegradable food packaging with antimicrobial properties can replace nondegradable petroleum-based packaging and provide quality and safety benefits
Student: Tuhua Zhong TZhong1@mix.wvu.edu PI: Gloria S. Oporto Gloria.oporto@mail.wvu.edu Chair: Jingxin Wang Jxwang@wvu.edu
10
“Excel in research, creative activity, and innovation in all disciplines.” —Goal 2, WVU 2020 Strategic Plan for the Future
11
Hosted by Linking Innovation, Industry and Commercialization (LIINC)
For more information on LIINC, please visit the website at: http://innovation.research.wvu.edu or contact Lindsay Emery directly at lindsay.emery@mail.wvu.edu 304-293-0391 Made possible from the support of the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
12