On April 12, 2024, a bus load of EEE’s finest grad students stepped out onto the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus, ready to learn, present, and network.

Laura Almeida Tinjaca, Tripta Bhattacharjee, Wanyue Hui, Albin John, Yiming Liu, Amanda Lopez, Thomas Maani, Neha Shakelly, Hongji Su, Yue Yao, and Xiaoyu Zhou were heard from keynote speaker Damon S. Williams PE, BCEE, F.ASCE, Managing Member, DSW Water Strategies, LLC and the 2023-2024 AEESP Distinguished Lecturer Professor Elizabeth A. Edwards, Ph.D., P.Eng.

“The highlight this year was learning from Professor Elizabeth Edwards, the distinguished lecturer selected by the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP). Her pioneering work in bioremediation technologies is particularly relevant to my research, providing both inspiration and practical insights,” EEE Ph.D. student Yiming Liu shares.

Additionally, many students brought posters and research to share with fellow students and scholars.

“My participation in this conference was driven by a strong desire to share the findings from my first publication, as well as the ongoing work in lab, with the scientific community dedicated to advancing efforts in clean water and renewable energy transition. I really enjoy connecting with people from different universities through science, so the opportunity to exchange knowledge and discoveries was very enriching and meaningful for me,” Another EEE Ph.D. student Amanda Lopez says.

Below are spotlights on Amanda Lopez and Yiming Liu’s research and recent achievements.

Amanda Lopez

Amanda Lopez is a EEE Ph.D. Student working with Dr. George Zhou. Over the last two years, she assisted in teaching several classes including EEE 489 (Senior Design) EEE 240, CE/EEE 456 (Wastewater Treatment Processes) and EEE 390 (Professional Practice Seminar). Amanda recently received a Graduate Teaching Excellence award from the Center of Institutional Education. She is also a part of the EnergyTech Up Central Regional Finalist team, Carbonbusters: Removing the barrier to entry to net-zero biofuels.

Why did you choose EEE?

I chose EEE because it's a department that aligns with my goals and values. Its philosophy, classes, and expert professors have equipped me with the tools I need to make a meaningful impact in my community, particularly in building resilience in the face of the imminent effects of climate change.

Tell us about your research, “Cost-Effective Water Treatment and Energy Production with Microalgae.”

The objective of this study was to develop a cost-effective solution to treat water and generate energy with microalgae. Six microalgal-bacterial consortia were isolated from the Ecuadorian Amazon for wastewater treatment at San Francisco de Quito University. The results showed that their nutrient removal efficiencies were up to 93.78% with average removal rates for ammonia and phosphate being 8.04 ± 1.07 and 6.27 ± 0.66 mg/L/d, respectively. A recently developed biomimetic approach in Purdue University achieved a high efficiency for algal lipid extraction with over 92% energy saving. The feasibility of combining nutrient removal with microalgae for simultaneous water treatment and biofuel production in an integrated system is being evaluated. The coupled nutrient removal and biofuel production with microalgae could contribute to the development of a cost-effective solution for clean water and clean energy.

How does your research impact the world?

The world is facing a water and energy-pollution crisis. In the capital city of Ecuador, the wastewater treatment capacity is just 3.5%, letting the rest wastewater to flow untreated into rivers. To curb river pollution, which are drinking water sources for communities, the capital needs at least 22 treatment plants, yet only seven are up and running. Meanwhile, in the U.S., fuels are responsible for driving 73% of greenhouse gas emissions and a staggering 92% of U.S. CO2 emissions. Predictions state that in just 36 years, our reliance on fossil fuels will exceed their supply. These unsustainable trends demand an immediate shift towards renewable, clean water and energy sources. Our research aims to be a game-changing solution. Leveraging the photosynthetic power of microalgae, we're developing a cost-effective and technologically accessible method to not only provide clean water but also generate renewable energy.

Yiming Liu

Yiming Liu has been a EEE Ph.D. Student since August of 2021. He currently works with Dr. Hua Cai on environmental impact research. Yiming is a Purdue Ross Fellowship recipient, an award that recognizes academic excellence. He also recently won 1st place in the 11th Annual ABE Graduate Industrial Research Symposium-Poster Session and 2nd place in the 11th Annual ABE Graduate Industrial Research Symposium-Oral Presentation for his poster and presentation on the environmental impacts of US historical oil spill incidents. Yiming also presented this poster at the 2023 UIUC Conference.

Why did you choose EEE?

I chose EEE because it is a highly interdisciplinary field that aligns perfectly with my background in chemical and environmental engineering. The program offers a wide range of research topics, including life cycle assessment and data science, which directly complement my interests and my advisor’s projects. Additionally, EEE's flexible coursework requirements allow me to tailor my studies to fit my specific academic and professional goals, enhancing my educational experience.

Tell us about your research, “Evaluating the environmental impacts of U.S historical oil spill incidents.”

Oil spills are more common than many realize and can cause serious environmental and economic damage. While major incidents like the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill receive a lot of attention, smaller spills are often overlooked. Our project aims to comprehensively assess the environmental impacts of historical oil spill incidents in the U.S.

We began by utilizing a dataset from NOAA and enhancing it with data mining techniques to clean and organize the data into a comprehensive oil spill database. This allowed us to analyze the patterns, volumes, and impacts of oil spills.

Our key findings include:

• The frequency and volume of oil spills vary significantly from year to year.
• Since 1990, the U.S. has experienced oil spills totaling approximately 480 million gallons—triple the amount of the Deepwater Horizon spill.
• Most spills occur in coastal and offshore areas, where oil drilling and transportation are concentrated.
• The toxicity of crude oil spills is on par with that of benzene, a well-known hazardous substance, underscoring the severe risks these spills pose to both human health and marine ecosystems. 

How does your research impact the world?

My research sheds light on the often-overlooked environmental impacts of oil spills. By integrating these insights with the known impacts of oil production and usage, we enhance the understanding of the oil supply chain's full lifecycle environmental effects. This comprehensive approach significantly enriches the life cycle assessment framework, enabling better-informed decisions that could mitigate environmental damage worldwide.