Materials Solutions for
Environmental Problems:
Nanomaterials for Water Treatment
Jaeyun Moon, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Fri., April 13, 12:00 pm
Milner Exec. Boardroom (0560 MEK)
Abstract:
Global concerns about the environmental sustainability have induced the new technologies development including materials innovation and applications. The materials research has made many contribution in environmental recovery and protection. Our research group investigate (nano) materials to improve water treatment technologies targeting a variety of pollutants. In this talk, the development of materials used in the treatment processes–adsorption and advanced oxidation process (AOP) will be discussed. The activated carbons were modified with polymer coatings and employed as an adsorbent to remediate hexavalent chromium, Cr (VI) which is a toxic form of Cr element from water. It was observed that the polysulfide rubber coating on activated carbons enabled to adsorb Cr (VI) effectively, particularly in high concentration environment. In addition, the findings from our research regarding nano-scale zero valent iron particles will be presented. Despite great potential of zero valent iron nanoparticles for groundwater remediation, their high tendency for agglomeration reduces surface area and consequently, deteriorate the performance. To address this drawback, the zero valent iron nanoparticles were immobilized in porous medium (e.g. mesoporous silica, activated carbons) and the materials were characterized in terms of physical-chemical properties and reaction kinetics. This talk will suggest the value in considering advanced materials as a great solution to environmental problems we have, now and in future.
Bio:
Dr. Jaeyun Moon is an Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engienering at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). She obtained her Ph.D. degree from the University of California, San Diego and joined UNLV in 2014. Before she started her Ph.D. study, she had worked for Samsung Electronics as a senior engineer/manager working on DRAM process development and data analysis. At UNLV, she is a principal investigator of ‘Energy and Environmental Materials Laboratory’ and focusing on study of thermoelectronic materials and metal oxides for energy applications, and advanced adsorbents and nanomaterials for environmental applications. Her research group has conducted the research projects supported by Department of Energy (DOE), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and industries (Tesla and Hyundai motors).