Phillip Thompson

Thermal pretreatment of algae for anaerobic digestion.

The objective of this work was to determine the benefit of thermal pretreatment on biogas yield from microalgae-fed anaerobic digester mesocosms. Replicate Nanochloropsis oculata cultures were heated for 4h at 30, 60, and 90°C, as well as at a constant temperature of 90°C for 1, 3.5, and 12h. Net biogas production increased from 0.28L biogas/g volatile solids added (VSa) for the control to 0.39 L biogas/g VSa (p<0.01) when heated at 90°C, but there was no improvement at 30 or 60°C. Increased biogas production correlated with increased soluble chemical oxygen demand (COD). Net biogas production increased as a function of heating time, from 0.32 L biogas/g VSa for the control, to 0.41, 0.43, and 0.44 L biogas/g VSa (p<0.05 for all combinations vs. control) when preheated at 90°C for 1, 3.5, and 12h, respectively. However, despite enhanced biogas production the energy balance is negative for thermal pretreatment.

Effect of mycorrhizal fungi on the phytoremediation of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX).

The objective of this research was to decrease the bioaccumulation of RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine) in the leaves of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and hybrid poplar trees (Populus deltoides x nigra, DN34) by exploiting the symbiotic relationship between these plants and mycorrhizal fungi. Prior to dosing with uniformly labeled (14)C-RDX, plants were grown for three months to establish the symbiosis. Results showed that the presence of mycorrhizal fungi does not significantly decrease the concentration of RDX in leaf tissues for experimental periods of 30 days. Results also indicated that a radiolabeled volatile organic compound was emitted by both plant species. This is the first evidence that a whole plant can facilitate the transformation of RDX to a volatile organic chemical.

Economically Sustainable Safe Drinking Water Systems for the Developing World

An estimated 1.5 million people (mostly children) died in 2007 from waterborne illness. While this number is unacceptably high, it represents a 16 percent improvement over the previous three years. This paper discusses the challenges and solutions to delivering clean water in the developing world. It then discusses safe water projects for a childrens dormitory in Mae Nam Khun, Thailand, and for a community in Chirundu, Zambia. Both projects were designed and implemented by the Seattle University student chapter of Engineers Without Borders (SU-EWB). These projects had technical challenges that are relatively easy to resolve in the developed world, but were particularly challenging in their contexts. This paper examines how these challenges were met through collaboration with several organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control in the United States and small businesses within the host countries.

Workshop - capstone engineering design assessment workshop

This workshop is based on assessments developed under a National Science Foundation grant to create versatile assessments for capstone engineering design courses. It will prepare capstone design instructors to adopt and implement these assessments for enhancing and documenting student achievement in their courses. The workshop will interoduce participants to a learner and solution development model for design achievement and to performance criteria used to target achievement. Seven assessments exercises will be presented, along with scoring rubrics for establishing performance levels. Participants will explore assessment instruments and sample student work to learn the assessment implementation and interpretation process. Each participant will receive a set of assessment instruments and scoring rubrics for their use.

Workshop: Assessing professional skills for ABET

The Integrated Design Engineering Assessment and Learning System (IDEALS) is a set of assessment instruments that focus on aspects of professional development such as leadership, ethics, project management and communication skills within the context of capstone engineering design projects. These instruments have been piloted across a broad spectrum of diverse engineering programs and are available in a web format that facilitates data collection from students and feedback from instructional staff. This knowledge has been synthesized into a set of engaging and transferable modules that include learning objectives, supporting resource materials, preparatory tasks, lesson plans for faculty, and recommendations for timely follow-up using the online assessments. In addition, the instruments enhance student development through both formative and summative feedback and can be used to provide evidence for demonstrating the achievement of ABET student outcomes and program specific criteria.

Work in progress - web-based implementation of capstone engineering design assessments

Assessment of student performance in capstone engineering design is vital to student learning and to program accreditation and improvement. Performances important to capstone design courses include studentspsila growth in personal capacity for design, development of teamwork, development of design processes, and delivery of solution assets. The Transferable Integrated Design Engineering Education (TIDEE) consortium is creating and testing a capstone design assessment system to measure these student performances and provide rapid personalized feedback. Broad adoption of this assessment system requires ease of use by both students and instructors. This paper describes design features of a Web-based implementation of the TIDEE capstone design assessment system.

PILOT-SCALE TREATMENT OF TNT-SPIKED GROUNDWATER BY HYBRID POPLAR TREES

Groundwater contaminated with TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene) is common at ammunition waste sites around the world. Phytoremediation or the use of plants to remediate environmental contamination is a promising means of addressing this problem. This paper describes a pilot-scale, greenhouse experiment that examined the irrigation of hybrid poplar trees (Populus deltoids x itnigra, DN34) with TNT-spiked groundwater. TNT removal and metabolite production were monitored and showed that up to 90% of the TNT could be removed with only minor production of metabolites. Biomass production, water use and TNT toxicity were also evaluated under these more natural (non-laboratory) conditions. The results indicated that a poplar tree remediation system may be a feasible solution for low-levels of groundwater contamination.