Author: David Lee

Dr. Mark Blenner, Assistant Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, recently received a prestigious Young Investigator Award from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research to study strategies for engineering enzymes for more robust activity in changing and extreme terrestrial environments. The project entitled “Engineering Robust Enzyme Activity Through Fundamental Studies of Extremophile Enzymes” was among 57 awards given out to young scientists and engineers across the country that show exceptional ability and promise for conducting basic research relevant to U.S. Air Force needs. The award funds 3 years of research for $360,000.

In this research project, Prof. Blenner and his research group are changing the DNA sequence of bacteria and yeast to make new enzymes. They order the exact DNA they want from private suppliers and then apply the DNA into bacteria, such as Saccharomyces cervisiae, the same type of yeast used to make beer.

One enzyme being studied, organophosphate hydrolase, could be used by the Air Force to degrade nerve agents.   They are also working with another enzyme called cutinase that can degrade polyester.   If they can use it to degrade polyester, they also want to see if they can re-engineer it in the opposite direction to synthesize the polyester material so it could repair itself when activated. For example, a flight jacket torn in combat could repair itself. Enzymes are biological catalysts that withstand only a very narrow range of temperature. The use of enzymes in applications such as environmental sensing, materials fabrication, and materials degradation will require the enzymes to operate in a wide range of temperatures and environmental conditions. Prof. Blenner’s research group is pursuing protein engineering strategies to create new enzymes with robust activity across a wide temperature range.

For related television interview and article, please go to the following links:

http://www.wspa.com/story/29045383/clemson-researcher-yeast-e-coli-could-detect-chemical-weapons

http://newsstand.clemson.edu/engineered-enzymes-could-lead-to-self-repairing-clothes/?utm_source=Refeed&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=%40CES+March+2015&utm_term=Blenner+receives+Air+Force+Young+Investigator+Research+award

Dr. Scott Husson (ChBE) and Dr. David Ladner (EEES) are collaborating on research addressing the “water-energy nexus” as members of Clemson’s Water-Energy Consortium (WEC). The WEC comprises over 40 Clemson faculty members whose mission is to “contribute research leading to technology innovations in water systems with a minimization of energy and carbon footprints, as well as energy systems with a minimization of water and carbon footprints.”

Drs. Husson and Ladner are focused on harnessing the energy that is released when low-salinity waters mix with high-salinity waters, such as when rivers reach the ocean. This “blue energy” can be harvested through a membrane process called pressure retarded osmosis (PRO), which involves water transport from a low-salinity source through a semipermeable membrane to a high-salinity draw solution. Hydraulic pressure in the draw solution compartment increases due to continuous inflow of large volumes of water from the feed solution. Mechanical power equal to the product of hydraulic pressure and water transport rate can be converted to electrical power using hydro-turbines. To make PRO feasible, more effective membranes are needed. The membranes must have high mechanical strength to withstand operational stresses, yet they must be thin and permeable to allow rapid water transport.

To address this challenge, the research team is developing thin-film composite membranes that incorporate unique nanomaterials. Dr. Husson notes that “the research is providing a deep understanding of how chemical functionalization of the membranes and nanomaterial additives impacts their mechanical properties and performance.” The project also seeks to improve public science literacy among individuals living in Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina by using entertainment media education. Through a partnership with a local television program that serves over 800,000 households in the nation’s 36th largest market, the team is developing on-air science demonstrations and web-based science videos to reach a large and highly diverse audience.

It is exciting research that is attracting national attention. Says Dr. Husson,“Clean and sustainable power sources are in demand due to increasing energy consumption, depletion of fossil fuels, environmental concerns, and increases in the cost of fossil-fuel-based energy. There remains a need for development of new, emerging alternative energy sources. PRO is one ‘untapped’ source.”

For related television interviews and articles, please go to the following links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnpi4lA9VNA

http://www.wral.com/clemson-research-could-help-convert-saltwater/14553959/

http://www.islandpacket.com/2015/04/06/3684836/clemson-research-could-help-convert.html

http://www.heraldonline.com/news/state/south-carolina/article17127380.html

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/apr/6/clemson-research-could-help-convert-saltwater/?page=all

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/pickens-county/2015/03/14/clemson-research-help-convert-saltwater-global-impact/24777717/

http://www.wltx.com/story/news/2015/03/15/clemson-research-could-help-convert-saltwater-and-have-global-impact/24805687/

http://greertoday.com/greer-sc/experts-warn-of-looming-threats-to-water-and-energy-security/2015/03/25/

http://www.labmanager.com/news/2014/12/clemson-university-sharpens-focus-on-water-and-energy-challenges?fw1pk=2#.VI7YJXs99So

http://www.independentmail.com/news/clemson-researchers-looking-to-water-for-renewable-energy_06958630

http://upstatebusinessjournal.com/news/scientists-study-relationship-water-energy/

ChBE graduate student, Christine Duval, was honored by the College of Engineering and Science with the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant award. She was presented this award by Dean Gramopadhye at a banquet in April. Christine won this award based on the tremendous impact she has in the classroom. The Department also presented Margarita Arcila-Velez with the Outstanding Graduate Research Assistant award. Christine’s advisor is Dr. Scott Husson and Margarita’s is Dr. Mark Roberts.

In other graduate student news, Juan Wang, was selected for a Separations Division Graduate Research Award. Juan will be recognized at the Separations Division Dinner in Salt Lake City in November.   Steven Weinman won 1st place in the Membrane Properties section for the student poster competition at the 2015 North American Membrane Society (NAMS) meeting in Boston. He was first from well over a hundred entries. Both are graduate students with Dr. Husson.

At the College of Engineering and Science awards banquet in April, Dean Gramopadhye and Dr. Hirt presented Trey Ryder with the Western S.C. Section AIChE Scholastic Achievement Award.   This award is presented to the graduating senior in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering with the highest scholastic average.

The department ChBE Undergraduate Researcher of the Year Award was presented to Samuel Leguizamon.   This award is presented each year to the undergraduate who performs at the highest level of distinction in research.

The ChBE Junior of the Year Award went to Andrew Carlin.   Andrew was given this award for completing his junior year with the highest scholastic average.

And Seth Elliott was presented the Western S.C. AIChE Section Scholarship.

In other news, Shelby Thies, an undergraduate honors student who works in Dr. Husson’s research group, was accepted to the Radiochemistry Fuel Cycle Summer School at the University of Las Vegas.   Acceptance to the program is very competitive and she will spend 6 weeks learning about radioanalytical chemistry and taking tours of Department of Energy facilities.

The Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department would like to congratulate the Senior Class of 2015. The students were honored at a Senior Reception on April 23rd at the Madren Center, and the department hosted an Open House for the graduates and their families on graduation day, May 8th. The faculty and staff of ChBE wish all of our graduates the best of luck in their future endeavors!

Dr. Kyle Brinkman was honored at the 20th Annual College of Engineering and Science banquet on April 30th with the Outstanding Young Alumni Award.   The award was presented to him by Dean Anand Gramopadhye and department chair, Dr. Doug Hirt. At a relatively young age, Prof. Kyle Brinkman has established an impressive track record of multidisciplinary, collaborative research resulting in significant contributions to national and international research initiatives, particularly those between academia and national laboratories.   Prof. Brinkman received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering at Clemson in 1998 and his M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering in 2000.   In 2004, he received his Ph.D. from the Swiss Federal Institute of Lausanne, Switzerland.

Prof. Brinkman is currently an Associate Professor at Clemson in the Materials Science and Engineering Department.   In the ten months he has been active at Clemson as a professor, he has already secured more than $1 million dollars in sponsored research.     Prior to Clemson, he was a Program Manager for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the Savannah River National Laboratory, where he worked from 2008 through 2014.   He has been the P.I. or co-P.I. on more than $5 million dollars in sponsored research and has authored or co-authored over 70 peer-reviewed technical publications and government reports.   He has made significant advances in various focus areas including hydrogen storage and purification, electronic ceramic materials for solid oxide fuel cell systems, and crystalline ceramics for applications in nuclear energy.   His successful collaborations have produced quality results, and he has been recognized by various professional societies and the Department of Energy for his research achievements. Prof. Brinkman’s most recent research project, which made the front page of the Greenville News, is exploring new materials that could safely store nuclear waste.   His research team is focusing on a crystalline ceramic that will be based on naturally occurring minerals that endure for millions of years.   This project won an $800,000 research grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

The Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering nominated alumnus Dr. Kyle Brinkman for the Outstanding Young Alumni Award because he has proven to be an exceptional scholar, a world-class scientist, and an outstanding leader.

The Alumni Association hosted their annual Golden Tiger Class Reunion across campus on June 11th and 12th. We were honored to host our very own Chemical Engineering Class of 1965 in Earle Hall on the afternoon of the 12th. This reunion was organized by their fellow classmate Frank Shuler and a great time was had by all. Some of the classmates had not been back in Earle Hall since they graduated so there was a lot to catch up on. Dr. Hirt gave them a tour of our building and labs and gave them an update on the department. Happy 50th – Class of 1965! We hope you come back soon!

Pictured (L-R): Larry Upton, Richard Stuckey, Dendy Sloan, Skeet Martin, Frank Shuler, Doug Edmundson, and Ron Taylor.

For an important related article, please go to the following link:

http://newsstand.clemson.edu/mediarelations/class-of-65-gives-clemson-1-2-million-at-50th-reunion/