Add AIChE poster

content/academia/pva-aiche.md

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+---
+title: "Measuring Diffusion of Trichlorethylene Breakdown Products in Polyvinylalginate"
+date: 2018-10-29
+cardImage: library
+draft: false
+featured: false
+keywords:
+  - bioremediation
+  - polyoxometalate
+  - hydrogel polymers
+  - proton transport
+  - chemical engineering
+type: "Poster"
+authors:
+  - Thomas A. Christensen II
+  - Samuel R. Wolfe
+  - Jonathan Counts
+  - Mark F. Roll
+  - Kristopher V. Waynant
+  - James G. Moberly
+journal: "AIChE Annual Meeting"
+location: "Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"
+awards:
+  - '3rd Place Environmental III Division Undergraduate Poster Competition'
+---
+
+Trichloroethylene (TCE), a toxic and carcinogenic contaminant, presents unique
+challenges for cleanup because of its water solubility, density, and volatility.
+Bioremediation of TCE is a promising cleanup method; however, metabolism of TCE
+results in acid generation that inhibits remediating microorganisms. Calcium
+alginate(CA)-polyvinylalcohol (PVA) hydrogels show promise for protecting
+remediating microbes, however diffusion of TCE or its byproducts through these
+polymers is unknown. To measure the effective diffusion coefficient of TCE and
+byproducts through hydrogel membranes, we used a modified diaphragm cell.
+Measured effective diffusion coefficient of each species was (cm {{< sup 2 >}}/s
+× 10{{< sup 6 >}}): 14.0 ± 1.91 for H{{< sup "+" >}} ions, 12.4 ± 1.64 for TCE,
+7.83 ± 0.54 for cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (DCE), and 4.68 ± 4.14 for vinyl
+chloride. These results aid in engineering biobeads and suggest that CA-PVA
+hydrogel blends are effective in slowing diffusion of protons, buffering acids
+produced by trichloroethylene metabolism, and remains suitable for encapsulation
+of microorganisms involved in bioremediation.