Posters presented at the October 16, 2006 Deans’ Forum on Energy Security and Sustainability

Energy and the Environment

3: The Sustainable Mobility Laboratory

Sustainable mobility is a concept intended to describe ways of moving people and goods around while eliminating the ensuing environmental damage caused by vehicles and infrastructure. Rising prices and uncertain sources of oil present the massive challenge of shifting our entire transportation system to other sources of energy in the coming decades. In the U.S., the transportation sector is the largest emitter of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Furthermore, according to the World Health Organization, urban air pollution, whose main source is vehicle emissions, contributes to the deaths of over 700,000 people each year. In addition to consuming enormous amounts of resources and seriously degrading air quality, transportation also exacerbates many environmental and societal problems, such as water pollution, noise, erosion, and traffic. Resolving these problems will require an interdisciplinary approach that is hindered by the current definitions of areas of inquiry. To begin addressing the gaps in interdisciplinary education and research about mobility, technology, and the environment, we have created the Sustainable Mobility Lab. It is an inclusive, active website that introduces users to the diversity and challenges of the professionals engaged in sustainable mobility research and action. The Sustainable Mobility Lab contains three separate content modules: (1) race car simulation, (2) environment, and (3) mobility and your body. In the first module, the user designs a race car, selecting engine type, fuel, road surface, and weather, and then tests the car on a race track. The module integrates cutting-edge scientific and engineering models and data from the literature in an easily accessible format to allow users to explore the impacts of their choices. In the second and third modules, the user explores environmental and societal aspects of sustainable mobility. The Sustainable Mobility Lab’s interdisciplinary combination of transportation-related programs makes it a unique educational and research tool.

Linsey Marr, lmarr@vt.edu, 231-6071, Dept: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Mail code: 0246, Affiliation: faculty

John Lindoes, jlinford@vt.edu, Dept: Comp Science, Affiliation: graduate student

10: Virginia Tech Green Engineering Program

Green Engineering focuses on the design of materials, processes, systems, and devices with the objective of minimizing overall environmental impact, including energy utilization, throughout the entire life cycle. The Virginia Tech Green Engineering Program crosses all disciplines in the College of Engineering. The mission of this program is fourfold: (1) to increase engineering students’ awareness of the environmental impact of engineering decisions; (2) to provide students with courses and other educational experiences in which they learn engineering skills to minimize environmental impacts and to design for sustainability; (3) to facilitate interdisciplinary research and collaboration in areas of green engineering and sustainability among faculty at Virginia Tech; (4) to engage the university, local, and global communities in discussions focused on engineering approaches to sustainability. Students can obtain a concentration in Green Engineering by taking 18 credits in specific classes which focus on the impact of engineering practice on the environment. The topic of energy is a thread which necessarily runs through all aspects of the Green Engineering Program. Six (6) of the twelve (12) Principles of Green Engineering defined by Anastas, et. al, explicitly refer to energy [1]. The topic of energy is covered in detail for the two core classes for the concentration, Introduction to Green Engineering, and Environmental Life Cycle Analysis. In the latter class, the efficiency, reliability, environmental impact, and cost of energy sources are analyzed over all life cycle phases (raw materials extraction, manufacturing, transportation, use, and disposal) for a product, process, or system. Additionally, energy is a significant topic for at least 18 additional classes across campus which can be used as part of the requirements for the Green Engineering Concentration. [1] P. Anastas and J. Zimmerman, Environmental Science and Technology, v. 37, n. 5, March 1, 2003, p. 94A-101A.

Sean McGinnis, smcginn@vt.edu, 231-1446, Dept: Materials Science and Engineering, Mail code: 0237, Affiliation: faculty

11: The use of potential renewable energy resources for developing water supplies to meet global water demand

Safe and adequate water supplies are needed to protect public health and to sustain economic productivity. The Engineer of 2020, a National Academy of Engineering publication quotes: “The question of water is at the heart of a 600-page world water development report issued by the United Nations in 2003. It’s projected that within the next 20 years virtually every nation in the world will face some type of water supply problem.” To meet future global water demand, in addition to developing conventional surface and groundwater sources that are fast diminishing, it has become necessary to develop alternative water sources such as urban storm water runoff, municipal wastewater treatment plant discharges, saline and other impure waters for human consumption and economic activities. Currently, advanced and highly effective water purification systems using technologies such as membranes and thermal (distillation) processes are being developed for this purpose. However, these advanced water purification technologies are energy intensive and feasibility of implementing these technologies are directly affected by energy consumption. Therefore, there is a significant need to integrate renewable energy resources into water production systems. Potential renewable energy resources include solar energy (e.g. photovoltaic and solar energy concentrators/collectors), wind energy, geothermal energy, and ocean energy (tidal power, wave energy, ocean thermal energy). This poster presentation provides an overview of the potential use of renewable energy resources for developing sustainable water supplies that implement advanced water purification technologies. The presentation will address the potential and limitations of these alternative energy resources for production of sustainable water supplies and the need for developing interdisciplinary research, institutional framework, and policy making to meet future global water demand.

Tamim Younos, tyounos@vt.edu, 231-8039, Dept: Virginia Water Resources Research Center, Mail code: 0444, Affiliation: faculty

14: Energy Research at Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research - The Carbon Sequestration Initiative

The Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research (VCCER) was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1977 as an interdisciplinary study, research, information and resource facility for the Commonwealth. Research and educational themes include energy security, resource development, carbon storage, sustainable development and international outreach. This poster will focus on work performed on carbon sequestration as part of SECARB (the Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership), one of seven partnerships created by the US Department of Energy to determine optimum approaches for capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2). Phase I of SECARB addressed point source CO2 emissions in the southeast and potential sequestration sinks. Options for CO2 storage included depleted oil and natural gas reservoirs, deep saline aquifers, terrestrial ecosystems and unmineable coal seams. The VCCER-lead team completed regional characterization of coalbeds, located favorable areas to sequester CO2 and quantified CO2 storage capacity and associated enhanced coalbed methane (CBM) recovery in Virginia. Under SECARB Phase II (2005-2009), VCCER will demonstrate carbon sequestration potential in unmineable coal seams in the Black Warrior and Central Appalachian Basins. The primary objectives are to verify the sequestration capacity and performance of mature CBM reservoirs through pilot well injection of CO2. Testing in vertical and horizontal CMB wells will help determine the optimum design of future large-scale operations. The VCCER Phase II Coal Seam Team includes: • Research Team: Marshall Miller & Associates, Geological Survey of Alabama, Advanced Resources International, Kentucky Geological Survey and Eastern Coal Council. • Industrial Cost Share Partners: McJunkin Appalachian, CDX Gas, Southern Company, RMB Earth Science, AMVEST Oil and Gas, CONSOL Energy, Dart Oil & Gas, Natural Resource Partners, Pocahontas Land, Alpha Natural Resources, Equitable, GeoMet and Penn Virginia. • Corporate Partners: Alpha Natural Resources, F.D. Robertson Enterprises, Norfolk Southern, Dominion Resources, Natural Resource Partners and International Coal Group.

Michael Karmis, mkarmis@vt.edu, 231-5273, Mail code: 0411, Affiliation: faculty

Nino Ripepi, nripepi@vt.edu, 231-5458, Affiliation: graduate student

18: The INTEGRATION Modeling Framework for Estimating Mobile Source Energy Consumption and Emission Levels

Transportation network improvements are commonly evaluated by estimating average speeds from a transportation/traffic model and converting them into emission estimates using an environmental model such as MOBILE or EMFAC. Unfortunately, recent research has demonstrated that average speed, and perhaps even simple estimates of the amount of delay and the number of vehicle stops on a roadway, is insufficient to fully capture the environmental impacts of alternative transportation scenarios. Specifically, for the same average speed, one can observe widely different instantaneous speed and acceleration profiles, each resulting in very different fuel consumption and emission levels. In an attempt to address this limitation, the paper presents the INTEGRATION model framework for quantifying the environmental impacts of transportation alternatives. The model combines car-following, vehicle dynamics, lane changing, energy, and emission models to estimate mobile source emissions directly from instantaneous speed and acceleration levels. The validity of the model is demonstrated using sample test scenarios that include traveling at a constant speed, traveling at variable speeds, stopping at a stop sign, and traveling along a signalized arterial. The study also demonstrates that an adjustment in driver aggressiveness can provide environmental benefits that are equivalent to the benefits of adaptive traffic signal control.

Hesham Rakha, hrakha@vt.edu, 540-231-1505, Mail code: 0118, Affiliation: faculty

Kyoungho Ahn, kahn@vt.edu, 540-238-8457, Mail code: 0118, Affiliation: postdoc

19: Enhanced Efficiency in Organic Solar Cells through Nanoscale Concentration Gradient Profiles

Organic solar cells, with current power conversion efficiencies up to 5%, are heavily investigated as potential low-cost, lightweight, large area. high efficiency renemable energy sources. We have a developed a novel method for controlling the composition of organic solar cells at the nanometer length scale in order to further increase the conversion efficiency. Organic photovoltaic devices rely on photo-excited charge transfer from an electron donor such as a conducting polymer, to a high electron affinity acceptor such as C60 or its derivatives. A close proximity of the donor and acceptor components is required to ensure an efficient electron transfer process. In addition to this, a continuously connected path of each component is required from the site of charge transfer to the electrode for efficient charge collection and optimum device performance. Device efficiencies are increased by utilizing improved materials as donors and acceptors as well as controlling the nanoscale morphology of the thin film devices. Our study concentrates on thermally interdiffusing a bilayer of the donor and acceptor materials to create a concentration gradient, in order to optimize both the charge transfer and charge transport processes. Such concentration gradients in poly (3-octylthiophene) (P3OT) – C60 photovoltaic devices have been achieved by thermally interdiffusing a bilayer of the two materials at temperatures above the glass transition temperature and below the melting point of the polymer; at such temperatures the polymer softens allowing the fullerene to diffuse in. An in-depth study on devices interdiffused at 130 0C for 5 minutes and air cooled in an inert atmosphere is presented. Experimental study of component layer thickness variations yields optimum performance for devices with P3OT and C60 initial layer thicknesses each in the range 40 to 60 nm. Auger spectroscopy is used to record the concentration gradient in the film and theoretical models have been developed to confirm the effects of material properties and processing parameters on the device efficiency.

James Heflin, rheflin@vt.edu, 231-4504, Dept: Physics, Mail code: 0453, Affiliation: faculty

Anamika Gopal, agopal@vt.edu, 231-9849, Mail code: 0453, Affiliation: graduate student

Rick Davis, rmdavis@vt.edu, 231-4578, Mail code: 0211, Affiliation: faculty

28: Biodiesel - Fuel from Oilseed Crops

According to Daimler-Chrysler, diesel engines provide a 30% reduction in fuel consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% compared to gasoline engines. These benefits are further increased when biodiesel fuels are used, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels for transportation needs. Biodiesel reduces emissions of particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide. When biodiesel is made from vegetable oils, the biofuel component is carbon neutral resulting is less or the same amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the air as was stored in the plants. Because of oxygenation during the transesterification process to convert vegetable oils into biodiesel, the latter has higher cetane numbers than petrodiesel, an indication of diesel quality (similar to octane). Biodiesel typically has good lubricity, an important factor with todays low sulfur diesel requirements. There are about 65 production plants currently in the U.S. with a capacity to produce 395 million gallons of biodiesel per year. Any crop that produces oil is a candidate for use as biodiesel feedstock. In Virginia soybean is the leading candidate for use as biodiesel feedstocks with >500,000 acres of production. Research has shown that canola is another crop with good potential since it can be grown here and produces more oil on a per acre basis. Compared to soybean, canola has a lower content of saturated fatty acids resulting in a lower cloud point and better cold weather performance, and a lower iodine value resulting in greater biodiesel stability.

Fred Shokes, fshokes@vt.edu, 757-657-6450, Affiliation: faculty, Tidewater AREC

Harbans Bhardwaj, hbhardwj@vsu.edu, 804-524-6723, Affiliation: faculty, Virginia State University

Dave Starner, nparec@vt.edu, 540-672-2660, Affiliation: faculty, Northern Piedmont AREC

Michael Roberts, mrob@vt.edu, 804-733-2686, Affiliation: Extension Farm Management, Prince George County

31: The Powell River Project: Research and Education to Enhance Coal Mine Restoration

The Powell River Project conducts research and education programs to enhance restoration and use of coal-mined lands. The Powell River Project was initiated in 1980, operates with involvement and support by Virginia's coal industry, and remains active today. Coal is an abundant domestic energy source, but the landscape disturbances that are necessary to mine coal create environmental chalenges. The Powell River Project is an interdisciplinary program that involves faculty from the Colleges of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Natural Resources, Science, and Engineering in solving problems concerning mining operations impacts' on land and water resources. Current programs address reclamation and use of coal-mined lands for forests, livestock grazing, and wildlife; mining impacts on aquatic resources and their mitigation; and management of coal-combustion products in mined-land environments.

Carl Zipper, czip, 231-9782, Dept: Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Mail code: 0404, Affiliation: faculty

35: Leachate Chemistry of Mixtures of Fly Ash and Alkaline Coal Refuse

Field plots and leaching column experiments clearly indicated that bulk-blended coal combustion products (CCP's) have the potential to ameliorate acid drainage production from acidic coal refuse as long as acid-base balance concerns are met. However, the potential water quality effects of bulk-blends of alkaline CCP's with neutral to alkaline coal refuse has not be evaluated. Particularly the mobility of a number of oxyanions (e.g. As, Se, and Mo) from CCP's may be enhanced in a high pH leaching environment and pose a potential problem to ground water and receiving streams. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of CCP/alkaline coal refuse mixtures on water quality. This was accomplished through our accelerated leaching column approach. Columns were 15cm in diameter and 75cm in height. The experiment consisted of three ash-mixing rates (0, 10 and 20% by volume) and two leaching environments, saturated vs. unsaturated. Leaching was accomplished with the application of simulated rainfall water (pH 4.8), applied twice a week. The columns were sampled for six months. The ash-amended columns generated very high leachate pH values (between pH 8.5 and 11.5) that declined slightly but steadily with time. Leachate levels of As and Se in all leachates were much higher than the primary drinking water MCL and were directly related to ash loading rate. Leachate Mo levels were high initially and responded to ash mixture rates. Saturated leachates were consistently higher in Mo than their unsaturated counterparts, and leachate levels dropped rapidly after several pore volumes of elution to relatively low levels. Leachates coming from columns represent a worst-case scenario of the leaching potential of selected oxyanions. Successful field-scale co-disposal of CCP's with alkaline coal refuse will depend on multiple site-specific factors to ameliorating the high concentration release by the CCP amended alkaline coal refuse.

Mike Beck, mikebeck@vt.edu, 231-8659, Dept: Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences00, Mail code: 0404, Affiliation: postdoc

W. Lee Daniels, wdaniels@vt.edu, 231-7175, Dept: Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences00, Mail code: 0404, Affiliation: faculty

Matt Eick, eick@vt.edu, 231-8943, Dept: Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences00, Mail code: 0404, Affiliation: faculty

36: Model Bio-based Energy and Products Development System

Development of agriculture- and forestry-based products has a great potential to bolster and diversify Southside and Southwest Virginia economies by opening competitive opportunities for the establishment of new industries in this region. We have assembled a multidisciplinary team of researchers and entrepreneurs to create a small-scale energy production system based on sustainable cultivation and conversion of locally produced biomass. The major objective of this project is to develop local production capability using biomass to generate energy and novel value-added products. In the Phase I of the project (partly funded by the Virginia Tobacco Commission) we will establish a Bio-Based Energy and Products Research Center with companion operations at Virginia Tech and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) in Danville, and demonstrations at Windy Acres Nursery and Greenhouse operation in Gretna, VA. The Center will serve as a research and technology development/implementation base for the utilization of short-rotation woody plant species (i.e., hybrid poplar, willow) and herbaceous perennials (i.e., miscanthus, switchgrass) as feedstocks for bio-energy products (bio-oil, bio-gas, and novel wood and grass pellets fortified with recyclable materials to enhance their energy outputs). A sustainable feedstock production system utilizing local resources, including wood ash and animal manures available in the vicinity of the Center will be developed and used for research and education purposes. Economic evaluation of the entire working model - feedstock production, harvesting, storage, pre-processing, and the processing - will be conducted. Market research on the distribution and sale of the companion co-products will proceed with the demonstration activities. A biomass feedstock breeding program for high BTU value and novel applications will be established and integrated into the existing molecular biology and bioinformatics research at Virginia Tech and IALR. Phase II will focus on setting up spin-off enterprises.

Jerzy Nowak, jenowak@vt.edu, 540-2315451, Dept: Horticulture, Mail code: 0327, Affiliation: faculty

41: Sustainability through Leadership

Environmental sustainability is an issue that the students of Virginia Tech can address through leadership in the following fields; Energy & Environment, Energy & Conservation, and Energy Buildings. The Environmental Sustainability group of the Tech Leadership Program is working to promote programs such as the Green Fee and the Campus Climate Challenge. Students can take the lead in energy and environmental issues, setting an example for others in the campus and town community. The university should invest in long-term energy efficiency and conservation programs such as the Talloires Declaration and LEED. These programs will allow the university to further invest in campus infrastructure such as energy buildings or green buildings. The long-term benefits of increased energy efficiency on campus far outweigh the up front costs. With all the current issues concerning the environment, it is crucial for the Virginia Tech leadership community to become involved and set an example that will change students’ perspectives on what the future can hold if we work to incorporate sustainability into our everyday lives. It is important to recognize that the students themselves can take on these issues and make changes at a local level that will have a global impact. The Environmental Sustainability group will work to inspire, motivate, and educate the Virginia Tech community on the issues of Energy & Environment, Energy & Conservation, and Energy Buildings so that we as a university and learning community can truly “invent the future.”

Caitlin Plunkett, cplunk04@vt.edu, (703) 498-8572, Affiliation: undergrad

Thomas Allen, tallen05@vt.edu, Affiliation: undergrad

Desiree Aaron, dcaaron@vt.edu, (757) 375-0662, Affiliation: undergrad

39: Impact of Emissions from Building Materials on Energy Use and Indoor Environment Quality

We are studying the impact of chemical emissions from building materials on indoor environmental quality and energy use, and developing low emitting materials for use in green buildings. Energy use in buildings comprises about one third of all energy used in the United States. In addition, the production, maintenance, renovation, and demolition and disposal of buildings represent 10% of US energy demand. In 1997, residential end-use consumption was responsible for about 15% of the total energy consumed nation-wide, of which more than 50% is related to heating. Despite the energy efficiency improvements achieved, building energy intensity remains a serious concern. The quality of indoor air has a bearing on health and impacts the quality of life. Indoor air quality can be improved by controlling the myriad pollutant sources, quantifying the economic impact of negative exposure, promoting environmentally sound design and construction practices, and through better education. Many chemicals encountered indoors (usually at substantially higher concentrations than outside) cause adverse sensory effects, giving rise to a sense of discomfort and other health impacts. The control of indoor air quality is often inadequate in spite of its significant effect on human health. This challenge is exacerbated with the drive to construct “air-tight” energy-efficient buildings and there is a conflict between strategies to reduce energy use and to create healthy buildings.

John Little, jcl@vt.edu, 231 8737, Dept: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Mail code: 0246, Affiliation: faculty

Ying Xu, xuying@vt.edu, 231 8737, Dept: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Mail code: 0246, Affiliation: graduate student

60: LandCare

Landcare is an internationally successful program promoting community-based, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable solutions to agricultural, energy, natural resource, and community development challenges. The College of Natural Resources, Conservation Management Institute, and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are working with international, national, state, and local organizations to establish operational LandCare programs in Virginia and position Virginia Tech to play a leadership role as LandCare emerges and spreads through the US. LandCare creates a new, politically powerful constituency for Virginia Tech and a living laboratory for our learning, discovery, and engagement activities. LandCare operates in more than a dozen countries. In Australia, for example, over 5,000 local LandCare groups exist and over 85% of Australians recognize the LandCare logo. LandCare Pioneers and the Council for US LandCare are two US organizations promoting LandCare in cooperation with partners such as the following: • National Association of Regional Councils • National Association of RC&D Councils • Natural Resources Conservation Service • USDA’s National Sustainable Development Office • National Association of Conservation Districts • White House Cooperative Conservation Initiative • Numerous businesses and business councils Grayson LandCare is one of the few operational groups in the US and is already working closely with Virginia Tech faculty and programs. This Grayson County based organization seeks to improve landowner incomes and environmental conditions in the New River Basin through innovative practices for value-added grazing, forestry, water, and biofuels management. Using Landcare as the model, the effort has stressed personal responsibility for the environment and future welfare of the region, "neighbors helping neighbors" through community based groups, integrated watershed management, whole forest and farm planning, scientifically validated practices, and the development of value-added industries and products to access new markets. (The poster will list collaborating local organizations and VT faculty and describe program specifics)

R. Bruce Hull, hullrb@vt.edu, 231 7272, Dept: Forestry, Mail code: 0324, Affiliation: faculty

61: Evaluating Wildlife Response to Vegetation Restoration on Reclaimed Mine Lands in Southwestern Virginia

Substantial effort is devoted to identifying efficient and effective means of identifying, extracting, and converting fossil fuels to usable energy in an environmentally sensitive manner. Although mine operators understand how to restore vegetative cover on mine sites, as required by the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, relatively little work has been done to determine the response of wildlife populations to these re-vegetation efforts on reclaimed mine lands. Land use is typically changed following a disturbance such as mining, and post-disturbance habitat and resources may be strikingly different from their former composition. Lack of vegetative cover, change in vegetation type, changes in soil properties, and altered topography following a major disturbance can make inhabitance by wildlife challenging. Our proposed research will determine composition of bird and salamander assemblages in different age classes of forests planted on reclaimed lands; compare these communities to those on adjacent, undisturbed forest; determine the relationship of wildlife to the structure and composition of the restored forests; and, provide guidelines that can be used to address wildlife concerns when restoring vegetative cover on reclaimed mine lands. This work will be conducted on Powell River Project sites in Wise County, Virginia, and other nearby industry sites. We anticipate that two years of field sampling will be required to sample the wildlife communities and determine their relationship to reclaimed habitat. Successful completion of this project will provide new knowledge that can be used to guide reclamation of mine lands while considering wildlife habitat needs.

Amy Carrozzino, acarroz@vt.edu, 231-5320, Dept: Fisheries and Wildlife Science, Mail code: 0321, Affiliation: graduate student

Dean Stauffer, dstauffe@vt.edu, 231-7349, Dept: Fisheries and Wildlife Science, Mail code: 0321, Affiliation: faculty

Carola Haas, cahaas@vt.edu, 231-9269, Dept: Fisheries and Wildlife Science, Mail code: 0321, Affiliation: faculty

62: Optimizing biomethane production potential from agricultural residues

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is not a new technology, but provides options for managing organic waste such as animal manure, food processing wastes, and crop residues to produce valuable products such as biogas, organic acids, alcohols, and stable fertilizer. Our research focuses on methods to increase the quantity of biogas produced using anaerobic digestion from agricultural residues by looking at different methods of pretreating feedstock to enhance their biodegradability and different reactor configurations for biogasification. Phased anaerobic digestion technology processes manure and other organic materials with solids content greater than 10%. This technology has benefits similar to conventional anaerobic technology, but with the added advantage of improved biogas production efficiency and reduced digester size. Also, some organic materials, especially the lignocellulosic materials in the manure that are normally difficult to digest in conventional digesters, can be digested by this technology. This technology has been described as anaerobic phased solids digester, high solids anaerobic digestion, or leach bed anaerobic digestion. The two-phase system allows smaller digester sizes and can handle material with solids content > 10%. Our research focuses on enhancing biogas production from animal manure by: 1. Isolating rumen microorganisms and optimizing their growth conditions to “accelerate” the degradation of manure fiber and then integrating the rumen organisms into phased anaerobic digesters for enhanced biogas production 2. Investigating acid fermentation using thermophilic cellulolytic bacteria for the first stage of phased anaerobic digestion for enhanced biogas production

Jactone Arogo Ogejo, arogo@vt.edu, 231 6815, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: faculty

>Julia Fan, zlfan@vt.edu, 231 7425, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: faculty<

Zhiyou Wen, wenz@vt.edu, 231 231 9356, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: faculty

64: Development of a Nitrifying Microbial Fuel Cell for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment

Wastewater treatment is an energy intensive process that removes contaminants and protects the environment. While some wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) recover a small portion of their energy demand through sludge handling processes, most of the useful energy available from wastewater remains unrecovered. Efforts are underway to harness energy from wastewater by developing microbial fuel cells (MiFCs) that generate electricity. To date, MiFC technology based on wastewater treatment has focused on utilizing energy from carbon metabolism; however, this approach has been plagued with inefficiencies. Microaerobic nitrifying MiFCs have key advantages over carbon-based metabolism (e.g., higher electron flux potential of ammonia-N over most forms of carbon in domestic sewage) and could eventually replace aerobic ammonia oxidation at WWTPs. Another significant challenge with MiFCs has been the transfer of electrons from the bacteria to the anode. Nanostructure-enhanced anodes have the potential to facilitate more efficient electron transfer for MiFCs because carbon nanostructures, such as nanofibers, possess outstanding conducting properties and increase the available surface area for cellular attachment. We have developed a novel nitrifying MiFC that contains a nanostructure-enhanced anode, which has successfully achieved power generation of 43 mW/m2 over 9 hours (comparable to early achievements by carbon MiFCs). Overall, this technology has the potential to significantly reduce wastewater treatment plant operating costs and make the larger-scale implementation of MiFC technology far more feasible. The outcome would be a technology that could generate enough electricity to power more than 100,000 homes (assuming 41% efficiency) off the ammonia in domestic sewage at treatment facilities across the United States (worth roughly $100 million/yr in energy production).

Nancy Love, nlove@vt.edu, 231-3980, Dept: Civil and Environmental Engineering00, Mail code: 0246, Affiliation: faculty

Jeremy Guest, jsguest@vt.edu, Dept: Civil and Environmental Engineering00, Mail code: 0246, Affiliation: graduate student

Sayangdev Naha, sayan@vt.edu, Dept: Engineering Science and Mechanics, Mail code: 0219, Affiliation: graduate student

Joshua Sole, jsole@vt.edu, Dept: Mechanical Engineering, Mail code: 0238, Affiliation: graduate student

Ishwar Puri, ikpuri@vt.edu, 231-3243, Dept: Engineering Science and Mechanics, Mail code: 0219, Affiliation: faculty

Michael Ellis, mwellis@vt.edu, 231-9102, Dept: Mechanical Engineering, Mail code: 0238, Affiliation: faculty

65: Architecture: The Reflection of Nature and Human Dwelling

Due to the growth of the global economy, the increase in the consumption of fossil fuel energy and natural resources has had many effects on the natural environment. One of them, the Green House Effect has dramatically changed the world’s climate. The unbalanced atmosphere has created many problems to the dwelling of mankind and other species. In the late 20th century, the green movement was begun to ensure that the development agenda informed the environmental agenda and was based upon a respect of ecological processes. Continuing in the new century, sustainable development becomes the new paradigm of the world economy development. In the architecture field, buildings use of energy is the highest percentage of the overall national energy production. On the other hand, buildings produce a lot of waste and pollution to the natural surrounding. Therefore, the knowledge of architecture sustainability is very important for the sustainable development. From these reasons, the poster possibly represents the utilization of clean energy sources and environmental friendly materials, the sufficient and efficient use of energy and resources, and the well management of waste and pollution. Moreover, the architecture still has a commitment to provide the quality of life for occupants and human community. The poster should reflect the dwelling of nature, human and architecture.

Kongkun Charoenvisal, kongkun_c@vt.edu, (540)8087995, Dept: Architecture, Mail code: 0205, Affiliation: graduate student

77: Center for Advanced Separation Technologies (CAST)

The Center for Advanced Separation Technologies (CAST) is a consortium of seven universities which include Virginia Tech (lead institution), West Virginia University, New Mexico Tech, University of Utah, Montana Tech, University of Nevada, Reno and the University of Kentucky. The CAST consortium was formed in 2001 to develop crosscutting separation technologies to produce clean coal and to upgrade other energy and mineral resources in an environmentally acceptable manner. The objective is consistent with the President’s energy policy and with the new energy bill authorizing federal funding for Advanced Separation Technologies research. CAST receives $3-4 million annual funding from the Department of Energy (DOE).

Roe-Hoan Yoon, ryoon@vt.edu, 231 7056, Dept: Mining and Minerals Engineering, Mail code: 0258, Affiliation: faculty

Gerald Luttrell, luttrell@vt.edu, 231 6314, Dept: Mining and Minerals Engineering, Mail code: 0239, Affiliation: faculty

Hull Christopher, hullc@vt.edu, 231 4179, Dept: Mining and Minerals Engineering, Mail code: 0258, Affiliation: faculty

81: Water Quality Controls in Coal-mining Watersheds and the Total Maximum Daily Load Process

The US EPA, in cooperation with individual States, is in the process of characterizing mining watersheds in terms of water quality and quantity. Impacts are often identified by comparing biological conditions in one watershed to those in a “similar” reference watershed. Water quality and quantity data from a reference watershed(s) are often used to set water quality standards and thus waste load allocations for the “impacted” watershed. Constituents of concern identified by the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) process in coal-mining watersheds generally include pH, metals, total suspended solids (TSS), and/or total dissolved solids (TDS). For mine operators in mineralized watersheds, this regulatory approach is unfortunate as naturally-occurring mineral reactions can produce pH values below and metals and TDS concentrations above applicable federal or state standards in the watershed. For example, constituents that are not presently regulated (i.e, TDS) are compared to the chosen reference watershed concentrations and “impairments” identified using statistical methods. Water quality in any watershed is mainly controlled by the local soil, geologic, mineralogic, and/or hydrologic characteristics/conditions making such comparisons of questionable value. An example of a biologically-impacted watershed from a coal-mining area in SW Virginia will be discussed. Water quality impairments identified by the TMDL process include fecal bacteria, TSS and TDS. Data from both watersheds will be presented regarding the proposed TDS limits of 334 mg/L as well as the geochemical and hydrologic controls on the observed TDS concentrations. The water quality in the coal-mining watershed consists of primarily sodium, and to a lesser extent calcium and magnesium, and primarily bicarbonate and sulfate. The relationship between biologic impairment and the proposed TDS “standards” has also been evaluated and will be presented.

John Chermak, jcnermak@vt.edu, 231-1785, Mail code: 0420, Affiliation: faculty

Don Cherry, dcherry@vt.edu, 231- 6766, Mail code: 0406, Affiliation: faculty

85: Nitroxide Functional Block Copolymers for Advanced Polymeric Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries provide important power sources in small portable electronics. Currently, toxic and heavy supported metal oxides serve as cathode materials. Nitroxide containing polymers have demonstrated high performance as cathodes in lithium-ion batteries. These “organic radical batteries” exhibit rapid charging and discharging rates due to the rapid electron transfer processes responsible for oxidation of nitroxide groups to oxammonium cations. Due to the absence of mass transfer processes during this step (ion diffusion), the charging rates are high. Furthermore, the reversibility of the process results in long battery life. Recent efforts have centered on the synthesis of block copolymers containing pendant nitroxide functionality. These radical-containing block copolymers possess rubbery, low-Tg acrylic center blocks, providing elastic character. Thus, applications as flexible electrodes are envisioned. Furthermore, localization of the nitroxide groups to specific domains in the block copolymer matrix enable the development of cylindrical or lamellar nanostructures which could produce novel electrochemical behavior. Recent efforts have centered on the synthesis of N-tert-butyl-N-oxy-4-aminostyrene polymers with poly(n-butyl acrylate) rubber blocks. A novel difunctional alkoxyamine initiator that was developed in our laboratory was used to synthesize the triblock copolymers. We are currently using nitroxide mediated polymerization to prepare the block copolymer architectures. Due to the reactivity of the nitroxides in the polymerization methodology, we utilized silyl protecting groups to enable the synthesis of triblock copolymers. Subsequent deprotection with tetrabutylammonium fluoride and oxidation with silver oxide led to the formation of nanostructured nitroxide containing block copolymers. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) revealed the microphase separated nature of these systems. Characterization of the electrochemical properties of these materials is underway.

Timothy Long, telong@vt.edu, 540-231-2480, Dept: Chemistry, Mail code: 0344, Affiliation: faculty

Brian Mather, bmather@vt.edu, 540-250-5191, Dept: Chemistry, Mail code: 0212, Affiliation: graduate student

Takeo Suga, Affiliation: graduate student

Hiroyuki Nishide, Affiliation: graduate student

87: Bioenergy and Carbon Sequestration from Charcoal Production Using Wood Waste: Developing a Locally Made Charcoal Enterprise in Virginia, A Pilot Study

Rising energy demand and technological advances have made charcoal production from wood waste feasible at commercially operable scales. Residues from forest harvesting and untreated mill wastes provide suitable materials for producing heat and power, with charcoal or “charwood” as a valuable by-product. Wood carbonization is achieved under pressurized conditions with heat for drying and pre-heating charwood feedstock supplied by a separate gasification-combustion unit. Surplus heat is derived from the exothermic carbonization reactions, and power is generated through a pressure-driven gas turbine. Separate process controls on the combustion and carbonization chambers regulate drying and reaction rates to ensure volatilization of organics. The system’s low emissions and nearly carbon-neutral energy output could stimulate markets for small diameter wood removed in sustainable forest management operations, and offset carbon emissions from non-renewable fuels.
    Virginia and throughout the region has seen a growing supply of wood waste from forest harvesting operations, over crowded land fill sites, and natural disasters. To add value to this stream of wood waste a team from the College of Natural Resources is developing systems to produce and market natural lump charcoal. Program objectives include: develop and test a prototype small-scale natural hardwood charcoal manufacturing process that uses a portable kiln and small diameter logs or slab wood as raw material; demonstrate how to make a portable kiln and produce natural hardwood charcoal to forest managers, landowners, entrepreneurs and other interested parties; determine the feasibility of the small scale natural hardwood charcoal production; and evaluate local markets and effective marketing methods for natural hardwood charcoal. The poster will summarize progress thus far to develop and test a portable kiln and to explore ways to add market value to natural lump charcoal. Recent demonstrations for landowners and natural resource specialists have shown that the system has appeal in the region, and further improvement and testing of the system will continue.

Tom Hammett, himal@vt.edu, 231-2716, Dept: Wood Science and Forest Products, Mail code: 0323, Affiliation: faculty

Phil Radtke, pradtke@vt.edu, 231-8863, Mail code: 0324, Affiliation: faculty

93: Bioenergy Outreach by the Conservation Management Institute

Renewable energy use in state-owned facilities could have a great positive impact on the adoption of renewable energy sources. The Conservation Management Institute has been involved with multiple agencies and organizations in the development of switchgrass-based bioenergy projects to produce electricity and/or steam in Southside, VA. At present we are working with the Piedmont Geriatric Hospital, a state-owned facility near Crewe, VA, to evaluate the use of chopped switchgrass for producing steam to supply heat and hot water to the facility. Switchgrass or other warm-season grasses are a renewable energy source that traps carbon, provides quail habitat, reduces agricultural runoff into streams and rivers, and reduces emissions of key pollutants such as sulfur and mercury. Switchgrass production should also dramatically increase income to farmers from existing marginal hay lands in Virginia contributing to rural economic development.

Jeff Waldon, fwiexchg@vt.edu, 540/231-4540, Dept: Conservation Management Institute, Mail code: 0534, Affiliation: faculty

101: Impacts of Terrestrial and Coastal Wind Turbine Generators on Migratory and Resident Birds in the Eastern United States.

Our research group is currently developing proposals to work with the Mineral Mining Service (MMS) and the Commonwealth of Virginia on a suite of proposed wind turbine generator (WTG) projects in terrestrial and coastal ecosystems in Virginia, Massachusetts, and New York. We bring together expertise in population biology, behavioral ecology, and habitat selection ecology to study the potential impacts of WTG projects on threatened and endangered avifauna, including diverse species such as breeding Cerulean Warblers and migratory raptors in western Virginia and Piping Plovers, Red Knots, and other shorebirds on the Atlantic coast. This poster presents an overview of our knowledge of impacts of WTGs on avian species and highlights project-specific and regional research needs on the topics of best placement and operational tactics of WTG projects.

Sarah Karpanty, karpanty@vt.edu, 540-231-4586, Dept: Fisheries and Wildlife Science, Mail code: 0321, Affiliation: faculty

105: Slagging Properties of Poultry Litter Ash During Combustion

The safe and environmentally benign method of disposing poultry litter is a major challenge to Virginia’s poultry industry. Land application and feeding to cattle are not suitable options because of environmental pollution and biosecurity concerns. A safe alternative is the combustion of the litter to generate power or heat. However, because poultry litter contains ‘soft’ metals and mineral material that will melt or vaporize at conventional furnace operating temperatures, these volatile materials can critically interfere with the operation of the furnace, and must be removed through an expensive and time consuming process. In this project we studied the volatilization characteristics of poultry litter to enable us develop suitable methods for combusting this fuel without the adverse negative effects. This characterization was performed using a novel, low-cost method developed at Virginia Tech. The data shows that slagging of some of the poultry ashes may begin at temperatures as low as 650 C. Thus, if these factors are not considered in the design of the furnace, the process may experience major operational problems.

Foster Agblevor, fagblevo@vt.edu, 540-231-2578, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: faculty

Brandon Dillon, bdillon@vt.edu, Affiliation: graduate student

Seung-Soo Kim, Affiliation: postdoc

106: Bioconversion of Cotton Gin Waste to Ethanol

Cotton cultivation is of growing importance in southeastern Virginia. Over the past decade cotton cultivation has grown from 3000 acres per year to over 100,000 acres and six cotton gins have been established in the area to process the cotton. Processing cotton generates cotton gin waste that must be disposed to meet EPA standards. However, because all six cotton gins are very small, it is becoming difficult for them to meet EPA clean air standards. We have developed a process for converting the cotton gin waste to bioethanol while simultaneously disposing of the cotton gin waste. We have demonstrated that we can use steam explosion coupled with enzyme hydrolysis to convert cotton gin waste to ethanol. The process has been licensed to Xethanol LLC, New York, NY and it is currently being scaled-up for eventual commercialization. In this poster, we present results for the hydrolytic kinetics of steam exploded cotton gin waste at various initial concentrations of two enzymes: Novozyme NS50052 (Novozymes) and Spezyme AO3117 (Genencor International). The experiments show that after steam explosion about 90% of the biopolymers can be hydrolyzed to reducing sugars. However, there are vast differences in the activities of these two enzymes. The Novozymes enzymes which is an advanced form of cellulase enzyme developed for corn stover conversion to sugars was found to be more effective than the commercial Spezyme cellulase preparation. Our studies show that when cotton gin waste is combined with recycled paper sludge the ethanol yield can be as high as 90 gallons per ton.

Foster Agblevor, fagblevo@vt.edu, 231-2578, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: faculty

108: Biofuels: Solution for Nutrient Management in the Shenandoah Valley>

Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley accounts for about 25% of the poultry produced in the state. Poultry production generates poultry litter which is composed of manure, bedding, feathers and feed which must be disposed. The safe and economical disposal of poultry litter is becoming a major problem for the USA poultry industry. Current disposal methods such as land application and feeding to cattle are now under pressure because of pollution of water resources due to leaching and runoffs and concern for BSE contamination of the food chain. Incineration or combustion is potentially applicable to large scale operations, but for small growers and EPA non-attainment areas, this is not a suitable option because of the high cost of operation. Thus there is a need for developing suitable technologies to dispose poultry litter. In this poster we present data on the thermochemical conversion of poultry litter to pyrolysis oil (pyrodiesel) and slow-release fertilizer. The technology densifies the energy of the poultry litter for space heating of poultry houses. The ultimate goal is to build transportable pyrolysis units for operation in the Shenandoah Valley to process the waste from growers within one locality and thus reducing transportation cost. This technology will not only solve the waste disposal and water pollution problems but it will convert a potential waste to a high-value product such as energy and fertilizer. The National Fish and Wildlife Federation is sponsoring our research to reduce nutrient in the Shenandoah Valley.

Foster Agblevor, fagblevo@vt.edu, 231-2578, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: faculty

Sueng-Soo Kim, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: postdoc

Moses Mwetwaa, Dept: Biological Systems Engineering, Mail code: 0303, Affiliation: graduate student

Sustainable Blacksburg: Partnering for Greener Community

The Town of Blacksburg recognizes that local government operations can have a significant impact on the environment. Conserving natural resources, reducing energy costs, reducing pollution, and protecting the public health are priorities for the Town in its effort to be a responsible environmental steward. Since 2002, the Town has been participating in the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Environmental Excellence program. This voluntary program was established by DEQ to encourage superior environmental performance through environmental management systems (EMS) and pollution prevention (P2). In August 2006, the Town was awarded a U.S. EPA Resource Conservation Challenge grant to address the toxic chemical risks facing the community. Integral to this grant was the development of a broad based collaboration of community groups representing all reaches of the community, to include citizen groups, businesses, government, academic institutions, and non-profit groups. An outpouring of interest and support from the community lead to the formation of “Sustainable Blacksburg” and the first annual Environmental Awareness Week celebration in Blacksburg during the week of August 22, 2006. Over 40 groups and individuals have since joined “Sustainable Blacksburg” and efforts are underway to organize this collaborative partnership as a formal entity to work towards making Blacksburg a more sustainable community.

Kelly Mattingly, 961-1825, Town of Blacksburg

Susan Garrison, 558-0786, Town of Blacksburg