University of Utah Environmental Engineering Professor is at the Forefront of New Nanobubble Technology

Peculiarly powerful, nanobubbles have opened a new frontier in science and engineering, creating promising environmental and medical applications. But what exactly is a nanobubble? Imagine a tiny water bubble that’s 2,500 times smaller than a single grain of salt. Then imagine that bubble being extremely versatile. So versatile that it’s beginning to be used for water treatment, accelerated wound healing, and even removing CO2 from the atmosphere.

That’s a strong little bubble.

The problem? Creating nanobubbles is currently very energy-intensive and inefficient.

Dr. Hong and his team at the University of Utah are pioneering a novel, energy-efficient process for creating nanobubbles. This process, developed in the Meldrum Civil Engineering building, has numerous promising applications.

In collaboration with Dr. Lewis and Dr. Fleming of the University of Utah Health Sciences and fellow Environmental Engineering professor Dr. Jennifer Weidhaas, Dr. Hong has a patent pending for this new and innovative energy-efficient process.

Since they’ve streamlined this difficult process, Dr. Hong’s team is one of the few to be able to effectively research the application of nanobubble technology in Environmental Engineering – as well as its medical applications.

Applications of Various Nanobubbles

• Ozone nanobubbles can break down harmful chemicals in water, such as PFAS, which are resistant to degradation and harmful. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) were widely used chemicals found in many products, but they persist in the environment and pose health risks. Ozone nanobubbles provide a means to degrade PFAS, offering a promising solution to this environmental challenge. As we improve methods to detect and measure PFAS in air, water, soil, and wildlife, ozone nanobubbles present a viable treatment option for contaminated water sources.
• Oxygen nanobubbles accelerate wound healing by delivering long-lasting oxygen and beneficial reactive oxygen species to tissues. The presence of oxygen is crucial for cell repair and regeneration. By cleaning wounds with water containing oxygen nanobubbles, they enhance oxygen delivery to the affected area, promoting faster and more effective healing. This technology has significant implications for medical treatments and patient recovery times.
• A more recent application is to convert CO2 nanobubbles from the atmosphere into solid rock minerals. This process, known as carbon mineralization, involves CO2 nanobubbles reacting with earthly cations such as calcium and magnesium ions in water to form stable, solid carbonates. This not only helps in reducing greenhouse gases but also provides a method to sequester carbon in a permanent form. This innovative approach contributes to global efforts to mitigate climate change by addressing carbon emissions.

This groundbreaking research is happening right here on campus, showcasing the University of Utah’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. Dr. Hong’s team is making significant strides in environmental engineering research and its medical applications by being at the forefront of nanobubble technology.

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Jonah Brown’s Contributions to Campus Construction Project

This summer, Civil & Environmental Engineering student Jonah Brown is contributing to the construction of the new Applied Sciences building right here on campus in his role as a Project Intern with Okland Construction.

Entering his junior year, Jonah is pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering to fulfill his long-time aspiration: to work on landmark buildings that cities are known for—a passion that has been driving him since he was 11 years

Jonah’s time at the University of Utah has been enriched by the relationships he has built and the classes he has taken. Among his favorite courses are Statics and Strength of Materials, which have laid a strong foundation for his engineering education. Outside the classroom, Jonah is an active member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, which he joined in Spring 2023. His fraternity experience has helped him develop leadership skills and confidence—traits that will help him in his engineering career. Notably, his chapter raised over $300,000 for cancer research this year, a testament to their collective dedication and effort.

In his current role as a Project Engineer intern, Jonah is not only involved in the construction of the Applied Sciences building but also in the renovation of the Stewart building. He expresses deep gratitude towards his team, especially his mentor David, for their continuous support and guidance in navigating the construction industry.

Jonah’s connection to the University of Utah runs deep. With a family legacy that includes his great-grandmother, grandfather, father, and brother all having graduated from the U, attending this university has always been his dream. He feels privileged to contribute to its growth by helping build remarkable structures on campus.

Combining academic rigor, practical experience, and community involvement, Jonah’s experiences in the Civil & Environmental Engineering program, his internships, and his Sigma Chi membership at the University of Utah will undoubtedly equip him to achieve his goal of creating the landmark structures that define cities.

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PhD Candidate Taylor Kimball’s Introduces New Reactor Efficiencies

The 2024 American Nuclear Society (ANS) Annual Conference, a leading event for nuclear science and engineering professionals, took place in Las Vegas, NV from June 16-19, 2024. This year’s theme, “All In on Nuclear Deployment: The Stakes Have Never Been Higher,” emphasized the critical importance of nuclear technology in today’s world. The University of Utah’s Nuclear Engineering Program (UNEP) made a strong showing, with two PhD students presenting their groundbreaking research.

Taylor Kimball, one of the PhD candidates from UNEP, shared his innovative research on computational TRISO fuel simulations—an essential advancement for the future capabilities of nuclear power.

Standing for TRi-structural ISOtropic particle fuel, TRISO is an advanced type of nuclear fuel known for its high performance and safety features. In his presentation, Kimball introduced a new method for generating cross sections for these TRISO fuel simulations. Cross sections are essential data that describe how nuclear fuel interacts with neutrons, which is crucial for accurately simulating and analyzing nuclear reactors.

Kimball’s new method offers a practical way to create multi-group cross sections specifically for TRISO fuel applications. While TRISO fuel is known for its robust performance and high safety margins, it also requires precise simulation techniques to ensure its effectiveness. Kimball’s approach has shown promising results, particularly in system eigenvalues, which are critical parameters for reactor stability and performance, using a simple MCNP (Monte Carlo N-Particle) TRISO fuel compact model.

In his future work, Kimball plans to refine these techniques further. Enhancements will include advanced methods like adjoint-weighted broad group energy structures and fully deterministic system eigenvalue calculations.

These improvements aim to develop a comprehensive and practical approach for deterministic TRISO reactor analysis, potentially leading to better reactor designs and safer, more efficient nuclear energy production.

Taylor Kimball, set to graduate next May, has been with UNEP since August 2022, focusing his research on computational radiation transport. His work specializes in fuel burnup and depletion calculations, as well as cross section generation, making significant contributions to the field.

The participation of UNEP students and faculty at the ANS Annual Conference highlights the program’s commitment to being at the forefront of nuclear science and engineering. Their research not only showcases the high level of scholarship within the program but also contributes to the broader nuclear engineering community.

Discover Nuclear Engineering at the University of Utah

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