EPA Contest Awards Up to $15,000 to Lewis University Chemistry Students

Submitted by Lewis University

ROMEOVILLE, IL — A team of student researchers at Lewis University was among the 38 university student teams awarded a grant through the People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) student design competition, funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Each team received up to $15,000 for their proposed projects to develop new, sustainable products and strategies.

These teams will showcase their projects April 16-17 at the National Sustainable Design Expo during the USA Science and Engineering Festival in Washington D.C. After the Expo, the teams compete for Phase II awards of up to $75,000 to further develop their designs and potentially bring them to the marketplace.

This year’s teams are testing innovative ideas such as repurposing chemical byproducts from the mining industry into new concrete that helps inhibit the corrosion of steel and developing a food waste collection kiosk that will spur food waste to energy production in the local community.

Lewis University’s project is “Design of a Solar Powered Water Purification System Utilizing Biomimetic Photocatalytic Nanocomposite Materials.” The research team includes undergraduate students Jeromy Rech of St. John, Ind., Zachary Widel of River Grove, Ill., Lisa Janes of Tinley Park and Elizabeth Senese of Romeoville. Jacob Murray of Romeoville and Samantha Brain of Joliet are graduate student mentors. The research team is led by Dr. Jason Keleher, associate professor and chair of Chemistry at Lewis University.

The Lewis University project provides a solution for the lack of access to clean water, by creating a sustainable water supply that improves the overall quality of life in developing nations across the world. The basis of this project includes the development of a solar capture photovoltaic nanocomposite (PV) to power a pump coupled with a solar activated water purification nanocomposite (WP). The project is unique in that it uses solar energy to power a self-sufficient water purification system.

Lewis University chemistry degree students engage in a challenging curriculum taught by industry-leading chemists while working in state-of-the-art facilities with cutting-edge lab equipment. Bachelor’s degrees available include Chemistry, Biochemistry and Chemical Physics, while graduate degree programs include Chemistry and Chemical Physics.