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SVC professor receives $200,000 grant from National Science Foundation to study water desalination

SVC professor receives $200,000 grant from National Science Foundation to study water desalination

by Public Relations | May 08, 2024

LATROBE, PA – Dr. Adam Wood, assistant professor of engineering in the Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing at Saint Vincent College, received a $200,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to fund research on water desalination.

Dr. Wood’s project, which is entitled "Carbon electrodes with controlled surface topology for desalination and water disinfection," is studying how to use bread to produce fresh, drinkable water. A significant portion of the grant will enable undergraduate students to work on the project over the summer and through the upcoming academic year.LATROBE, PA – Dr. Adam Wood, assistant professor of engineering in the Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing at Saint Vincent College, received a $200,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to fund research on water desalination. Dr. Wood’s project, which is entitled "Carbon electrodes with controlled surface topology for desalination and water disinfection," is studying how to use bread to produce fresh, drinkable water. A significant portion of the grant will enable undergraduate students to work on the project over the summer and through the upcoming academic year. “NSF grants are very competitive and this award speaks to the high quality and potential impact of the research conducted by Dr. Wood,” said Dr. Stephen Jodis, dean of the Boyer School. “I am very excited for Dr. Wood and the opportunities for our students who will work with him on this project.” Over the past two years, Dr. Wood and engineering student David Bujdos, C 24, of Munhall, have experimented with using whole wheat bread to create carbon electrons, which when charged by a power source can remove salt and other minerals from low-salinity water. “You can hook it up to a solar cell, put it out in the sun and turn saltwater into pretty much freshwater, so it is a water-purification technique,” Dr. Wood said. “You can also use it to kill bacteria in the water. We’re not there yet, but we’ve got it started and we’ve proved that this works.” The process on a large scale could someday lead to an effective, accessible and less expensive way of purifying water for cities, municipalities and people all over the world. “We’re not at that stage yet,” Bujdos said. “But with more funding comes more resources and more workers to be able to advance the project.” PHOTO: SVC engineering student David Bujdos (left) and Dr. Adam Wood

“NSF grants are very competitive and this award speaks to the high quality and potential impact of the research conducted by Dr. Wood,” said Dr. Stephen Jodis, dean of the Boyer School. “I am very excited for Dr. Wood and the opportunities for our students who will work with him on this project.”

Over the past two years, Dr. Wood and engineering student David Bujdos, C 24, of Munhall, have experimented with using whole wheat bread to create carbon electrons, which when charged by a power source can remove salt and other minerals from low-salinity water.

“You can hook it up to a solar cell, put it out in the sun and turn saltwater into pretty much freshwater, so it is a water-purification technique,” Dr. Wood said. “You can also use it to kill bacteria in the water. We’re not there yet, but we’ve got it started and we’ve proved that this works.”

The process on a large scale could someday lead to an effective, accessible and less expensive way of purifying water for cities, municipalities and people all over the world.

“We’re not at that stage yet,” Bujdos said. “But with more funding comes more resources and more workers to be able to advance the project.”

 

PHOTO: SVC engineering student David Bujdos (left) and Dr. Adam Wood

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