2024 Chemical Engineering Capstone Designs

PET plastic wastes requires 250-450 years to degrade, causing long term environmental damages. Only 7% of PET gets recycled, the rest eventuate in landfills or degrade into microplastics that enter aquatic ecosystems, thus a large-scale strategy for PET depolymerization is needed to reduce the PET plastic waste. Our project utilizes enzymatic reactions to depolymerize PET into its monomers to be recycled as industrial chemicals, promoting a sustainable approach to plastic use.

Faculty Advisors: Dr. Marc Aucoin, Graduate Student Aaron Yip

Direct recycling of  Li-ion batteries has been gaining traction as an efficient method to increase yield of active materials out of used cells. Current processes have been constrained to a lab scale due to the complex deconstruction and differentiation of various cell types. The goal of this project is to propose a battery disassembly process aided by machine learning to segregate cells. The economic and environmental impacts of the proposed solution will be assessed against other mechanisms of cell disassembly.

Faculty Advisors: Dr. Lena Ahmadi, Dr. Ali Elkamel

Since 2015, researchers at the University of Waterloo have been developing a nanoparticle-based catalyst that utilizes sunlight for a photocatalytic reaction, turning carbon dioxide into fuel. However, they lacked a suitable reactor system for prolonged tests and were seeking a design that optimized mass and light transfer. Our project involves the design and optimization of a bench-scale tubular packed bed reactor to maximize the sunlight absorption and hence the conversion of carbon dioxide to fuel.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Yimin Wu

Fouling within heat exchangers used in the oil and gas industry results in a decrease of thermal efficiency and affects chemical manufacturing processes globally. The goal of this project is to determine an optimized cleaning schedule to decrease the amount of fouling while maintaining performance efficiency. This is done with augmented design of the downstream steam trap and predictive modelling of correction factors and cost.

Faculty Advisors: Dr. Ali Elkamel, Dr. Lena Ahmadi
Partner Organization/Industry or Government Mentor: Petro Canada Lubricants Inc.

Our project aims to enhance the efficiency of oil refineries by optimizing the fluid catalytic cracking unit's performance. Utilizing Aspen HYSYS Process Simulation, we created a model in Aspen HYSYS to study various process parameters. By analyzing these factors, we identified the most efficient operating conditions that maximize conversion while minimizing emissions. This initiative aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, fostering industry innovation, infrastructure, and promoting affordable, clean energy.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Mario Ioannidis

Heat exchangers relying on phase changes have conventionally used the liquid to gas as a technique to maximize the latent heat of the internal system. Our team has been designing and optimizing liquid-to-solid phase change materials within heat exchangers maximizing the efficiency from increased latent heat and energy capacities. With wide-scale applications, this project is a proof of concept for the future of high-efficiency heat exchangers.  

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Eline Boghaert, Dr. Michael Vitelli 

Our project focuses on the Reduction of Nuclear Waste and Extraction of Carbon-14 from Bruce Power (CANDU) Reactors. By implementing a sustainable and efficient system, we aim to recycle C-14 from Intermediate-Level Radioactive Waste for the development of nuclear applications, maximizing its potential energy and resource usage while minimizing its environmental impact.

Faculty Advisors: Dr. Lena Ahmadi, Dr. Ali Elkamel

In recent years, ammonia has gained growing interest as a potential storage medium for hydrogen. This design aims to provide a sustainable way to store energy and support peak electrical demands for a community in the City of Kitchener. Key project components include the storage of ammonia and its decomposition, the generation of electricity using a hydrogen fuel cell, and research on the externalities of the design.

Faculty Advisors: Dr. XiaoYu Wu, Dr. Michael Fowler
Partner Organization/Industry or Government Mentor: The City of Kitchener

In collaboration with AlumaPower Corporation, our project tackles the challenges hindering large-scale commercialization of Al-Air batteries. Complex side reactions adversely affect battery performance. To address this, we're focusing on understanding electrolyte species concentration for effective reprocessing. Our prototype is designed and engineered to retrieve additional power from used electrolytes, thereby enhancing the viability of Al-Air batteries across various industries.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Michael Fowler
Partner Organization/Industry or Government Mentor: AlumaPower Corporation

Our capstone project focuses on optimizing the production of sandalwood oil, a vital component in cosmetics, particularly in perfumes. Sourced from Western Australia sandalwood trees, the current distillation process utilizes a wood reboiler with substantial carbon emissions. We aim to increase efficiency by integrating alternative energy sources and reducing environmental impact while ensuring a consistent yield. This project aligns with sustainable practices, addressing both ecological concerns and the demand for high-quality sandalwood oil in the cosmetics industry.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Christine Moresoli

For Canada to meet its net-zero emissions goal, the transportation sector, specifically Class 8 trucks used for long-haul freight must evolve. Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (HFCEVs) are a sustainable and attractive alternative due to their extended range and rapid refueling capabilities that rival traditional diesel engines. This project focuses on designing and modeling a supply chain network of hydrogen refuelling stations for HFCEVs along Highway 401 in Ontario, supporting Canada's adoption of fuel cell vehicles and contributing to a greener future for Canadian transportation.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Michael Fowler

Our project targets emerging chemicals in wastewater from the pharmaceutical industry through a combination of microfiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis treatment processes. Through system modeling and calculations, our innovative design aims to reduce operational costs and energy consumption by maximizing water recovery and reuse while meeting the MECP requirements. Tailored to accommodate diverse wastewater compositions, including active pharmaceutical ingredients, disinfectants, proteins, and chemicals, our system offers a sustainable solution for onsite treatment that ultimately converts contaminated water into usable water for both utility and production.

Faculty Advisor:Dr. Xianshe Feng, Dr. Eric Croiset

Cement production is responsible for 7% of global CO2 emission. To achieve net-zero emission, the carbon emission has to be reduced. The objective of this project is to compare the energy, water, and economic efficiency of two carbon capture techniques for cement plants, MEA and oxyfuel combustion. This involves developing predictive models for each method using Aspen Plus and conducting economic analyses to evaluate costs.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Eric Croiset
Partner Organization/Industry or Government Mentor: Peter Gogolek (CanmetEnergy Ottawa) and Robert CUMMING (Lafarge)

Canadian landfills emit one million tonnes of CO2 every year. One approach to support Canada’s 2030 emission reduction plan involves valorizing CO2 to produce the polymer polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) via bacterial fermentation of Cupriavidus necator. PHB is biocompatible and can be used in artificial skin grafts and microcapsules for controlled drug release. Our project involves pilot-scale bioreactor experiments to inform a simulation of a sustainable PHB production process designed around Comcor’s Niagara landfill RNG facility. Our objective is to prove industrial-scale feasibility of this process.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Christian Euler  
Partner Organization/Industry or Government Mentor: Comcor Environmental Limited 

Polystyrene, notorious for its lack of recyclability and significant contribution to plastic waste, poses a pressing environmental challenge. Current recycling methods are limited and financially burdensome for businesses. To address this issue, our project aims to use Aspen Plus to design and optimize a recycling and product purification process based on the photooxidation reaction of polystyrene. Scalability and economic feasibility are assessed as well. Our approach aims to address environmental concerns while providing a sustainable solution for polystyrene waste.

Faculty Advisors: Dr. Elisabeth Prince, Dr. Eric Croiset

Many conventional UV filters used in sunscreens including zinc oxide nanoparticles have been found to be detrimental towards marine life and contribute to issues such as coral bleaching. Our project aims to design and scale an extraction process of naturally occurring UV filters from algae to demonstrate the viability of a sustainable alternative. Iteration of lab experimentation and simulation is used to determine process parameters to optimize yield, quality, and cost of the final product.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Valerie Ward

Boil Water Advisories are a problem which plague many remote communities across Canada. Our project focuses on the design and modelling of a low-cost at home filtration system which can be installed into homes that have a dug or drilled well. The filtration system will include a water softener to mitigate scale build-up, a UV filtration module which will inactivate the bacteria, and a membrane filter to effectively remove the inactivated organisms. 

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Sarah Meunier

Existing disposal methods of menstrual pads exacerbate plastic waste accumulation in landfills and water systems. This project aims to design a sustainable pilot-scale method to recover and repurpose the plastics in menstrual pads. We have experimentally tested a solvent extraction process to recover polyethylene and polypropylene. Our scaled-up industrial process was simulated in ASPEN and included integrated solvent recovery. The simulation aided in determining economic, environmental, and safety impacts. Repurposing options explored were catalytic depolymerization for fuel and injection molding for plastic parts.

Faculty Advisors: Dr. Elisabeth Prince, Dr. Eric Croiset

As heavy metal water pollution becomes an increasing problem, there is a growing need for innovative solutions in wastewater treatment. A potential solution is using chitosan, a derivative of shellfish exoskeletons, as an alternative adsorbent material to activated carbon. Chitosan polymers have shown great promise in their ability to remove heavy metals from wastewater. 

Faculty Advisors: Dr. Xianshe Feng, Dr. Christian Euler, Dr. Eric Croiset

This project addresses the obstacles Indigenous communities face when considering EV charging as both a revenue source and a means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. While Indigenous groups in BC recognize the importance of EV infrastructure for achieving net-zero objectives, they lack the knowledge and expertise on where to begin with project planning. Our solution offers a user-friendly preliminary feasibility analysis tool to kickstart their planning process. Using the Musqueam Band as a case study, we provided tailored recommendations for installing paid EV chargers at their golf course, showcasing the application of our tool.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Michael Fowler
Partner Organization/Industry or Government Mentor: Musqueam Indian Band

Traditional farming practices cannot sustain increasing populations. Hydroponics cultivation systems use 90% less water and 20% less land space than traditional farming. Additionally, intercropping vegetables with soybeans is mutually beneficial for both plants because legumes naturally facilitate nitrogen fixation, meaning soybeans naturally release nitrogen into the surrounding growth medium. This project aims to increase overall agricultural sustainability by intercropping soybean and tomato plants in a hydroponic environment. Growing conditions are optimized using mechanistic growth and nutrient uptake models to maximize system profits.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Luis Ricardez-Sandoval

Nuclear power plants generate vast amounts of low-carbon electricity, however an even greater amount of energy leaves the plant as waste heat in the water returned to the environment. Our project aims to utilize this abundant low-grade heat to reduce the usage of natural gas to heat water and homes. We detail the technical design and economic feasibility of a residential district heating system, and potential applications to the chemical industry are also explored.

Faculty Advisors: Dr. Ali Elkamel, Dr. Christian Euler

As the ironmaking industry shifts towards a hydrogen-based economy facilitated by the direct reduced iron (DRI) using electric arc furnace (EAF) route, the importance of optimizing carbon content and energy consumption becomes increasingly evident. Our project focuses on optimizing this process to reduce carbon emissions by implementing a solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC) into the process which converts the CO2 byproduct back into useful fuel for the furnace.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Eric Croiset

To reduce carbon emissions contributing to climate change, many Canadian homeowners are incorporating renewable energy sources into their homes as an alternative to fossil fuels. The objective is to perform a feasibility study on the integration of emerging solar technologies on a typical Canadian household for a family of four. The solution will include calculations for solar power generation, battery sizing, cost analysis and emission reduction.

Faculty Advisors: Dr. Jeff Gostick, Dr. Ali Elkamel

CANDU (Canadian Uranium Deuterium) reactors emit gamma radiation at significantly higher levels, 38%, than other reactor types. Worker radiation dose is of utmost importance and should be kept minimal where achievable. Novel methods of reducing dose are through lightweight radiation shielding materials, specifically metal-embedded polymers. This capstone project aims to create a novel gamma radiation shielding polymer compound optimized for density and shielding properties. The goal was to fabricate a lead-free alternative for radiation shielding that can mitigate hotspot radiation or be integrated into PPE. 

Faculty Advisors: Dr. Milad Kamkar, Dr. Lena Ahmadi
Partner Organization/Industry or Government Mentor: Kinectrics

Many industrial effluents are released untreated into the environment causing eutrophication and other issues in Canadian water sources. The aim of our project was to treat these process streams before release to reduce the environmental impact of harmful nutrients such as glucose and nitrogen on aquatic ecosystems. Our solution consists of implementing a self-sustaining microbial fuel cell for food industry outlets to treat the wastewater to provide an energy efficient treatment system for industrial wastewater.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Valerie Ward

The objective of this project is to design a hybrid battery pack consisting of lithium-ion cells and a non-rechargeable aluminum-air range extender, which will be used to power a battery electric vehicle. This design uses Panasonic and AlumaPower cells, and will ultimately fit within and operate a Chrysler Pacifica Minivan. The design must power the powertrain and auxiliaries, as well as meet thermal requirements.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Michael Fowler

This project explores the application of Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) battery technology in pacemakers, aiming to enhance battery efficiency and lifespan over traditional Lithium-Iodine cells. This involves performing literature review, fabrication, laboratory tests, and computational modelling to validate Li-S batteries' performance and safety. We aim to contribute to the evolution of cardiac medical devices, fostering advancements that enhance patient outcomes, reduce healthcare burdens, and pave the way for the next generation of implantable medical technologies.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Yuning Li