Pakistan-US Science and Technology Cooperation Program
Phase 6 (2015 Deadline)
Empowering of Pakistani Women Through Translational Research in the Sciences: Waste-to-Energy Conversion and Water Purification Technology Development
US partner: Abdessadek Lachgar, Wake Forest University
Pak partner: Najma Memon, University of Sindh, Jamshoro
Progress Reports 2016: Working together with our Pakistani partners, we have developed and tested new materials prepared from biomass waste. These materials were tested for their efficiency and performance in converting waste from fats to biofuels that can be used in different energy applications. The same materials are being tested in the removal of heavy metals (Mercury, Lead, Arsenic) from water. Locally available biomass around Sindh is being tested as feedstock for producing these materials. When properly implemented, this work will ultimately yield a technology that can be used to enhance local access to energy and cleaner water. The website being developed and workshop planned for early 2017 will play a critical role in helping our Pakistani partners, especially women, develop their own local business to produce these materials.
2017: The collaborative project has significantly advanced its stated goals. Our progress in certain goals have actually exceeded our own expectations, though much more still needs to be done. From the technical point of view, the following achievements were accomplished: (i) The technology for converting waste to value-added products that can catalyze the conversion of waste to biofuels has been developed. (ii) Patent application on a new invention to produce materials capable of efficiently convert waste with high free fatty acids content to biofuels was filed. (iii) Manuscripts were either published or readied for submission. (iv) The quality and importance of the work described in the published manuscript was recognized by the journal editors who have chosen the theme of the paper to be featured on the cover of the journal “chemistry select”. (v) Graduate and undergraduate students were trained in the scientific development of this technology. (vi) Two workshops and one symposium were organized. (vii) Presentations at national and international conferences and institutions were made. (viii) A graduate/undergraduate course containing lectures related to the topic of bioenergy, one of the focus of this project was developed. (ix) A lab-scale system to produce biofuels from waste in a continuous way was designed, built, and tested. (x) A web site for this collaborative project on biocarbon was developed. 2018: The collaborative project titled “Empowering of Pakistani Women through translational research in the sciences: Waste-to-Energy Conversion, and Water Purification Technology development” has significantly advanced its stated goals. In fact, our accomplishments have exceeded our expectations. These can be summarized as follows:
(i) Two patents were issued. The patents describe two novel technologies used to convert waste to biofuels. A licensing agreement with RJ Lee Group, Inc. is being finalized.
(ii) A member from the US research group (Dr. Zach Hood) and one from Pakistan research group (Dr. Najma Memon) were selected the Pakistan-U.S. Science & Technology Start-up and Ideation Training Program held August 28-30 in Dubai to share our technology. The technology attracted much attention. It is a superb opportunity for our collaborators from Pakistan to attract investors in the field.
(iii) The details of the work and its application to conversion of waste to biofuels was reported in a number of publications in specialized scientific journals. The quality and importance of the work can be assessed by the fact that some of the work was recognized by the journal editors who have chosen the theme of the paper to be featured on the cover of the journal such as “chemistry select”.
(iv) Two graduate and five undergraduate students were trained in the scientific development of this technology.
(v) Two workshops and one symposium were organized.
A lab-scale system to produce biofuels from waste in a continuous way was designed, built, and tested.
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