• Niloufar Marnani completed her Graduate Studies in Environmental Applications of Graphene Oxide and is currently working with as a technical applications specialist.
• In the Fall, Dr. Basu was able to go on a site visit to Longido, Tanzania and connect with community members and our water project coordinator, Tepian after a long covid delay.
• Several Graduate and Undergraduate students with Yukon University that brought engineering student and Northern Operators together to learn and train in small systems water treatment.
• Masters student Lydia Hoffmann was a finalist in 杏吧原创’s three minute thesis competition and is just about to graduate this term.
• And the group welcomed new and amazing to the team, where he specializes in nanotechnology and graphene based materials (amongst many other things!). We also had a little 1st year birthday party for our youngest honorary research group member Soren聽 – son of PHD student Abbass Rasouli.

Thank You Vanessa N, and Yazhini S. for joining the聽 Basu Research Group this summer. Both students worked together in a team environment to promote cross learning opportunities. Vanessa focused on Fluorescence Excitation Emission Matrix (FEEM) spectroscopy where she focused on measurement of dissolved organics in different water sources. Yazhini worked on filtration and biofiltration research, and was able to set up multiple column tests to assess for Methylene Blue Removal with Granular Activated Carbon (GAC). Both students also participate in NSERC undergrad training seminars with Yazhini presenting her work at an Undergrad student forum.

Check out our newest papers here:

The American Water Works Association (AWWA) held its annual conference in Toronto this year; which afforded the entire research group the wonderful opportunity to attend the talks and get an excellent glimpse in the breadth of the water industry across North America. Two research group members also presented on their work! Niloufar Marnani presented on challenges and techniques of measuring the surface area of graphene based materials where she discussed the advantages/disadvantages of three techniques to complete the measurements. Daanish Singh presented on the novel application of surfactants to help chemically clean ceramic membranes using either Chemically Enhanced Backwash (CEB) or Clean-In-Place (CIP) procedures.

Niloufar Presenting on Graphene Based Materials

Daanish Presenting on Surfactants and Membranes

This research examined the impact of adding a surfactant to two types of chemical cleaning methods: chemically enhanced backwash (CEB), and clean-in-place (CIP).

Congratulations to May Alherek who complete her MASC on Silver, Zinc, and Copper Nanoparticle Disinfection.

Congratulations to Daanish Singh who won Best Presentation at the Fall OCIENE Seminar Series for his thesis research on exploring novel backwashing techniques with ceramic membrane

His work examined both technical and social aspects of ceramic water filters within an LMIC context. He has accepted a job with AECOM engineering in BC and we look forward to hearing about his new adventures.

Dr. Basu states “It has been such a pleasure working with Robbie on his PHD over the last few years. His work is impactful and I have enjoyed our many hours of conversation over coffee discussing this project. Robbie may have started as a student in my research group but he leaves as a colleague and a friend.”

1. Alresheedi, M. T., & Basu, O. D. (2019). Effects of feed water temperature on irreversible fouling of ceramic ultrafiltration membranes.聽Journal of Water Process Engineering,听31, 100883.

2. Piche, A., A. Campbell, I. Douglas, and O.D Basu (2019). Analyzing the performance of biological versus conventional drinking water filtration under warm and cold water conditions: A pilot scale study. Chemosphere. 234, 52-61

3. Alresheedi, M. T., Basu, O. D., & Barbeau, B. (2019). Chemical Cleaning of Ceramic Ultrafiltration Membranes鈥揙zone versus Conventional Cleaning Chemicals. Chemosphere 226, 668-677.

We also have two conference posters – one in May on the water project in Tanzania (at OWWA Annual Conference) and another in June on membrane fouling and cleaning with algae present (at IWA YP Conference). Robbie is also currently conducting field work in Tanzania on his PHD project and it has been a great and active time so far; as we have managed to recruit about 60 women for the filter usage study!

Congratulations to:

• Ashley Piche and Saumya Suresh,听 for completing their thesis defenses聽 – both Ashley and Saumya (Sam) have already moved on to technical jobs!
• Stephane Venne was a top ten finalist in the 杏吧原创 3MT competition (as soon as the video is available we will post it under highlights).
• Mohammad Alresheedi and Amin Ghaziskar both have new article publications that are now available聽 (see publications for full details).
• Robbie Venis received an OGS award for the coming 2019-2020 academic year and is now a YP representative for the Canadian Water Network聽 as well.

Congratulations to Ashley Piche who received Best Student Presentation at the Fall OCIENE聽 2018 Graduate Student Seminar series.

Ashley’s research has been examining biofiltration versus conventional filtration at pilot scale with the City of Ottawa. Ashley’s research established that the biofilters better controlled disinfection by-product (DBP) formation compared to the pre-chlorinatinated conventional columns. In addition, a backwash study demonstrated that a combined Water/Air Scour/Subfluidization wash was the best option for controlling headloss development.