by Tina Hilding, Voiland College of Engineering & Architecture

PULLMAN, Wash.—Washington State University researchers for the first time have discovered how electrical stimulation works for the treatment of bacterial infections, paving the way for a viable alternative to medicinal antibiotics.

The researchers passed an electric current over a film of bacteria and in 24 hours killed almost all of a multi-drug resistant bacterium that is often present in difficult-to-treat infections. The remaining bacterial population was 1/10,000th of its original size.

The researchers also tested the method on pig tissue, where it killed most of the bacteria and did not damage surrounding tissue.

The research appears in Nature Scientific Reports, an open-access online journal from the publishers of Nature.

View full story at WSU Today ↗

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Article at Medical News Today

Article at Science News Online ↗

A team of researchers at Washington State University (WSU) has successfully tested a microbial fuel cell that collects electrons from microbes during the biological processes that occur in agricultural wastewater lagoons and then converts that to small bursts of electricity that can power an aerator. In tests, this self-powered system improved some measures of lagoon efficiency by more than 50 percent.

The research team is led by Haluk Beyenal, Ph.D., a professor in WSU’s Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering. The researchers recently published their findings, “Self-powered wastewater treatment for the enhanced operation of a facultative lagoon,” in the Journal of Power Sources.

View the entire story at The Magazine of the American Society of Civil Engineers ↗

By Michelle Fredrickson, Voiland College of Engineering & Architecture

PULLMAN, Wash. – A researcher at Washington State University has received a three-year $450,000 federal grant to develop computer models for using iron to more efficiently refine bio-oils and make better biofuels.

Jean-Sabin McEwen, assistant professor in the Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, will collaborate on the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Basic Energy Sciences grant with colleagues at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Université Libre de Bruxelles.

View entire story at WSU News ↗

PULLMAN, Wash.—Enrique Iglesia, the Theodore Vermeulen Chair in Chemical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, a faculty senior scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and director of the Berkeley Catalysis Laboratory, spoke on “Nanoparticles, Nanospace, and the Catalysis Toolbox” at the Voiland College annual Lanning Lecture in April.

Iglesia’s research group addresses the synthesis and the structural and functional characterization of solids used as catalysts for production of fuels and petrochemicals, for conversion of energy carriers, and for improving the energy and atom efficiency and the sustainability of chemical processes. His work combines synthetic, spectroscopic, theoretical, and mechanistic techniques to advance novel concepts and applications in heterogeneous catalysis. He has coauthored more than 300 publications and holds 40 U.S. patents.

Washington State University civil engineering alumnus Jack Dillon (class of ‘41) established the Lanning Lecture in 1988 in honor of his late wife, Frances Lanning Dillon. The fund supports lectures that broaden students’ knowledge of the profession beyond the academic dimension, including societal, cultural, and economic impacts, professional and business ethics, and leadership.

View Video of Lanning Lecture featuring Enrique Iglesia ↗

2015 Lanning Lecture Poster ↗

2015 Lanning Lecture Announcement ↗

PULLMAN, WA—Washington State University’s Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering has received a gift from alumnus Brion Wise to establish the B. Wise Professorship in Energy Production.

The gift will allow the Voiland School to grow its successful program to provide educational opportunities for students who, like Gene Voiland, Brion Wise and a host of alumni who preceded them, desire to become leaders in the petroleum production industry, said Jim Petersen, director of the Voiland School.
Petroleum demand continues to grow worldwide, while energy production and conversion technologies are undergoing dramatic, rapid changes. With a long tradition of producing graduates who become leaders in this industry, this gift helps the Voiland School continue to produce chemical engineers who are uniquely qualified to take a leadership role in meeting the needs of the energy sector.

The school’s research in catalysis is leading to more efficient production of fuels and byproducts. In the past decade, the school has more than doubled its enrollment while also building stronger relationships in the industry. The gift supports hiring of a faculty member who will have enhanced industry collaboration, enabling the Voiland School to provide a transformational, high quality, highly relevant student experience and thus enabling the university to achieve one of its two primary strategic emphases.
“As world energy use continues to rise, our Voiland School chemical engineers will be critically needed to develop the best and most efficient technologies to meet demand,” said Jim Petersen, director of the Voiland School. “With this gift, we can now provide an enhanced education for our students that will prepare them to become leaders in the industry and help meet the industry’s future production needs.”

“At the same time, Brion’s generous gift will also grow the Voiland School’s stature,” he added. “We are so grateful for his support.”

After graduating from WSU with a chemical engineering degree in 1968, Wise went to work for Shell Oil. He went on to found Western Gas Resources in 1971, serving as director, chairman of the board, chief executive officer, and president. He is now chairman of the board at Flat Iron Resources, an oil and gas exploration and production company. He also is owner of B Wise Vineyards, which is located in Sonoma, CA, where he applies chemical engineering principles to enable the production of high quality wines.