News – Advanced Water Research Lab

AWRL Researcher Received the 2020-2021 Alberta Innovates Graduate Student

Ph.D. student Sadegh Aghapour Aktij wins the 2020 Alberta Innovates Graduate Student Scholarship for his research on the development of advanced pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) membranes. The aim of Sadegh's work is to develop a new generation of MOF-based thin film nanocomposite membranes for harvesting energy from wastewater by the PRO process. This will be accomplished by embedding nanocrystals with a narrow size distribution in which metal cations (Zn, Al, Ti) are linked by organic anions into tetrahedral frameworks.

Water recycling gets better with nanotechnology

Water, water everywhere. Did you know that the water spraying your vehicle in a car wash is recycled? That the golf course you're playing is irrigated with reused water? New nanotechnology developed by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), in partnership with IBM Almaden Research Center, the IBM Alberta Centre for Advanced Studies (IBM Alberta CAS), and the University of Alberta (UofA), could reduce the use of fresh water and decrease emissions in Alberta's oil sands. The IBM-patented membrane technology has the potential to improve water re-use in everything from vehicle car washes to golf course irrigation to toilets.

Nanotechnology innovation in water recycling could significantly reduce industrial use of freshwater

Advance in water filtration technology has applications everywhere from the energy industry and agriculture to municipal water treatment.

News-Water recycling gets better with nanotechnology02

Dr. Ali Mohammadtabar Has Defended His Ph.D. Thesis

Dr. Ali Mohammadtabar has defended his Ph.D. thesis in April 2021.

Dr. Laleh Shamaei Has Defended Her Ph.D. Thesis

Dr. Laleh Shamaei has defended her Ph.D. thesis in April 2021.

Mr. Arian Enayat Has Defended his M.Sc. Thesis

Mr. Arian Enayat Has Defended his M.Sc. Thesis in November 2020.

AWRL research article has been featured in the latest ACS news service PressPac

Our research article in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, "Nanodiamond-Enabled Thin-Film Nanocomposite Polyamide Membranes for High-Temperature Water Treatment", was featured in ACS News on December 09, 2020.

AWRL research article has been featured in the latest ACS news service PressPac

Ms. Sadaf Noamani Has Defended her M.Sc. Thesis

Ms. Sadaf Noamani Has Defended her M.Sc. Thesis in October 2020.

Ms. Sadaf Noamani Has Defended her M.Sc. Thesis

Ms. Sadaf Noamani Has Defended her M.Sc. Thesis in October 2020.

Ms. Kavya Suresh Has Defended her M.Sc. Thesis

Ms. Kavya Suresh Has Defended her M.Sc. Thesis in September 2020.

AWRL Researcher Received the 2019-2020 Alberta Innovates Graduate Student Scholarship Award

Ph.D. student Pooria Karami wins the 2019 Alberta Innovates Graduate Student Scholarship for his research on the development of thermally stable membranes. The aim of Pooria’s work is to develop high-temperature reverse osmosis (HTRO) membranes for the treatment of hot SAGD produced water. These novel thin-film composite membranes are synthesized by either tuning the chemistry of the top polyamide layer or incorporating advanced nanomaterials to this layer.

Dr. Md Farhad Ismail Has Defended His Ph.D. Thesis

Dr. Md Farhad Ismail has defended his Ph.D. thesis in May 2020.

Mr. Adham Riad Has Defended his M.Sc. Thesis

Mr. Adham Riad has defended his M.Sc. thesis in January 2020.

Mr. Adham Riad Has Defended his M.Sc. Thesis

Mr. Adham Riad has defended his M.Sc. thesis in January 2020.

Ms. Nusart Helali Has Defended her M.Sc. Thesis

Ms. Nusrat Helali has defended her M.Sc. thesis in January 2020.

Ms. Nusart Helali Has Defended her M.Sc. Thesis

Ms. Nusrat Helali has defended her M.Sc. thesis in January 2020.

Dr. Amin Karkooti Has Defended His Ph.D. Thesis

Dr. Amin Karkooti has defended his Ph.D. thesis in December 2019. Amin is co-supervised by Dr. Neda Nazemifard (Chemical and Materials Engineering, UofA).

Dr. Amin Karkooti Has Defended His Ph.D. Thesis

Dr. Amin Karkooti has defended his Ph.D. thesis in December 2019. Amin is co-supervised by Dr. Neda Nazemifard (Chemical and Materials Engineering, UofA).

Dr. Nandini Debnath Has Defended her Ph.D. Thesis

Dr. Nandini Debnath has defended her Ph.D. thesis in December 2019. Nandini is co-supervised by Dr. Thomas Thundat (Chemical and Materials Engineering, UofA) and Dr. Aloke Kumar (Indian Institute of Science, IISc).

Dr. Nandini Debnath Has Defended her Ph.D. Thesis

Dr. Nandini Debnath Has Defended her Ph.D. Thesis

AWRL contributed to North American Membrane Society (NAMS) 2019 Conference

AWRL team members have attended the 28th NAMS annual meeting in Pittsburg, USA. Mr. Amin Karkooti had an oral presentation of his work on the surface energetic analysis of graphene-based nanocomposite membranes. Ms. Nandini Debnath, Ms. Nusrat Helali, Mr. Asad Asad, and Mr. Farhad Ismail had poster presentations on microfluidic membrane mimic, novel PAI membranes for oil separation application, hydrogel facilitated patterned membranes, and the impact of nanoscale heterogeneity on the wettability of membranes, respectively.

It was nice meeting Andrew Zydney (Penn State), Eric Hoek (UCLA), Wang Rong (NTU), Boguslaw Kruczek (University of Ottawa), David Latulippe (McMaster University), Siamak Nejati (University of Nebraska-Lincoln), Charles de Lannoy (McMaster University), Saifur Rahaman (Concordia University), and Jongho Lee (UBC).

AWRL contributed to North American Membrane Society (NAMS) 2019 Conference

AWRL contributed to North American Membrane Society (NAMS) 2019 Conference

AWRL contributed to North American Membrane Society (NAMS) 2019 Conference

AWRL contributed to North American Membrane Society (NAMS) 2019 Conference

Dr. Maryam Razi Has Defended Her Ph.D. Thesis

Dr. Maryam Razi has defended her Ph.D. thesis in May 2019. Maryam is co-supervised by Dr. Thomas Thundat (Chemical and Materials Engineering, UofA).

Dr. Maryam Razi Has Defended Her Ph.D. Thesis

Dr. Maryam Razi has defended her Ph.D. thesis in May 2019. Maryam is co-supervised by Dr. Thomas Thundat (Chemical and Materials Engineering, UofA).

Dr. Maryam Razi Has Defended Her Ph.D. Thesis

Dr. Maryam Razi has defended her Ph.D. thesis in May 2019. Maryam is co-supervised by Dr. Thomas Thundat (Chemical and Materials Engineering, UofA).

Two graduate students of AWRL have been selected to receive a 2019 Graduate Student Teaching Award (GSTA)

Two graduate students of AWRL Ms. Nandini Debnath and Mr. Adham Riad have been selected to receive a 2019 Graduate Student Teaching Award (GSTA). Being identified as a GSTA winner, Nandini and Adham were acknowledged due to their outstanding contribution to the undergraduate teaching mission of the University of Alberta. The Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR) celebrated them at the 4th annual GSTA Celebration in April 2019.

Two graduate students of AWRL have been selected to receive a 2019 Graduate Student Teaching Award (GSTA)

Two graduate students of AWRL have been selected to receive a 2019 Graduate Student Teaching Award (GSTA)

AWRL Researcher Received the 2018-2019 Alberta Innovates Graduate Student Scholarship Award

Ph.D. student Farhad Ismail wins the 2018 Alberta Innovates Graduate Student Scholarship for his research on biopolymer-based membrane technologies. The aim of Farhad’s work is to develop enhanced hydrophilic thin film composite membranes to withstand adverse operating conditions, e.g., the abrupt change in pH, temperature, and contaminations (foulants).

Mr. Farshad Mohammadtabar Has Defended His M.Sc. Thesis

Mr. Farshad Mohammadtabar has defended his M.Sc. thesis in December 2018.

Mr. Farshad Mohammadtabar Has Defended His M.Sc. Thesis

Mr. Farshad Mohammadtabar has defended his M.Sc. thesis in December 2018.

Nanoparticles: Environmental Problems or Problem Solvers?

Dr. Mohtada Sadrzadeh, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and principal investigator at the Advanced Water Research Lab at the University of Alberta, is using nanoparticles to solve what he considers to be “a threat to freshwater” in Alberta's oil sands region. There, oil (in the form of bitumen) is removed from the ground in two ways: through open pit mines or, more often, through wells in situ. In situoperations commonly use an extraction method that pumps steam underground in one well to liquefy the bitumen, which is collected in a second well and pumped to the surface. This process contaminates the freshwater used to create steam with salts, silica, calcium, magnesium, and organic matter.

Published on March 01, 2018

By Niki Wilson

Dr. Ishita Biswas Has Defended Her Ph.D. Thesis

Dr. Ishita Biswas has successfully defended her Ph.D. on April 24, 2018.

Dr. Ishita Biswas Has Defended Her Ph.D. Thesis

Dr. Ishita Biswas has successfully defended her Ph.D. on April 24, 2018.

Mr. Debanik Bhattacharjee Has Defended His M.Sc. Thesis

Mr. Debanik Bhattacharjee has defended his M.Sc. thesis in April 2018.

Mr. Debanik Bhattacharjee Has Defended His M.Sc. Thesis

Mr. Debanik Bhattacharjee has defended his M.Sc. thesis in April 2018.

Grant accelerates oilsands and oil-spill cleanup

(EDMONTON) On behalf of Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, Member of Parliament Randy Boissonnault today announced a $600,000 grant to the University of Alberta’s Advanced Water Research Lab.

Published on December 08, 2017

By Mifi Purvis

Mr. Zayed Almansoori Has Defended His M.Sc. Thesis

Mr. Zayed Almansoori has defended his M.Sc. thesis in November 2017.

Mr. Zayed Almansoori Has Defended His M.Sc. Thesis

Mr. Zayed Almansoori has defended his M.Sc. thesis in November 2017.

Mr. Zayed Almansoori Has Defended His M.Sc. Thesis

Mr. Zayed Almansoori has defended his M.Sc. thesis in November 2017.

How two UAlberta researchers are introducing water testing ‘in a box’ to Canada’s rural market

Roshan Water Solutions was born out of UAlberta student research, accelerated by mentorship and supported by new streams of funding.

Published on November 10, 2017

By Lesley Young

Dr. Behnam Khorshidi Has Defended His Ph.D. Thesis

Dr. Behnam Khorshidi has defended his Ph.D. thesis in September 2017 (convocation in June 2017). Behnam is co-supervised by Dr. Thomas Thundat (Chemical and Materials Engineering, UofA).

Dr. Behnam Khorshidi Has Defended His Ph.D. Thesis

Dr. Behnam Khorshidi has defended his Ph.D. thesis in September 2017 (convocation in June 2017). Behnam is co-supervised by Dr. Thomas Thundat (Chemical and Materials Engineering, UofA).

Dr. Hadi Nazaripoor Has Defended His Ph.D. Thesis

Dr. Hadi Nazaripoor has defended his Ph.D. thesis in December 2016 (convocation in June 2017). Hadi is co-supervised by Dr. Bob Koch (Mechanical Engineering Department, UofA).

Dr. Hadi Nazaripoor Has Defended His Ph.D. Thesis

Dr. Hadi Nazaripoor has defended his Ph.D. thesis in December 2016 (convocation in June 2017). Hadi is co-supervised by Dr. Bob Koch (Mechanical Engineering Department, UofA).

Dr. Hadi Nazaripoor Has Defended His Ph.D. Thesis

Dr. Hadi Nazaripoor has defended his Ph.D. thesis in December 2016 (convocation in June 2017). Hadi is co-supervised by Dr. Bob Koch (Mechanical Engineering Department, UofA).

Mr. Behnam Gheshlaghi Has Defended His M.Sc. Thesis

Mr. Behnam Gheshlaghi has defended his M.Sc. thesis in June 2016. Behnam is co-supervised by Dr. Aloke Kumar (Mechanical Engineering Department, UofA).

Mr. Amrit Bhinder Has Defended His M.Sc. Thesis

Mr. Amrit Bhinder has defended his M.Sc. thesis in November 2015.

Mr. Javad Hajinasiri Has Defended His M.Sc. Thesis

Mr. Javad Hajinasiri has defended his M.Sc. thesis in June 2015. Javad is co-supervised by Dr. Brian Fleck (Mechanical Engineering Department, UofA).