In March, David Lu, a fourth year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, attended the 2024 Membrane Technology Conference & Exposition, organized by the American Membrane Technology Association (AMTA) and the American Water Works Association (AWWA), in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The conference explores the latest developments in membrane technology, and how they can be utilized to enhance water reliability quality, including new directions in water and wastewater treatment technologies, desalination and membrane bioreactor applications.
Lu presented on his current research project with the poster, "Biofouling Reduction in Brackish Water Filtration Using Polysulfone Membranes with Silver Nanoparticles and Eco-Friendly Solvents," and was named the winner of the student poster competition.
He was also recognized for his 2023 Reclamation Fellowship for Membrane Technology. The fellowship award funds Lu's current research project, which aims to develop polymeric membranes with anti-microbial silver nanoparticles to reduce biofouling during brackish water filtration.
Lu, a Murray, Kentucky native, focuses his research in the areas of the fabrication, manufacturing scale-up and sustainability assessment of polymeric membranes with eco-friendly solvents for water treatment applications.