Research Projects
Biodiesel
Research Members
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Dr. Margie Mulholland's group conducts extensive research on algal blooms and their causes and consequences in marine and estuarine ecosystems. Mulholland has expertise in culturing marine microbes including phytoplankton and cyanobacteria. Her laboratory continues to develop continuous culturing methodologies for evaluating nutrient dynamics, sulfur gas production, and the effects of carbon dioxide on growth and metabolism of cyanobacterial nitrogen fixers. In addition, Mulholland's group is conducting research connected with the bioavailability of nitrogen contained in the effluent of wastewater treatment facilities. She is part of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee of the Chesapeake Bay Program and is leading an ad hoc working group in these efforts. In addition, she is participating in an assessment of water quality issues related to ethanol production. Mulholland has previously worked in a variety of aquaculture and research settings where she has developed continuous flow mass algal culture systems for use in hatcheries and has taught short courses in algal culturing techniques for the FAO in Southeast Asia. Contact |
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Dr. Harold G. Marshall is a specialist in freshwater and marine phytoplankton with extensive experience in their ecological relationships and systematics. He has published over 140 journal articles regarding phytoplankton, with extensive presentations at national and international meetings and conferences emphasizing phytoplankton composition and dynamics. Over the last decade these studies have also included the harmful and toxin producing algae in regional waters. These investigations are conducted on campus in the Phytoplankton Analysis Laboratory, and an algal culturing facility. One of the major projects conducted here since 1985 is monitoring phytoplankton composition, abundance, and their relationships to water quality variables in Chesapeake Bay and several of its tributaries under sponsorship of Virginia Commonwealth and federal agencies. Contact |
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Dr. Andrew S. Gordon, Professor of Biological Sciences, Ph.D. in microbiology, University of Miami 1982. Gordon's research interests include microbial physiology, continuous culture of bacteria and microalgae, and microbial ecology. His recent research has focused on growth and toxin production in dinoflagellates with emphasis on Pfiesteria spp. Additional research includes continuous culture of the marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus and investigations of copper toxicity to these and other marine microorganisms. His laboratories are equipped for pilot-scale batch and continuous culture of microorganisms, biomolecule separation and purification, and biomass harvest by tangential flow filtration. Contact |
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Gary S. Schafran, professor and department chair of civil and environmental engineering, investigates biogeochemical processes in lakes, including reactions influencing acid/base chemistry, redox conditions and metal cycling. He is currently the principal investigator of an international study dealing with reservoir management issues, including lake oxygenation and new sensor technologies for phytoplankton/cyanobacteria monitoring. Contact |
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Patrick G. Hatcher, Batten Endowed Chair in Physical Sciences and director of ODU's College of Sciences Major Instrument Cluster (COSMIC) laboratory, does research related to the chemical composition of various algal species, especially Botryococcus braunii, a species of green algae capable of producing more than 50 percent of its mass as biodiesel hydrocarbons. Contact |
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Robert L. Ash, associate vice president for research and professor and Eminent Scholar of aerospace engineering; Taj Mohieldin, professor of engineering technology; and Eric Koster, director of motorsports operations, ODU Langley Full-Scale Wind Tunnel, are developing the Biodiesel Engine Laboratory. Contact |
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Han P. Bao, professor of mechanical engineering, is developing a reactor for the conversion of used cooking oil to biodiesel fuel. His research will focus on filtering and removing impurities from the used oil and its subsequent transesterification into fuel-grade biodiesel. Contact |