Faculty Research

ChE and CBE Faculty Research

CBE faculty members currently have in excess of $1 million dollars annually in research contracts and grants.  Some of these projects and awards are highlighted below:

Dr. Sookie Bang

• Performance of Microbiologically Enhanced Concrete Structural Elements, NSF (PI),
• MRI - Acquisition of a Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope, NSF, (Co-PI), 
• U.S. Australia Cooperative Research: Use of Genetically Engineered Microbial Enzymes in Calcite Precipitation, NSF ( PI),
• Application of a Microbial Immobilization Technique in Remediation of Concrete Cracks, Co-PI),
• A Novel Technique for Remediating Fractures and Fissures, US Naval Research Laboratory (PI),
• Development of Biosorbents Encapsulated with Microorganisms to Remove Heavy Metals from Contaminated Marine Harbors, US Environmental Protection Agency (PI),
• Pit Waste Investigation, USEPA (PI).

Dr. David Dixon

• Automated Laboratory Reactor with Data Acquisition, C. Webb and D. Dixon, Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation.  
• Fixed-bed adsorption column studies and engineering scale-up design of a limestone-based metals removal technology for small water supply systems. South Dakota Water Resources Institute / U.S. Geological Survey 104 Grant Program, A. Davis & D. Dixon.
• Center for Bioprocessing Research and Development (CBRD), R.M.Winter (PI), W. Gibbons (co-PI), & D.J. Dixon (Interim Director), SDBOR and SD Office of Tourism and Development.
• Development of New Classes of Optical Materials Based on Dendrimer/Polymer Composites, K. Felling (UCA), J. Swiatkiewicz, D. Dixon (PI), ARDEC.
• Permeable Reactive Bio-Barriers for Uranium Removal: Role of Iron Minerals on Uranium Fate and Transport, USGS 104 Grant Program: SDSU Prime, R. Sani (PI), S. Bang, D. Dixon.
• Leaching Tests for Encapsulation of Waste after Arsenic Removal from Drinking Water, USGS 104 Grant Program: SDSU Prime, A. Davis (PI), M.R. Hanson, D. Dixon.
• Development of an Agglomeration Process to Increase the Efficiency of Limestone-Based Material to Remove Metals from Drinking Water. USGS 104 Grant Program: SDSU Prime, A. Davis & D. Dixon.
• Pretreatment of Biomass Using Chemical and/or Physical Means to Enhance Cellulose Hydrolysis, D. Dixon and P. Gilcrease, Industrial funding.

Dr. Patrick Gilcrease

• Biochemical Engineering at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology – Phase II, Industrial Funding.
• Pretreatment of Biomass Using Chemical and/or Physical Means to Enhance Cellulose Hydrolysis, D. Dixon and P. Gilcrease, Industrial funding.

Dr. Todd Menkhaus

• Governor's 2010 Seed Grant: “Development of Separation Processes for Recovery of High-Value Products from Forestry and Plant Agriculture Feedstocks”, 1 year.
• National Science Foundation – RET Site: Inspiring Educators in Rural America through Research; co-director.

Dr. Jan Puszynski

• Processing and Behavior of Nanoenergetic Materials - Kinetic Studies of Ultrafast Reactions, ARO/DURINT (PI: Dr. Puszynski);
• Combustion Synthesis of Nanocomposites, NSF (PI: Dr. Puszynski);     
• Thermal, Impact, and Electrostatic Sensitivities of Energetic Nanocomposites, DEPSCoR (PI: Dr. Puszynski);
• Extended Wavelength Pulsed Laser System, NSF/MRI (Co-PI: Dr. Puszynski);                  
• Formation and Processing of Nanopowders for Energetic and Structural Applications - Phase I, ARDEC (PI: Dr. Puszynski);
• Formation and Processing of Nanopowders for Energetic and Structural Applications – Phase II, ARDEC (PI: Dr. Puszynski).

Dr. Rajesh Sani

• Biocomplexity in the Environment: Biogeochemical Cycling of Heavy Metals in Lake Coeur d’Alene Sediments - the Role of Indigenous Microbial Communities, with Brent Peyton from Montana State University and Timothy Ginn from University of California-Davis, NSF (Co-PI );  
• Generation of Energy from Renewable Biofuels Using Microorganisms from Deep Subsurface of Homestake, Mine, Lead, South Dakota,  Governor’s 2010 Grant Program, South Dakota (PI);
• Biodegradation of Cellulosic Materials Under Thermophilic Conditions, Nelson Research Award, South Dakota (PI).

Dr. Robb Winter

• Development of Time Correlated Spectrometer for Simultaneous Bulk-Interfacial Dynamics Analysis, NSF (Co-PI);
• Polymer Technology, Processing and Composites Laboratory, Army Research Laboratory (Co-PI);
• Polymer Technology, Processing and Composites Laboratory – Phase II, Army Research Laboratory (Co-PI);
• RET Site: Inspiring Educators in Rural America through Research, NSF (Co-PI);
• Development of Extended Wavelength Pulsed Laser System for Vibrational Sum-Frequency Generation Spectroscopy,  NSF (Co-PI);
• Center for Bioprocessing Research and Development (CBRD), R.M.Winter (PI), W. Gibbons (co-PI), & D.J. Dixon (Interim Director), SDBOR and SD Office of Tourism and Development.