Natalia Alejo Garza
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Research Mentor(s): Aleksandra Szczuka
Co-Presenter:
Research Mentor School/College/Department: CEE / Engineering
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Session 5 – 3:40pm – 4:30 pm
Room: League Ballroom
Authors: Natalia Alejo, Aleksandra Szczuka
Presenter: 8
Abstract
Water overuse, climate change, and droughts are large contributors to water shortages. By 2025, two-thirds of the global population is expected to face water scarcity. Reusing wastewater as drinking water is key to water accessibility around the world. Since wastewater can be infected with viruses carried by human excrements, the development of viral inactivation techniques is pivotal to safe water reuse. Chlorine is a commonly used water disinfectant. However, chlorine produces a relatively large amount of carcinogen by-products. Chloramine, a disinfectant that produces less carcinogen byproduct, is being studied to determine its viral inactivation. The overall purpose of this study is to determine the rate at which chloramine deactivates viruses. With the use of kinetic experiments and plaque assays, we will collect data on the quantity of viruses remaining after various time intervals. With this data, we will create a graph to understand the rate of viral inactivation through time. Understanding the effectiveness of chloramine will help integrate it into water treatment processes, developing water reuse techniques that are safer for the human population. With more reliable water reuse facilities, the reuse of wastewater as drinking water will become more widespread, ensuring water accessibility in regions that experience water scarcity.
Engineering
