Investigation
Part of the outcomes a chemical engineer needs to perform is to investigate and derive conclusion which narrows the gap of knowledge and contribute to the world of science through research and development. As a research-centered university, USC has offered various paths and tracks that each ChE student can conform with based on the specializations of the faculty present. Further, the competency of been keen to detail, integrity to results, and conduct laboratory experiments are honed within the department.
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Scroll down as I indulge you to the research project I am currently working on with my groupmates.
Research Proposal
If you have visited the Problem Analysis tab of this portfolio, you may have noticed the sequence of how the department prepares us in doing a laboratory experiment, whether it is for Physical Chemistry, Lab Simulation of Industrial Product Manufacture, or ChE laboratory class. It always starts by understanding what the experiment is all about. And by understanding it, one must showcase his skills in tracing knowledge and connecting the dots of a particular topic or scientific phenomenon. With the background of the study fully grounded on, the learner develops steps to achieve the necessary objectives and stipulates the expected results from the experiments proposed.
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To cap the ability to investigate a particular phenomenon, a research project is made by each student who anticipates to graduate from the program. Through research, the planning and execute is up to the student alone. This shows independent practice of the skills that were acquired and guided during our laboratory experiments.
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Along with my groupmates, I signed up and was accepted for the research group Advanced and Sustainable Materials (ASM) under the guidance of Sir Noel Peter Tan, PhD. who specializes in plastics and nanotechnology. Our research entails the use of chitosan-silver nanocomposite (ChAgNPs) as antibacterial coating for mobile phone screen protectors. With the theoretical background we made based on literature data and journals, we sought the need to bridge the gap of assessing the characteristics of the nanocomposite at various formulations of chitosan solution, using such material on glass surface, and investigate its antibacterial action. Here is our approved research proposal after a proposal hearing with some of the faculty from the department as our panelists.
Actual Conduct of Experiment
Being able to have our proposal approved, we conducted the proposed experiment procedures to achieve the necessary objectives. In our thesis, we aim to investigate the relationship between chitosan concentration and nanoparticle size. We also looked into the application of the nanocomposite on glass surface and see if there are any antibacterial action when drop-casted and cured in such surface.
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Along the way we saw that there are some parts of the procedure that cannot be done and further revision was made in the process. One of the obstacles we faced was the proposed chitosan concentrations where the produced samples were very gelatinous that it is hard to dissolve and react the system with the freshly prepared silver nitrate. Thus, without change in objectives, we lowered the concentrations. Alas, we were able to make the desired product. We also faced challenges in analyzing these samples brought by the pandemic. We had to transport these samples to other laboratories through courier services and constantly communicate with them with regards to the procedures and results. Nevertheless, everything bear fruit and we successfully finished the needed experiments for the final paper.
Published Article
After months of preparation, planning, laboratory works, and revisions, my team and I were able to successfully defended our research paper. Moreover, through the efforts of the team along with our adviser, Dr. Noel Peter B. Tan, PhD., we were able to publish the said research entitled, "Synthesis of Chitosan-Silver Nanocomposite and Its Evaluation as an Antibacterial Coating for Mobile Phone Glass Protectors." This article was accepted and published through an open-access, international journal under the American Chemistry Society ( one of the well--known research journal publishers in the world).
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You may see the full article in this link below.