Aswita K's Senior Project Blog

Project Title: Doctorate in environmental engineering
BASIS Advisor: Mr. Sergio Garcia
Internship Location: ASU swette center
Onsite Mentor: Bruce Rittmann



Project Abstract

Environmental biotechnology holds immense potential for addressing pressing environmental challenges. This project, conducted under the guidance of Dr. Bruce Rittmann at ASU’s Biodesign Institute, focuses on leveraging microbial ecosystems to develop sustainable solutions for water purification and waste management. With the increasing climate crisis in Arizona alongside the water scarcity, Dr. Rittmann's work on the Microbial Electrochemical Cell (MEC) serves as the foundation for this research, which works to enhance the recovery of resources from waste streams. With increasing global environmental degradation and resource scarcity, these innovations are critical for ensuring a sustainable future. By employing microbial-based technologies, this project aims to refine processes for resource recovery and reduce environmental footprints. The expected outcomes include insights into improving the efficiency of MEC systems and bioreactor designs. Ultimately, this research strives to connect both scientific innovation and environmental protection, contributing to global sustainability initiatives.

    My Posts:

  • Final Reflection on MEC Research

    Hello everyone! As my research journey comes to a close, I’ve spent this final week reflecting on everything I’ve learned, both in the lab and beyond. Through weeks of experimentation, I tested a range of electrode coatings, eventually focusing on composite materials that blended conductivity-enhancing elements with surfaces that promoted microbial adhesion. The CNT-PDA composite... Read More

  • Final discoveries in MECs

    Hello everyone! This week marked a big step forward as I began finalizing my findings and started building my final presentation. After weeks of testing microbial electrochemical cells (MECs) with different coatings, setups, and microbial communities, I now have a solid set of data to share. One of the biggest discoveries was how composite coatings—specifically... Read More

  • Composite Coatings

    Hello everyone! This week, I focused on testing new composite coatings for electrodes in our microbial electrochemical cell systems. These coatings are designed to strike a balance between two key features: high conductivity and strong microbial adhesion. After observing trade-offs in earlier trials, I wanted to see if combining materials could offer a better long-term... Read More

  • Long Term MEC Preformance

    Hello everyone! This week, I focused on analyzing how different electrode coatings influence the long-term efficiency of microbial electrochemical cells. While initial results showed that some coatings improved either biofilm formation or conductivity, the key challenge is finding one that enhances both without compromising system stability. To track performance over time, I monitored electron transfer... Read More

  • Exploring Electrode Coatings

    Hello everyone! This week, I focused on improving MEC efficiency by experimenting with alternative electrode coatings. The goal is to enhance both microbial attachment and electron transfer, ultimately optimizing wastewater treatment performance. One of the biggest challenges in MECs is maintaining stable and conductive biofilms. If microbes struggle to adhere to the electrode surface, electron... Read More

  • Key Factors for Better MEC Performance

    Hello everyone! This week, I made key discoveries about how pH fluctuations and electrode materials impact microbial electrochemical cells. While analyzing wastewater samples, I found that pH shifts as small as 0.5 units significantly affected electron transfer rates, with some microbial communities becoming less efficient at breaking down contaminants. To counter this, I started testing... Read More

  • Optimizing Microbial Environment

    Hello everyone! This week, I made further progress in analyzing microbial electrochemical cells (MECs), focusing on how different microbial environments and electrode materials impact performance. Using gas chromatography and ion chromatography, I’ve been able to measure shifts in water composition, tracking how microbes break down contaminants. However, to better understand microbial activity, I’ve also started... Read More

  • Delving into Technical Skills

    Good morning! This week, I started learning about gas chromatography (GC) and ion chromatography (IC) to analyze water samples. These techniques are essential for understanding the chemical composition of water and evaluating how microbial electrochemical cells (MECs) impact different contaminants. By using these methods, I can get a clearer picture of how effectively microbial communities... Read More

  • Expanding on Microbial Research

    Hi everyone! This week, I moved beyond training and started analyzing real data from previous experiments on microbial electrochemical cells (MECs). Looking through past research helped me understand how these systems work and where they can be improved. While MECs have the potential to provide a more sustainable way to treat wastewater and generate energy,... Read More

  • Laying the Foundation: Basics in Microbial Research

    Hello everyone! Starting my journey at the Swette Biodesign Center has been both exciting and insightful. This first week was all about laying the groundwork—learning the essential lab safety protocols and completing the necessary training modules to ensure I’m prepared to work in the lab environment. From proper handling of microbial cultures to understanding emergency... Read More

  • Aswita Kode Week 1

    Hi everyone! My name is Aswita Kode and my senior research project will be focusing on environmental biotechnology. I have chosen this topic for my project because I believe that this research has the potential to address critical environmental issues throughout Arizona. During my time researching, I hope to gain valuable information on solutions to... Read More