Canada-South Africa trilateral research chair in nanomaterials for clean water
This project aims to use nanomaterials (a nanometer is one billionth of a meter) to provide new, inexpensive techniques to purify water that also address the increasingly important issue of antimicrobial resistance. The ability of new hybrid materials to speed up reactions through exposure to light will both degrade organic pollutants and serve as an antimicrobial agent with long-lasting activity. Photoactive materials usually generate non-toxic by-products and use sunlight, which is not only cheap and harmless but also widely available in Africa.
This project involves a trilateral partnership between lead researchers at the University of Ottawa, Rhodes University in South Africa, and the United States International University in Kenya. The project will rely on the complementary expertise of the three principal investigators in such areas as the synthesis of new complexes and nanoparticles, photochemistry, and catalysis research. The strength and novelty of the initiative lies in these trilateral links that aim to enable strong research connections within the African continent and between Canadian and African scientists. Two of the main expected outputs of this project are to establish a long-lasting world-class centre of research expertise in Kenya, and to train many graduate students from the three countries, who will benefit from mobility and exposure to a wide variety of ideas and perspectives by working with these top scientists.
The genesis of the project is a collaborative effort to pilot a first set of trilateral partnerships between Canada, South Africa, and another country in sub-Saharan Africa, building on existing research chairs in Canada and South Africa, and supporting the role of South Africa to contribute to world-class research on the continent. The modalities were co-developed by IDRC and the National Research Foundation of South Africa.
Project ID
108569
Project Status
Active
Duration
60 months
IDRC Officer
Matthew Wallace
Total Funding
CA$ 750,000.00
Location
Kenya
Programs
Education and Science
Education and Science
Foundations for Innovation
Institution Country
Kenya
Project Leader
Edith Amuhaya
Institution
United States International University
Institution Country
Canada
Project Leader
Juan Scaiano
Institution
University of Ottawa/Université d'Ottawa
Institution Website
Outputs
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Trilateral research chairs initiative : final report Report
This project set out to use light to solve environmental issues that are of high importance in Africa and beyond. In addition, the project chairs regarded high quality personnel training as a major component of the research, as the generation of skilled scientists with the knowledge, abilities, and international network to solve long-term problems. Combined, the three research groups utilized their extensive experience in the use of light to trigger photophysical or photochemical processes, which capitalize on their complementary skills in synthesis, nanotechnology and application of photochemistry to health, such as therapeutics or diagnosis, as well as to environmental issues. Following the growing interest in combining nanomaterials with photosensitizers for photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) and photodegradation of pollutants in water sanitation, the aim of the project, therefore, was to link metallic and/or metal oxide nano/micro-particles to materials that could enhance their environmental performance, for example by decorating them with metal nanostructures, or with porphyrin-type complexes such as metallophthalocyanines and metalloporphyrins to create new hybrid materials for their intelligent use in environmental control. For this, new materials were synthesized and characterized, and their applications on PACT, degradation of pollutants as well as photosterilization of potable water are being explored. Author(s): Amuhaya, Edith, Scaiano, Juan, Nyokong, Tebello Language: English |
Light matter interactions - development of smart photoactive materials for environmental applications Report
The presentation provides an introduction to photochemistry and photophysical processes. Knowledge of wavelengths (colour of light) is fundamental. Fluorescence is elaborated upon as well as electron transfer. Photoctalysis and improving Photoredox Catalysis is the focus of the presentation. Solar (radiant) energy is key to renewable energy as well as the decontamination of water. If common water contaminants such as organic matter in river water can be used as ‘sacrificial electron donors’ (SEDs), then photocatalytic solar exposure could generate hydrogen while destroying pollutants, including bacterial water contaminants [see also http://hdl.handle.net/10625/58220]. Current research can be used and applied to develop smart photoactive materials. Author(s): Scaiano, Juan, Nyokong, Tebello, Lanterna, Anabel Language: English |
Photocatalytic hydrogen generation using metal-decorated TiO2 : sacrificial donors vs true water splitting Article
Water splitting is the chemical reaction where water is broken down into oxygen and hydrogen. The paper proposes that if common water contaminants such as organic matter in river water can be used as ‘sacrificial electron donors’ (SEDs), then photocatalytic solar exposure could generate hydrogen while destroying pollutants, including bacterial water contaminants. Rather than dismiss SED use as irrelevant, SEDs with zero value (as in the case of water contaminants) could be argued to have a negative value, as their destruction enhances the uses and value of the waters that contain them. Efficient and economical photochemical water splitting could create a hydrogen economy. Author(s): Hainer, Andrew S., Hodgins, Justin S., Sandre, Victoria, Vallieres, Morgan, Lanterna, Anabel E., Scaiano, Juan C. Language: English |