Eguono Omagamre

Participant: PROMISE AGEP Research Symposium

Wayne Omgamre.jpg

Eguono Omagamre

Department: Natural Sciences

Institution: University of Maryland, Eastern Shore (UMES)

 

2019 ABSTRACT

Fabrication of thin wood chips as support for reduced graphene oxide membranes for potential sieving applications.

Eguono W. Omagamre, Mahdi Fotouhi and Kausik S Das.

Department of Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD 21853.

Improvements on the challenges facing membrane filtration technologies have been influenced by numerous researches around atomically thin membranes (ATMs). A challenge with their fabrication however is the formation of defects or cracks during their transfer or fabrication onto support materials. High selectivity for ATMs has been achieved despite pore imperfections by using a highly porous support layer having higher permeance than the membrane. We hypothesized that wood chips would provide a good support for ATMs such as reduced graphene oxide (rGO) due to their inherent porosity. Wood chips of 10 µm were fabricated from the longitudinal (L-Chips) and transverse (T-Chips) orientations of Balsa wood. Microwave generated plasma was utilized to reduce and bond GO onto fabricated T-Chips. The L-Chips show pit diameters <5 µm while T-Chips had pore diameters mostly in the range of 25 – 70 µm. The FTIR of the GO treated transverse chips (GOT-Chip) showed a disappearance of O-H at 1550 cm-1, and a reduction in the absorbance intensities of C – O and C=O at 1045 and 1710 cm-1 respectively suggesting incomplete reduction of GO. The hydraulic conductivities for the GOT-Chips was intermediate between the T-Chips and L-Chips. Diffusion rates of Allura red molecules through the GOT-Chips were less precise than the T-Chips and L-Chips, showing a deviation of 3.0631 x 10-13moles s-1. The results obtained from the Allura rejection analysis improved percentage rejection from a mean of 66.59 ±1.55 to 88.09 ±4.92% in the GOT-Chips compared to the T-Chips.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Mr. Eguono Wayne Omagamre is a Doctoral Student in Toxicology at the University of Maryland Eastern (UMES). He graduated with a first class honors degree in Industrial Chemistry from the University of Benin, Nigeria in 2007. He also bagged a Masters’ degree in Industrial Chemistry from the same University.

He started his research career in Environmental contaminants monitoring leading to research publications relating to quantification and remediation of soil, water and air contaminants. His research interest and skills in contaminant monitoring has been tuned by his over 5 years field experience in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) in significant projects in Nigeria such as the Second Niger Bridge project in South-Eastern Nigeria. Wayne has over 6 years teaching experience, having taught Introductory Environmental Chemistry and Organic Chemistry to undergraduates at the University of Benin. He has also mentored undergraduates in STEM related projects while serving as an advisor to the Student Chemical Society of Nigeria at the University of Benin.

He currently serves as a STEM research mentor for undergraduates in Dr. Das’ Research Lab at UMES. He worked with a team of Undergraduates to develop the protocol for Plasma Generation from Kitchen Microwave under the mentorship of Dr. Das. The finding was reviewed by the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology Review.

His Doctoral Research revolve around biomonitoring of perfluoro alkyl compounds via the understanding of gene modulation in some water invertebrates.

 

GENERAL SUMMARY OF GRADUATE RESEARCH

Interests in chemicals of emerging concern are growing with significant improvements in analytical methods and technologies. Among the chemicals being investigated intensely within this decade are Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs). Methods for detection and reliable quantification for these chemicals are continually being developed with a goal to reduce cost, improve accuracy and precision of their determination. Currently, LC-MS technique is the reliable method for their detection and quantification.

In the study we aim at developing a method for quantification of PFAS by identifying the genes they induce. We are exploring some invertebrates and studying their responses to varying concentrations of the 4 and 8 carbon chain analogues of perfluoroalkyl acids and the sulfonates. Toxicity assays would be used to understand cellular responses and eventually their pathway of action would be elucidated. Extraction of mRNA and expression of target genes would be assessed for using qPCR techniques.

A side aim of this study involves the fabrication of filter membrane having good water permeance and high selectivity for the rejection of these contaminants. This research direction revolves around my research experience of contaminant quantification and remediation.

 

SELECTED LIST OF PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

  1. Benjamin K Barnes, Habilou Ouro-Koura, Jesudara Omidokun, Samuel Lebarty, Nathan Bane, Othman Suleiman, Eguono Omagamre, Arturo Dominguez, Kausik S Das (2018): Plasma Generation by Household Microwave Oven for Surface Modification and other Emerging Applications.” Cornlel University Physics Archive. arXiv:1807.06784
  2. Omagamre, E.W., Okuo, J.M., Ozuem, O.F., and Ibhafidon, S.O (2016b): “Quantification and cancer risk evaluation of airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons within the University of Benin Bakery.” 2nd University of Benin Annual Research Day (UBARD) Conference 2016 Book of Proceedings 719-722
  3. W.,Omagamre, J.E., Ukpebor, E.E., Ukpebor, G.E., Okungbowa, E.H., Odionye (2016a): “Evaluation of in-cabin levels of Fine Particulates and Carbon Monoxide in shuttle buses along a major intra-city route in Benin City, Nigeria.” International Journal of Renewable Energy and Environment 2:166-178
  4. Okuo, J.M., Okeiemen, F.E., Omagamre, E.W., and Okhirue, O.F. (2013): “The Effect of Biochar Application on the uptake of some heavy metals by maize (Zea mays L.) in contaminated soils” Nigerian Journal of Applied Sciences 31:11-17
  5. Okuo, J.M., Akpaja, O., and Omagamre, E.W. (2008): “Kinetics of Cd2+ and Se4+ ions removal from aqueous solutions by the fruiting bodies of white rot fungi (pleurotus tubberegium)”Journal of Chemical Society of Nigeria 33(1):56-64

 

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