PhD student, Lohita Rajesh, recently presented at two conferences, including the American Chemical Society (ACS) Spring Conference in March, as well as the New England Water and Wastewater Association (NEWWA) Conference in April. A summary of her two presentations are below.
ACS Spring Conference 
Lohita Rajesh delivered an oral presentation titled “Boosting Micropollutant Capture: Electrically Augmenting Sorption of Micropollutants Using Activated Carbon Fibers” at the AIChE Frontiers of Chemistry, Materials Science & Chemical Engineering for Circular Economy session in the ACS Spring 2025 conference held at San Diego on March 25, 2025. This work presents important findings that enhance the efficiency of sorption-based processes for micropollutant removal. By electrically augmenting activated carbon fibers, the study demonstrates a promising approach to increase contaminant uptake while enabling effective on-site regeneration of sorbents, contributing to more sustainable water treatment technologies.
NEWWA Conference 
Lohita Rajesh presented a poster titled “Remove and Regenerate: Electrochemically Improving Sorption of Organic Micropollutants Using Activated Carbon Fibers” at the 2025 NEWWA “Fresh Ideas” College Student Poster Displays held on April 2, 2025. The poster highlighted key strategies for activated carbon fiber-based treatment, including to: (1) Improve micropollutant uptake through electrochemical enhancement, (2) Extend the operational life of activated carbon-based sorbents, and (3) Reduce waste generation with minimal use of solvents. The work was recognized with the First Place poster prize in the Graduate Division, highlighting its potential impact on sustainable water treatment.