xrd phase dev.

X-ray Diffraction Phase Development
Diagram (courtesy S. Misture)

Fuel Cell Schematic

Schematic Diagram of a Fuel Cell
(courtesy S. Misture)

carbon nanotube

Carbon Nanotube
(courtesy L. Jones)

SEM image of silicon wafer production waste (courtesy J. Varner)

EDS spectrum of silicon wafer production waste (courtesy J. Varner)

turbine
Wind Turbine at Alfred State College Farm, Alfred, NY

Welcome to CEER

The Center for Environmental and Energy Research (CEER) is a multidisciplinary consortial research effort involving Alfred University faculty and students, industrial partners, and state and federal agencies.

Terese Vascott
Center Director

CLICK HERE for a listing of additional publications by CEER researchers.

For news of other Centers at Alfred University, click here to link to the Kazuo Inamori School of Engineering newsletter.

CEER News

2009

Research Reports for 2009

Emissions Reduction of Commercial Glassmaking Using Selective Batching, Final Report Summary
Investigator: William M. Carty

Magnesium Rich Coatings for Corrosion Control of Reactive Metal Alloys, Final Report Summary
Investigator: Rebecca L. DeRosa

Recovery and Purification of Hydrogen from Mixed Gas Streams, Final Report Summary
Investigator: James E. Shelby

Tunneled Titanate Photocatalysts for Environmental Remediation and Hydrogen Generation, Final Report Summary
Investigators: Doreen D. Edwards and Scott T. Misture

The Use of Fly Ash in the Production of SiAlON-based Structural Ceramics, Final Report Summary
Investigators: James R. Varner

2008

Research Progress Reports for 2008

The Use of Fly Ash in the Production of SiAlON based Structural Ceramics , October 2008
Investigator: James R. Varner

Research Progress Reports for 2007

CEER Annual Progress Report: Executive Summary, January 2008

Emissions Reduction of Commercial Glassmaking Using Selective Batching, January 2008
Investigator: William M. Carty

Magnesium Rich Coatings for Corrosion Control of Reactive Metal Alloys, January 2008
Investigator: Rebecca L. DeRosa

Recovery and Purification of Hydrogen from Mixed Gas Streams, January 2008
Investigator: James E. Shelby

Tunneled Titanate Photocatalysts for Environmental Remediation and Hydrogen Generation, January 2008
Investigators: Doreen D. Edwards and Scott T. Misture

Microarray for Contaminated Water Analysis: Final Report, September 2007
Investigators: Rebecca L. DeRosa and Jean A. Cardinale

CEER Final Report Summary: EPA Grant R-83042001, September 2007

2006

US EPA Approves $1.2M Grant Award for 2006-2009

September

The Center for Environmental and Energy Research (CEER) has received a $1.2M grant supplement from the US Environmental Protection Agency. The award will provide funding for eight graduate research projects, commencing September 2006. The projects were recommended for funding by CEER’s Science Advisory Committee at the February 2006 annual meeting in Alfred.

Emissions Reduction of Commercial Glassmaking Using Selective Batching
Investigator: William M. Carty
Abstract

Magnesium Rich Coatings for Corrosion Control of Reactive Metal Alloys
Investigator: Rebecca L. DeRosa
Abstract

Recovery and Purification of Hydrogen from Mixed Gas Streams
Investigator: James E. Shelby
Abstract

The Use of Fly Ash in the Production of SiAlON Based Structural Ceramics
Investigators: James R. Varner and David A. Earl
Abstract

Nanoscale Layered Photocatalysts
Investigators: Scott T. Misture and Doreen D. Edwards
Abstract

Novel Glass-Ceramic Gas Separation Membranes
Investigator: Scott T. Misture
Abstract

Microarray for Contaminated Water Analysis
Investigators: Rebecca L. DeRosa and Jean A. Cardinale
Abstract

Tunneled Titanate Photocatalysts for Environmental Remediation and Hydrogen Generation
Investigators: Doreen D. Edwards and Scott T. Misture
Abstract

May

CEER has received US EPA approval for funding two one-year graduate research projects, commencing May 2006. The projects were recommended for funding by CEER’s Science Advisory Committee at the February 2006 annual meeting in Alfred.

Preparation of Ceramic Glaze Waste for Recycling using Froth Flotation
Investigator: William Carty
Abstract

Elimination of Lead from Ceramic Glazes by Refractive Index Tailoring
Investigator: William Carty
Abstract

Science Advisory Committee Meeting

CEER's Science Advisory Committee met February 2, 2006 on the Alfred campus to discuss and evaluate research proposals. The SAC recommended ten projects for funding by the US EPA.

2005

CEER Receives $750K in FY2006 Federal Appropriations

The Center for Environmental and Energy Research (CEER) at AU has received an additional $750,000 in federal funding, bringing the total to $4.5 million.

CEER received the good news on July 28, 2005, when Congress announced that the FY 2006 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill included the grant to support CEER's ongoing activities.

"The funds will be used to support innovative rsearch on materials and methods for improving the environment," said Dr. David Earl, Director. "CEER will continue to work closely with industry and AU's Center for Advanced Ceramic Technology (CACT). We are grateful to Randy Kuhl (U.S. Rep., R-Hammondsport) for working hard to ensure CEER funding was included, and to Charles Schumer (U.S. Senator, D-NY) for voting for the measure."

A total of 31 research projects funded by CEER have been completed since the Center's inception in September 2000.

Current projects include the development of a novel boron-rich carbon nantotubes for hydrogen storage (Dr. Linda Jones), a study of the interaction of sealing glasses with metallic interconnects in fuel cells (Dr. Scott Misture), and the development of glass microspheres for hydrogen storage and delivery via photo-enhanced diffusion (Drs. Jim Shelby and Matt Hall).

CEER Research Grants Awarded

Three faculty research grants were awarded by CEER in May 2005:

Robust, Spectrally Selective Ceramic Coatings for Recycled Solar Power Tubes. The results of this study have the potential to reduce the cost of solar-derived electricity and remove failed solar collector tubes from the waste stream.
Dr. Doreen Edwards, Dr. William Carty and Dr. Chris Sinton are the principal investigators on the project.
Abstract
Final Report Executive Summary

Material and Environmental Sustainability in Ceramic Processing These experiments set out to examine the feasibility of using froth flotation to the recycle glaze waste occurring in the whiteware industry. Using the "reverse flotation" method, glass frit powder is preferentially separated from other minerals and ceramic pigments.
Dr. William Carty is the principal investigator on the project.
Abstract
Final Report Executive Summary

Recycling of Silicon-Wafers Production Wastes fo SiALON based Ceramics with Improved Mechanical Properties SiAlON ceramics have been successfully produced from industrial wastes such as silicon sludge, aluminum dross and fly ash from power plants. One of the major limitations for assuring the reliability and lifetime of such ceramics materials is their inherent brittle natures and low fracture toughness.
Dr. James R. Varner and Dr. Vasantha R.W. Amarakoon are the principal investigators on the project.
Abstract
Final Report Executive Summary

Undergraduate Research Projects Completed

Eight Alfred undergraduates were awarded Summer Research Project funding from CEER for June-August 2005. Click on the links below to read their reports.

Research Project	Student	Mentor
Recycling of amber glass	Jennifer J. Peek	Dr. J.E. Shelby
Reduction of hazardous waste at AVX Olean, NY	Heidi M. Schulze	Dr. S. Pilgrim
Low-temperature Gd doped CeO2 nanolayer electrolytes for solid oxide fuel cells	Patrick D. Willson	Dr. V. Amarakoon
Evaluation of microbial community structures and coliform persistence in the Alfred waste water treatment plant reed bed sludge treatment system	Danielle A. Roe	Dr. J. Cardinale
Synthesis and characterization of doped iron oxide electrodes for photo-assisted electrolysis of water	Stephen B. Sanford	Dr. V. Amarakoon
Solar-absorbing ceramics increasing the efficiency of environmentally-friendly energy production	Mark O. Naylor	Dr. D. Edwards
Characterization and removal of AIN Laser slag	Kathryn L. Goetschius	Dr. A. Meier
Development of glass phosphors for white light emitting diodes	Stephanie L. Morris	Dr. A.G. Clare