Ohio University-Zanesville student and professor research published

A photo of the research team can be found at http://www.zanesville.ohiou.edu/pr/ghaffaripublication2007.htm

Dr. Shahrokh Ghaffari, Associate Professor of Chemistry, and a student research assistant, Brianna Lambes, at Ohio University-Zanesville researched the use of fly ash obtained from a coal-burning power plant to separate unleaded fuel from water using column chromatography.

Fly ash is a waste by product of burning coal to produce electric power. In this collaborative project with the American Electric Power plant in Conesville, Ghaffari and Lambes sought to find innovative and cost-effective technologies to remove or clean up spilled or leaded hazardous substances in water or other essential systems.

The results of their study indicate complete removal of unleaded fuel from water. A successful test at a larger scale with cooperation from Enviro-Mont Environmental Consulting & Services in Twin Falls, Idaho, shows there is real environmental benefit of using this approach for removal of environmentally hazardous materials.

Ghaffari and Lambes’ research results were recently published in the American Journal of Undergraduate Research, a refereed journal in science, mathematics, engineering and technology.   Ghaffari plans to repeat the methodology used in this research to determine the ideal amount of fly ash required for removal of known amount of petroleum. Further research will include studying the use of fly ash for removal of other undesirable environmental substances such as hydrogen sulfide or heavy metal. Preliminary study indicates a complete removal of hydrogen sulfide from water.

For more information on research on the removal of hazardous substances using fly ash contact Ghaffari at 740.588.1552 or via email at ghaffari@ohio.edu.