College
College of Engineering and Polymer Science
Date of Last Revision
2024-09-19 12:08:36
Major
Chemical Engineering
Honors Course
497-001
Number of Credits
3
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2024
Abstract
To determine the lowest concentration of spore added to polyurethane-cement composite (PUCCO) particles that can still germinate after curing in concrete. This research project is a small addition to the larger research project being undertaken by Mirza Mohammed Rashiduzzaman for his Masters. The larger project involves the use of fungal spores added in concrete to act as a self-healing component when cracks form in the concrete structure over time. These spores are suspended in a protective oil and loaded into small, hardened sponge-like PUCCO cubes to act as growth points when water and air can reach the PUCCO in the concrete structure. PUCCO have been loaded generally through a spore loading process that involves scraping/collection with vegetable oil. This leads to an unknown viability decrease of the PUCCO protected spores, going through concrete mixing, curing process, and different service. Determining the lower limit of spores needed reduces excess spore being wasted in the process, leading to increased output and reduced costs.
Research Sponsor
Dr. Lu-Kwang Ju
First Reader
Dr. Anil Patnaik
Second Reader
Mirza M. Rashiduzzaman
Honors Faculty Advisor
Bi-min Zhang Newby
Proprietary and/or Confidential Information
No
Recommended Citation
Boyer, Samuel, "Determination of Spore Viability in Concrete across Several Factors Using Most Probable Number" (2024). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 1890.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/1890
Included in
Architectural Technology Commons, Biochemical and Biomolecular Engineering Commons, Biotechnology Commons, Civil Engineering Commons, Numerical Analysis and Computation Commons, Other Microbiology Commons