During their fourth year, CHBE students undertake some of the most complex and societally impactful Capstone projects of any faculty. Through these projects, they collaborate to develop comprehensive system-level designs of processes, leading to the preparation of the engineering packages required for their construction and installation. These processes support a wide range of industrial and commercial needs and address many of humanity’s biggest challenges. Here are a few examples of past Capstone projects completed by CHBE students.
CO₂ Capture and Storage
(Chemical Engineering Process)
In our fight against global warming, students have developed, designed, and engineered a novel carbon capture and storage process. This process involves capturing biogenic emissions (i.e., CO₂) from a pulp mill and geologically storing them, resulting in an effective carbon-negative process (i.e., a process that leads to a decrease in CO₂ concentration in the air).
A comprehensive engineering package was produced, including process flow sheets, equipment design, control strategy, plant layout, economic analysis, and environmental impact assessment.
Recycling of EV Batteries
(Chemical Engineering Process)
In a world rapidly transitioning to energy solutions that heavily depend on lithium batteries, and where lithium deposits are limited, students have developed, designed, and engineered a novel process for the effective recovery of lithium from spent batteries. Using creative extraction and refining steps, they have developed a highly efficient process with very attractive economics and environmental impact.
A comprehensive engineering package was produced, including process flow sheets, equipment design, control strategy, plant layout, economic analysis, and environmental impact assessment.
Precious Metal Recovery from E-waste
(Chemical and Biological Engineering Process)
In a world where our natural resources are continuously depleting, students have developed, designed, and engineered a novel process for the recovery of precious metals from E-waste whilst employing circular economy principles by treating wastewater and re-using captured CO₂ in the process. Using an advanced biological process, metals are selectively removed from e-waste leachate. They are then sold to refineries, effectively reducing e-waste in landfills.
A comprehensive engineering package was produced, including process flow sheets, equipment design, control strategy, plant layout, economic analysis, and environmental impact assessment.