Catalytic Heavy Oil Upgrading Using Natural Gas

The proposed project aims at developing new catalytic processes and corresponding catalysts for heavy oil upgrading with the assistance of natural gas. Compared with traditional hydrotreating processes, these new processes provide alternative ways for heavy oil and natural gas utilization, which are economically and environmentally favorable in terms of higher profit margin, lower operating cost, […]

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Smart Particles to Prevent COVID-19 Infection & Complications

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented global effect. While social distancing and proper PPE can minimize the spread of the virus, at risk populations have remained vulnerable. With additional waves of infection are likely to occur, there is an urgent need for an innovative protective solution. In the current project, we will repurpose a […]

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Studies on uptake and translocation of patented active ingredients in plants

The Suncor/McMaster partnership is generating a pipeline of novel, green, agricultural chemicals to be applied as crop sprays. One of the challenges with treating plants by spraying leaves (foliar treatment) is targeting the transport of the active ingredients (AI) to specific parts of the plant. An example is preventing bacterial growth in the xylem, channels […]

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Development & manufacture of a scFv antibody therapy for COVID-19

The current project will assemble a library of molecules known as single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies to treat COVID-19. The scFv antibodies will neutralize the SARV-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes COVID-19 by targeting its spike (S) glycoprotein. ScFv antibodies offer numerous advantages compared to other treatment alternatives such as small-molecule drugs and monoclonal antibodies, and are […]

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Process Analytical Tools, Flow Cytometry and Raman Analysis for Cell Viability Studies

The objective is to develop an in-line Process Analytical Technology (PAT) tool to monitor viability and biomass levels at the fermentation stage bacterial organisms. The Master student will be engaged in the development of the PAT tool for deployment into a state-of-the-art vaccine manufacturing facility. The student will use benchtop tools such as flow cytometry […]

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State Estimation and Active Equalization of Lithium-ion Batteries for Application in Battery Management System (BMS) for Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles (EVs) industry is a promising solution to address the oil crisis and environmental pollution. There are some challenges that limited the widespread adoption of EVs such as limited driving range, long charging time, and safety consideration. To tackle these challenges, the battery management system (BMS) in electric vehicles requires substantial improvement. For instance, […]

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Development of Welding Alloy Formula for Wear-Corrosion Resistant Overlay

There is a strong market demand for welding filler metals to make surfaces that can resist both abrasive wear and chemical loss. The objective of this internship is to quickly design and formulate high-chromium submerged arc welding powder for overlay. The experimental core for this project involves selecting alloys and designing microstructure at the University […]

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Supercritical water gasification of bio-oils for synthetic jet fuel

Greenfield Global is currently developing a conversion process to produce jet fuel from renewable feedstocks. Collection and densification of different biomass waste materials and municipal waste at satellite facilities to produce bio-oils, which are then processed at a central facility, is expected. The first processing step at the central facility is supercritical water gasification and […]

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Production of semi-synthetic jet fuel

Greenfield Global is developing a process to produce jet fuel from renewable materials, such as waste biomass and organic municipal waste. The renewable materials are first converted to a synthetic oil and then converted into jet fuel. This project deals with the final step in the process, namely, to convert the synthetic oil to jet […]

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Hybrid bacteriophage platforms for the production of non-invasive, self-adjuvanted, and targeted DNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2

Our project aims to design and develop COVID19 vaccines engineered from viruses that infect bacterial cells only. SARS-CoV2 pathogenic components have been identified and modified to develop the vaccine. Although these components are pathogenic in nature, they are modified to pose no harm. The vaccine is designed to be administered intranasally, where it relocates to […]

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Quantifying the oxidization of polysaccharides and optimizing dextran-bovine serum albumin glycation conditions for development of a new pneumococcal vaccine

Pneumonia remains the single leading cause of childhood death under age 5 worldwide. The price per dose of current vaccines is high and supply is limited due to a complex manufacturing process and low yield, significantly reducing its distribution in developing nations. A newly patented vacuo dry-glycation process promises much higher efficacy than the conjugation […]

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