Sustainable SO Capture Usin2 Spiropyran Photoacids

Authors:

Nicolas L'Huillier, Michael Purdy, Richard Liu

Date Created:

2025-01-01

Course Title:

Professor:

Not specified

About Paper:

Sulfurdioxide(SO )2 isatoxic, reactivegasandmajorairpollutant strategies for greenhouse gas capture that could address these produced in industrial processes. While not a potent greenhouse challenges. In this project, we demonstrate that an organic gas on its own, SO 2s oxidized by atmospheric oxygen to form photoswitchablemoleculeofpreciselytunedaciditycanrepeatedly sulfate aerosols which contribute significantly to environmental capture and release SO ,2offering a sustainable alternative that degradation and pose health risks to human populations. Current eliminates waste generation and reduces energy requirements. Our industrial methods for SO r2moval from emission streams, or approach utilizes spiropyran photochromic dyes, which can toggle flue gas, are energy-inefficient and generate substantial waste. between two forms: a closed spiropyran isomer, and an open The predominant technology is known as wet scrubbing, which merocyanine isomer. By exposing the closed isomer to SO gas,2 uses a large quantity of base and carbonate salts to capture SO2. we can force it into the open conformation, capturing the gas as a However, wet scrubbing suffers from several critical limitations bisulfite salt. When this merocyanine-bisulfite species is irradiated such as generating massive quantities of gypsum waste, producing with light, SO2gas is released, and the molecule is returned to the stoichiometric CO 2s a byproduct and high energy-intensivity closed spiropyran isomer. We can therefore sustainably remove leading to unsustainable costs. These limitations underscore the SO f2om flue gas and selectively release a concentrated stream for urgent need for a more sustainable approach to SO captu2e. utilisation or storage, eliminating the waste generation and energy Recent advances in photoswitchable materials have revealed new intensity associated with conventional scrubbing technologies. Identifying False Positive Methane Plumes UsingThe Kolmogorov-Test as a Function of Percentile Laine Roper, Raia Ottenheimer, Steven Wofsy Harvard College | Leverett House | Chemistry | 2026 Methane emitted into the atmosphere traps about 28 times as much caused by low surface reflectivity result in false plumes found in heat as carbon dioxide and has a relatively short atmospheric the data processing pipeline. We used the Kolmogorov-Smirnov lifetime of 12 years. If we can reduce methane’s atmospheric Test as a function of percentile to obtain a polynomial describing concentration quickly, we will see a large reduction in climate the distribution of methane and albedo within the MethaneAIR warming. Remote sensing helps us observe and quantify methane plume masks. We then trained a Random Forest Classifier emissions, and the Wofsy Group uses a spectrometer-equipped to use additional features of the plume and this polynomial to satellite (MethaneSAT) and airplane (MethaneAIR) to do so. differentiate false plumes from true plumes. The results of this This data is not easily interpretable. It’s complicated by clouds, project will improve the accuracy of methane attribution and aerosols, topography, and surface reflectivity. We use an intricate enhance our understanding of how different environmental factors data processing pipeline to address these complexities and return impact methane plume identification. Future work will adapt these methane quantifications. One issue we’re facing is the presence methods for use on MethaneSAT data. of false positive methane plumes. Artifacts in the methane spectra Regrowable Optical and Thermal Metamaterials Sofia Zhang, Raphael Kay, Joanna Aizenberg Harvard College | Mather House | Mechanical Engineering | 2028 Across the globe, more than 25% of the energy and 50% of the states, each with different optical and thermal behaviors. Six electricity consumed globally is spent solely for the purpose of general states within a window-like device have been accessed heating, cooling, and lighting buildings. Much of this work is done and categorized: an optically-transparent, thermally-insulative internally, with the use of air conditioners, furnaces, and electric state (empty, filled with air), an optically-transparent, thermally- lights. However, as energy efficiency becomes a necessity for conductive state filled with PVDF solution, an optically-opaque, the future, our work looks to take advantage of a fundamental thermally-insulative state (precipitated film, behind which is air), yet largely ignored aspect of every building’s foundation: its an optically-opaque, thermally-super-insulative state (precipitated facade. The development of dynamic windows and walls that porous solid), an optically-diffusive (semi-transparent), thermally- respond to environmental changes in light and temperature can insulative state (gel film, behind which is air), and an optically- allow buildings to maintain comfortable internal climates without diffusive, thermally-conductive state (gel solid). While the optical use of energy intensive heating and lighting technologies. While and thermal properties have not been quantitatively measured yet, there has been some development in responsive window and given the observed structures of these different states, a wide wall technologies, from blinds to liquid crystal “smart glass,” range of results is expected. Furthermore, these properties can these existing solutions are largely limited to manipulating be tuned by varying the density of the grown structures, and individual optical or thermal properties. Others have accessed each state can be redissolved or regrown into other states through multiple properties through stacking individual layers to create a introducing different solvents. This ability to almost universally multifunctional module. Instead, our work aims to dynamically vary optical and thermal properties within a single device creates control multiple optical and thermal properties using only a single a new paradigm in the creation of window and wall materials, layer device through the use of a dissolvable and differentially and may offer a new method for heating, cooling, and lighting re-growable polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) metamaterial. This buildings. material can be dissolved and re-precipitated to achieve different Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Health 184 Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Health The Effect of Climate Change on Madagascar Plague Outbreaks from the 20th Century to Today Anika Liv Christensen, Gayani Senevirathne, Terence D. Capellini Harvard College | Adams House | Human Evolutionary Biology | 2026 Despite its image as a relic of the Middle Ages, the plague indicating a sharp rise in human-induced environmental damage. continues to threaten lives around the globe today. Most notable isApreliminaryinvestigationhasalsorevealedacorrelationbetween its presence in Madagascar, today’s greatest infection site. Despiteocal outbreaks and rises in temperature and precipitation. Given its quelling through successful public health measures in the mid- an increased mutation rate found in the bacteria Escherichia 20thcentury,plagueoutbreaksreappearedinthe1980sandbecame coli under increased heat and moisture, this study hypothesizes increasingly more common into the 2010s. The disease has spread that climate change accelerates the evolution of Y.p’s virulence- from the rural highlands, where it is endemic, to Madagascar’s related genes. By creating a phylogeny of approximately urbancities; theformerlyrareandhighlydeadlypneumonicplague 350 Y.p. genomes collected in Madagascar from 1970 to 2017, variant has also increased in prevalence, culminating in a 2017 this study aims to identify mutations in 40 such genes, mapping epidemic in which it represented two thirds of total plague cases. their genesis in time and space to confirm their correlation with Previous investigations have considered this decades-long plague temperature and precipitation factors. By shedding light on crisis to be a result of weakened public health measures, yet the direct mechanisms through which climate affects Y.p., this they neglect a larger factor that may alter the biology of Yersiniastudy will inform public health experts as they anticipate future pestis (Y.p.), the bacillus responsible for plague, itself: climateoutbreakswhileprovidingevidenceforthenecessityofpro-climate change. The period immediately preceding plague’s reappearance government and corporate policies. is referred to by climate scientists as the “Great Acceleration,” Analyzing Patient IgG Antibody Response to K. Pneumoniae Surface Antigens Post-Recurrent Bloodstream Infections Emily Igwike, Jason Harris Harvard College | Winthrop House | Chemistry | 2028 Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) is a gram-negative opportunistic same Kp strain and those with infections from different strains. pathogen associated with infections of the urinary tract, respiratoKp isolates and plasma samples were collected from nine patients tract, bloodstream, meninges, and surgical sites. Kp infections with recurrent bloodstream infections from Massachusetts General typically occur in immunocompromised populations, including Hospital between July 2021 and December 2022. Competent infants and the elderly. Multi-drug-resistant Kp strains are on cells were prepared for 19 Kp isolates and then transformed with the rise worldwide, and the lack of available treatment options a plasmid for green fluorescent protein (GFP). GFP-expressing has renewed interest in developing Kp vaccines and passive isolates were incubated with patient sera from different time immunotherapies. Antibodies are thought to play a crucial role points and analyzed by flow cytometry to assess the levels of in protecting against these infections; however, there is a lack boundIgGantibodies. Successfulcompletionoftheseexperiments of a clear understanding of which components of the bacterial may provide evidence that increased antibody levels to different surface are the best targets induced in a protective antibody bacterial surface components are associated with protection from response. Our current study focuses on subjects experiencing reinfection with an identical strain. These findings may provide multiple Kp bloodstream infections over a 2-year period to a foundation for the development of potential active and/or investigate whether there are differences in antibody responses passive immunotherapies for the prevention and treatment of K. between patients with recurrent infections originating from the pneumoniae infections.

Abstract:

Sulfurdioxide(SO )2 isatoxic, reactivegasandmajorairpollutant strategies for greenhouse gas capture that could address these produced in industrial processes. While not a potent greenhouse challenges. In this project, we demonstrate that an organic gas on its own, SO 2s oxidized by atmospheric oxygen to form photoswitchablemoleculeofpreciselytunedaciditycanrepeatedly sulfate aerosols which contribute significantly to environmental capture and release SO ,2offering a sustainable alternative that degradation and pose health risks to human populations. Current eliminates waste generation and reduces energy requirements. Our industrial methods for SO r2moval from emission streams, or approach utilizes spiropyran photochromic dyes, which can toggle flue gas, are energy-inefficient and generate substantial waste. between two forms: a closed spiropyran isomer, and an open The predominant technology is known as wet scrubbing, which merocyanine isomer. By exposing the closed isomer to SO gas,2 uses a large quantity of base and carbonate salts to capture SO2. we can force it into the open conformation, capturing the gas as a However, wet scrubbing suffers from several critical limitations bisulfite salt. When this merocyanine-bisulfite species is irradiated such as generating massive quantities of gypsum waste, producing with light, SO2gas is released, and the molecule is returned to the stoichiometric CO 2s a byproduct and high energy-intensivity closed spiropyran isomer. We can therefore sustainably remove leading to unsustainable costs. These limitations underscore the SO f2om flue gas and selectively release a concentrated stream for urgent need for a more sustainable approach to SO captu2e. utilisation or storage, eliminating the waste generation and energy Recent advances in photoswitchable materials have revealed new intensity associated with conventional scrubbing technologies. Identifying False Positive Methane Plumes UsingThe Kolmogorov-Test as a Function of Percentile Laine Roper, Raia Ottenheimer, Steven Wofsy Harvard College | Leverett House | Chemistry | 2026 Methane emitted into the atmosphere traps about 28 times as much caused by low surface reflectivity result in false plumes found in heat as carbon dioxide and has a relatively short atmospheric the data processing pipeline. We used the Kolmogorov-Smirnov lifetime of 12 years. If we can reduce methane’s atmospheric Test as a function of percentile to obtain a polynomial describing concentration quickly, we will see a large reduction in climate the distribution of methane and albedo within the MethaneAIR warming. Remote sensing helps us observe and quantify methane plume masks. We then trained a Random Forest Classifier emissions, and the Wofsy Group uses a spectrometer-equipped to use additional features of the plume and this polynomial to satellite (MethaneSAT) and airplane (MethaneAIR) to do so. differentiate false plumes from true plumes. The results of this This data is not easily interpretable. It’s complicated by clouds, project will improve the accuracy of methane attribution and aerosols, topography, and surface reflectivity. We use an intricate enhance our understanding of how different environmental factors data processing pipeline to address these complexities and return impact methane plume identification. Future work will adapt these methane quantifications. One issue we’re facing is the presence methods for use on MethaneSAT data. of false positive methane plumes. Artifacts in the methane spectra Regrowable Optical and Thermal Metamaterials Sofia Zhang, Raphael Kay, Joanna Aizenberg Harvard College | Mather House | Mechanical Engineering | 2028 Across the globe, more than 25% of the energy and 50% of the states, each with different optical and thermal behaviors. Six electricity consumed globally is spent solely for the purpose of general states within a window-like device have been accessed heating, cooling, and lighting buildings. Much of this work is done and categorized: an optically-transparent, thermally-insulative internally, with the use of air conditioners, furnaces, and electric state (empty, filled with air), an optically-transparent, thermally- lights. However, as energy efficiency becomes a necessity for conductive state filled with PVDF solution, an optically-opaque, the future, our work looks to take advantage of a fundamental thermally-insulative state (precipitated film, behind which is air), yet largely ignored aspect of every building’s foundation: its an optically-opaque, thermally-super-insulative state (precipitated facade. The development of dynamic windows and walls that porous solid), an optically-diffusive (semi-transparent), thermally- respond to environmental changes in light and temperature can insulative state (gel film, behind which is air), and an optically- allow buildings to maintain comfortable internal climates without diffusive, thermally-conductive state (gel solid). While the optical use of energy intensive heating and lighting technologies. While and thermal properties have not been quantitatively measured yet, there has been some development in responsive window and given the observed structures of these different states, a wide wall technologies, from blinds to liquid crystal “smart glass,” range of results is expected. Furthermore, these properties can these existing solutions are largely limited to manipulating be tuned by varying the density of the grown structures, and individual optical or thermal properties. Others have accessed each state can be redissolved or regrown into other states through multiple properties through stacking individual layers to create a introducing different solvents. This ability to almost universally multifunctional module. Instead, our work aims to dynamically vary optical and thermal properties within a single device creates control multiple optical and thermal properties using only a single a new paradigm in the creation of window and wall materials, layer device through the use of a dissolvable and differentially and may offer a new method for heating, cooling, and lighting re-growable polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) metamaterial. This buildings. material can be dissolved and re-precipitated to achieve different Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Health 184 Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Health The Effect of Climate Change on Madagascar Plague Outbreaks from the 20th Century to Today Anika Liv Christensen, Gayani Senevirathne, Terence D. Capellini Harvard College | Adams House | Human Evolutionary Biology | 2026 Despite its image as a relic of the Middle Ages, the plague indicating a sharp rise in human-induced environmental damage. continues to threaten lives around the globe today. Most notable isApreliminaryinvestigationhasalsorevealedacorrelationbetween its presence in Madagascar, today’s greatest infection site. Despiteocal outbreaks and rises in temperature and precipitation. Given its quelling through successful public health measures in the mid- an increased mutation rate found in the bacteria Escherichia 20thcentury,plagueoutbreaksreappearedinthe1980sandbecame coli under increased heat and moisture, this study hypothesizes increasingly more common into the 2010s. The disease has spread that climate change accelerates the evolution of Y.p’s virulence- from the rural highlands, where it is endemic, to Madagascar’s related genes. By creating a phylogeny of approximately urbancities; theformerlyrareandhighlydeadlypneumonicplague 350 Y.p. genomes collected in Madagascar from 1970 to 2017, variant has also increased in prevalence, culminating in a 2017 this study aims to identify mutations in 40 such genes, mapping epidemic in which it represented two thirds of total plague cases. their genesis in time and space to confirm their correlation with Previous investigations have considered this decades-long plague temperature and precipitation factors. By shedding light on crisis to be a result of weakened public health measures, yet the direct mechanisms through which climate affects Y.p., this they neglect a larger factor that may alter the biology of Yersiniastudy will inform public health experts as they anticipate future pestis (Y.p.), the bacillus responsible for plague, itself: climateoutbreakswhileprovidingevidenceforthenecessityofpro-climate change. The period immediately preceding plague’s reappearance government and corporate policies. is referred to by climate scientists as the “Great Acceleration,” Analyzing Patient IgG Antibody Response to K. Pneumoniae Surface Antigens Post-Recurrent Bloodstream Infections Emily Igwike, Jason Harris Harvard College | Winthrop House | Chemistry | 2028 Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) is a gram-negative opportunistic same Kp strain and those with infections from different strains. pathogen associated with infections of the urinary tract, respiratoKp isolates and plasma samples were collected from nine patients tract, bloodstream, meninges, and surgical sites. Kp infections with recurrent bloodstream infections from Massachusetts General typically occur in immunocompromised populations, including Hospital between July 2021 and December 2022. Competent infants and the elderly. Multi-drug-resistant Kp strains are on cells were prepared for 19 Kp isolates and then transformed with the rise worldwide, and the lack of available treatment options a plasmid for green fluorescent protein (GFP). GFP-expressing has renewed interest in developing Kp vaccines and passive isolates were incubated with patient sera from different time immunotherapies. Antibodies are thought to play a crucial role points and analyzed by flow cytometry to assess the levels of in protecting against these infections; however, there is a lack boundIgGantibodies. Successfulcompletionoftheseexperiments of a clear understanding of which components of the bacterial may provide evidence that increased antibody levels to different surface are the best targets induced in a protective antibody bacterial surface components are associated with protection from response. Our current study focuses on subjects experiencing reinfection with an identical strain. These findings may provide multiple Kp bloodstream infections over a 2-year period to a foundation for the development of potential active and/or investigate whether there are differences in antibody responses passive immunotherapies for the prevention and treatment of K. between patients with recurrent infections originating from the pneumoniae infections.

Source:

Harvard / Kyra Jun, Alethea Atadika, Mary Rice / 2025

Topics:

state, methane, infection, plume, different, energy, gas, health, climate, use, optical, thermal

Co-authors:

@nicolaslhuillier461 , @michaelpurdy462 , @richardliu463