Hiral Jariwala

University of Guelph | UOGuelph · School of Engineering

Defining the dilution factor is very important when we are working at the level of ppb (parts per billion) or ppt (parts per trillion). Other day, I was working on plant biomass samples to analyze available Si (Silicon) in plant biomass. I have gone through several steps of dilution and became so confused about what is DILUTION FACTOR. I did several dilutions at several steps (digestion, adding chemicals, again diluting to come up with the range of AAS) and it became so complicated. As always, I approached Dr. Rafael Santos and he solved this problem very easily, I would say just in 10 minutes when I was struggling for an hour. Finally, Dr. Santos made a good explanation with their whiteboard and step by step he came up with the solution. Again, doing a Ph.D. is not just collecting and analyzing data but also needs to understand the chemistry happening in between. If you don't know how to do it then seek help. Asking someone doesn't mean your basics are not strong, asking someone means you know what you're looking for but you don't know how to approach it. I am thankful to have Dr. Santos as my mentor, peer and guide. PS: Here's complex whiteboard solution in the picture :) #ppb #ppt #help #academia #PhD #chemistry #data #AAS

Doing a Ph.D. is not just generating data by doing experiments using sophisticated experiments. We should also understand how this instrument works and the principle used to make that instrument. Today, while performing Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), I saw some leakage from the back of the furnace. Actually, water cools down the furnace, which runs between 1000-1200 °C. Suddenly, a pipe broke, and the platform became wet, and I was afraid of what would happen with this? I immediately shut down the instrument and called the technician. The technician showed me there's a rubber gasket worn out, and we need to replace it. They said let's try to change ourselves, and they came with tools (this happened the first time in the last ten years). We opened the furnace together and figured out we have a similar part that we use for GC (Gas Chromatograph), and luckily, it worked out very well, and now AAS is working again. Did you experience the experiment failure because of the instrument? Have you ever seen an instrument from the inside? Have you ever become curious to see how parts work inside the instrument? I have always been fascinated to see sophisticated and highly precise instruments for quantifying heavy metals and contaminants. Maybe this will drive me to dig deeper into this area in the future. What is the takeaway message? Try to find the solution if you see the problem. As an engineer, we always try to come up with something. We have ample skills, but we don't know where and how to apply them. We do not need to worry about high-concept things but let's try from the basics we have and see how it goes.  Elon Musk said, "I don't spend my time pontificating about high-concept things; I spend my time solving engineering and manufacturing problems."  #environment #engineering #manufacturing #AAS #data

Is it possible to combine SBR and MBBR in one reactor as an SMBBR for the treatment of the domestic sewage?