Chemistry Energy Lab
About
In this lab, students will get a hands-on experience with solar cells, wind mills, hydrogen fuel cells, solar cookers, bio-diesel, and several other experiments from the domains of basic chemistry, renewable energy, and environmental sciences. This lab also includes fuel efficiency tests, designing small solar cells, and a semester project for hands-on experience. The lab experience will build on the concepts that are taught in class and introduce several new concepts. Connecting theory to practice is a very fulfilling experience, and in this process, students also learn to appreciate that theories have limitations and restricted ranges of validity.
A major goal of this lab is to learn how to collect and manipulate data by different methods for emerging renewable sources. Working on different experiments related to renewable sources motivates students to design solutions that will counter the crisis that we face both locally and globally due to the excessive use of fossil fuels.
List of Courses
- Renewable Energy.
- Introduction to Sustainability
Courses that utilize the Chemistry/Energy lab to elaborate on the course concepts:
Some of the courses do not have a separate lab component, but include a few lab sessions to make the concepts more understandable for the students
- Scientific Methods: A Biology Perspective
- Scientific Methods
- Water is for Fighting Over
- Water, Science, Society, and Policy
- Introduction to Environmental Engineering
Faculty
Research Assistant
Ms. Amber Talat
Miss Amber Talat is a Research Assistant for Chemistry/Energy at Dhanani School of Science & Engineering. She has completed her M.Sc. in Biochemistry from the University of Karachi. During her Master’s, she has done research on “Prevalence of Anemia in female medical students age < 24 ". Earlier, she served as a Senior Biological Science Teacher in a reputable O/A level institute. At Habib, she has been assisting faculty members in different natural science electives. Having a Clinical & Molecular background, she is well-trained and has a wealth of experience in terms of conducting laboratory experiments using different scientific techniques and equipment. In the future, she plans to work on research projects and would like to present them at different levels.
Projects
The lab projects involve the concept of application of the learning through developing creative models to present solutions to the real-world environmental and energy challenges. Some of the highlighted students’ projects in this lab are:
Piezo Tiles:
These amazing tile models were created for generating electricity while walking.
SOLAR WHEEL:
This project aims to provide an efficient alternative to the traditional Persian wheel. The Persian wheel is widely used in Pakistan’s irrigation systems to transfer water. It reduces manual labor while simultaneously ensuring consistent efficiency. Storing the solar energy in batteries could also ensure the transfer of water for 24 hours, as opposed to the limited time an animal could work.
PROXIMITY / MOTION SENSOR
The project involves the use of a PNP transistor, Resistors, an LED, an IR Emitter and Receiver, a 4 4V battery supply, a Breadboard, and some recycled wood to create sensors to be used in bank Vaults, bakery Stores to avoid unnecessary use of electricity.
Solar Powered Laser Security System
The project used solar power as our most efficient available renewable energy resource to operate a Security System that uses a laser as its detector. The solar cell used charges the battery, which in turn powers the laser light and the alarm circuit. When any obstacle comes between the laser light and the LDR, the LED light is switched on, indicating trespassing, and the buzzer starts beeping.
HOVERCRAFT:
The purpose of this project was to make an air-cushion vehicle that caused less friction and could travel on different terrains. By using such a setup, the friction between the model and the floor can be reduced, thus making it easily movable; and as the craft floats, it can be used on different terrains (marshy areas or beaches).
Solar Lighter:
The project aims to create heat in a heat-resistant wire with the help of bell push buttons, rechargeable batteries, and a solar panel. The circuit comprises the batteries, which are connected in series. The button is connected to one of the terminals of the batteries, and the filament is connected to two screws, which will act as the flame device. The solar panel acts as the charger for the batteries.
Solar Cooker:
To use solar energy to cook food out door using, this device was made to reduce the fossil energy for cooking.
Published Research
1) Effect of different plasticizers on physical and chemical properties of bioplastic produced from vegetable starch
This study focused on the synthesis of bioplastics by using different sources of vegetable starch and plasticizers and performing their characterization. The effects of different sources of starch and various plasticizers on the mechanical properties were observed. The research has been published in an International conference titled as 8th World Congress on Biopolymers & Bioplastics on June 28-29, 2018, in Berlin, Germany.
Sidra Sikandar, Samina Yasmin, and Abdul Rehman, 8th World Congress on Biopolymers & Bioplastics, June 28-29, 2018 |Berlin, Germany, Chem Eng Process Technology 2018, Volume 9 DOI: 10.4172/2157-7048-C1-012
2) Detection of Drug-Resistant Pathogens and Toxic Adulterants in Fresh and Tetra Pack Milk Samples in Karachi, Pakistan
Presented in ASM Microbe 2018, in Atlanta, GA (June 7th -11th), Abstract ID: 6093, Javeria Samad1, Sidra Sikandar1, Shahana Urooj Kazmi2, Humaira Qureshi1, 1Habib University, Karachi, 2Dadabhoy Institute of Higher Education, Karachi, Pakistan
Student Life Events
The chemistry/energy lab has facilitated different HU student life and student marketing-led events like OMICRON, High Achievers Event, HU Experience, and Splash programs in the past four years. Students had a brief lab facility orientation and an overview of lab rules. Participants were briefed on the kits/appliances/gadgets and software used in the lab and were provided with hands-on experience of some of the renewable energy models like hydrogen fuel cell, hydro-electric pump, dye sensitized solar cell, making bio diesel and bio plastic.
Chemistry Energy Lab
