Chemistry Energy Lab
About
In this lab, students will get a hands on experience on solar cells, wind mills, hydrogen fuel cells, solar cooker, bio diesel and several other experiments from the domain of basic chemistry, renewable energy and environmental sciences. This lab also includes fuel efficiency tests, designing of 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 introduces 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 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 the course concepts:
Some of the courses do not have a separate lab component but include 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 University of Karachi. During her Masters, she has done a research on “Prevalence of Anemia in female medical students age < 24 ". Earlier, she has 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 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 alternate 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 PNP transistor, Resistors, LED, IR Emitter and Receiver, 4 V battery supply, 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 which uses 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 in between the laser light and the LDR, the LED light is switched on indicating the trespassing, and the buzzer starts beeping.
HOVERCRAFT:
The purpose of this project was to make an air-cushion vehicle which caused less friction, and which 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 moveable; 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 resistance wire with the help of bell push buttons, rechargeable batteries, and a solar panel. The circuit comprises of the batteries which are connected in series. The button is connected to one of the terminals of batteries and the filament is connected to two screws which will act as the flaming 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 synthesis of bioplastic by using different sources of vegetable starch and plasticizers and perform its characterization. The effects of different source of starch and various plasticizer on the mechanical properties was observed. The research has been published in an International conference titled as 8th World Congress on Biopolymers & Bioplastics on June 28-29, 2018 at 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 brief lab facility orientation and overview of lab rules. Participants were briefed through 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
