1: Predictive Modelling of Wildfire Dynamics: Analyzing the Park and Borel Fires through Satellite Imagery to Enhance Fire Management in California
Jin Christian Rimando
California had two of the biggest fires in 2024, which are Park Fire and Borel Fire. The purpose of this project is to use data from the NASA Earth Observatory satellite images to create function models for the perimeter and burn area estimates for these two fires. Can the average rates of change be used to predict future wildfires? The focus of this research project is unique because these two recent wildfires are significant to residents of California. According to the California Air Resources Board, of the twenty largest fires in California history, eight have occurred since 2017. Calculating Riemann Sums for satellite images, this project estimates the burn area of wildfires day-by-day. From the NASA satellite images, I gathered aerial images from regular occurrences from the two fires. The fire perimeter distances at various times during the fire growth were calculated. Using regression, found functions modeling the rate of change of the burn area and fire perimeter of the two wildfires. This project can be used to predict the burn area and the fire perimeter of future wildfires and to stop wildfires from spreading further. According to California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, it predicts a 77 percent increase in burn area and 50 percent in the frequency of fires exceeding 25 thousand acres by 2100. I am hoping that my research can be used to help deter climate change in California and to prevent future wildfires from spreading further, impacting California residents.
3: Optimizing Wavelengths: The Impact of Red, Blue, and Purple Light on the Growth of Brachypodium distachyon
Sophia Ochoa-Aragon, Cassara Fejarang, Natalie Gaytan, Emma Noia, Jill Bouchard
Light is a key driver of photosynthesis, and understanding its impact on plant development is critical for improving agricultural productivity, especially in controlled environments like greenhouses or crop farms. The general purpose of this study is to explore how different wavelengths of light influence plant growth, specifically in Brachypodium distachyon, a model long-day grass species. Red and blue light are crucial for photosynthesis, the problem lies in determining which specific combination of wavelengths promotes the most plant growth. This study investigates whether purple light helps shoot growth, root development, and leaf height more effectively than red, blue, or white light, as it is a combination of both red and blue light. To test this, B. distachyon plants were grown under four lighting conditions: white (control), red, blue, and purple light. Colored films placed over fabricated ecosystem chambers(EcoFABs) simulated each light environment. Plant growth was monitored over a four-week period, and ImageJ software was used to measure shoot, root, and leaf development. Results showed that B. distachyon under blue light at the start grew rapidly but over time leveled off; red light led to early high growth followed by a decline; purple light started slow but ended with the highest overall growth (17% increase); and the control group grew steadily throughout. This data suggests that purple light, combining the benefits of both red and blue wavelengths, is the most effective for plant growth in controlled environments. Future studies should focus on utilizing purple wavelengths in these environments to promote plant growth.
5: Determining Total Solids in Water: Accessing the Impact of Water Purity on Laboratory Accuracy
Nikki Tran
Water purity is critical in laboratory settings, as even small amounts of dissolved solids or pH variation can interfere with experimental accuracy. This study evaluates the total dissolved solids (TDS) and pH levels in deionized (DI) water and tap water from different locations within the science building. A potassium chloride (KCl) solution was used as a control standard due to its known TDS content, ensuring that our measurement methods were consistent and reliable. Each 250 mL water sample was poured into a pre-weighed evaporating dish, dried in a lab oven over several days, and reweighed to determine the mass of any remaining solids. DI water consistently showed negligible to no residue (e.g., 0.0006 g, -0.0009 g), confirming high purity. In contrast, tap water left behind substantial solids (e.g., 0.0951 g, 0.0873 g, 0.0815 g), while the KCl control produced predictable values (~0.099 g), validating the method. Additionally, pH readings showed that DI water ranged from ~6.6 to 9.0 across locations and dates, while tap water remained more stable between 8.0 and 8.5. These variations suggest that even DI water may shift in pH based on location or storage, although its TDS remains minimal. Our findings confirm the necessity of using DI water for sensitive experiments and suggest the value of regularly monitoring both TDS and pH in lab water sources.
7: Plastic Waste: Our Convenience, Earth’s Crisis
Krylle Acma, Calista Dicker, Evelin Perez
The increasing accumulation of plastic waste poses a significant environmental threat, prompting the need for innovative and sustainable recycling methods. This research project investigates the potential of a novel catalyst to facilitate the degradation of common plastics into chemical raw materials that would allow to produce more valuable products such as fuel/energy or simply make its landfilling eco-friendlier. The creation of the catalyst consisted of a multistep synthesis involving an electrophilic aromatic substitution via the Reimer-Tiemann reaction, a Schiff base ligand and a metal complexation, consecutively. The first reaction, consisted of adding an aldehyde (-CHO) to the 2-naphthol phenol, for the second reaction, we used the product from the previous reaction (2-hydroxynaphthaldehyde) and added the salen ligand (1,2-cyclohexanediamine) which acted as a bridge to help the binding of the metal salt (iron (III) nitrate) on the third reaction. To test the catalysts, we prepared TLC plates with samples of the experimental, positive, and four negative controls and numbered them 1 through to 6, consecutively. After developing the TLC plates in a chamber with a mixture of ¼ ethyl acetate ¾ hexane solution, we check the results under the UV light. TLC results showed that the synthesized catalyst were inconclusive though.
9: Investigating the Effects of Allura Red (Red Dye 40) on the Growth and Development of Brachypodium distachyon
Dakota Black, Mick Dostalik, Elvis Guzman, Mateo Mora, Maddie Welsh, Jill Bouchard
The vast increase in the use of dyes for clothing, makeup, and food products has detrimentally increased the amount of dyes and pigments synthesized and wasted worldwide. These dyes presence impairs photosynthetic growth in aquatic plants, affects phytoplankton growth, leading to overall ecological impairment. Allura Red, or Red Dye 40 has been linked to negative consequences in humans and animals, potentially as detrimental as being a carcinogen. However, research in how Red Dye 40 interacts with the environment is still in its infancy, as such, our study aims to explore if the presence of Red Dye 40 has an effect on the growth of our specimen, Bracyhpodium distachyon. We hydroponically grew the plant in an EcoFAB, a laboratory device useful in studying plant growth and interaction within its environment. Using three different concentrations of Red Dye 40, ranging from a low, medium, and high amount, we compared the growth and development of the roots and shoots between each concentration group and our control group. Our finding aligned with our hypothesis, that the presence of Red Dye 40 would negatively impact the growth of our specimen plant. The high concentration of Red Dye 40 only showing around 8.84% of change from week 1 to week 4 in root growth, compared to our control group which saw a change of 43.87% change in root growth over the weeks. Further research is needed, over longer periods in a more controlled environment to observe more substantial impacts on plant growth, including other plant specimens.
11: Adsorption of Methylene Blue and Methyl Orange Dyes from Water Using Pomegranate Pith and Peel
Carissa Bondoc, Lily Costanza, Sofia Costanza, Bella Downey, Angelica Duenas, Quintin Ngo, and Lauren Parodi
Water pollution due to textile dye waste is a prevalent issue around the world, harming entire ecosystems. This study examines the efficiency of pomegranates as adsorbents for removing two different common textile dyes, Methylene Blue (MB) and Methyl Orange (MO), from aqueous solutions and compares two different parts of the pomegranate: the rind and the membrane. The experiment was carried out by making dilutions of the two dyes and peeling the pomegranate to separate the two parts. Both parts were then washed with deionized water and dried in an oven at 60ºC for 48 hours. They were weighed and placed into the solutions, with the absorbance of each being recorded every five minutes for one hour. The data showed that both parts of the pomegranate were successful at removing MB, but neither were efficient at removing MO. The average percent removal of MB was around 85%, while MO had an average percent removal of -4.00%, likely due to the uptake of water. Both the pomegranate surfaces and MO dye are anionic, with MB dye being cationic and therefore more likely to stick to the surfaces. The rind removed 84.4% of MB dye on average and the membrane removed 85.5%, suggesting that pomegranates are effective bioadsorbents for MB regardless of which part is used. This experiment offers a small-scale solution that could potentially be replicated on a larger scale to filter water and help various communities.
13: Wintergreen Dreams, Plastic Realities
Charity Cooke, Nick Coppa, Fadid Elbandak, Megan Hines
Plastics are harmful to the environment as they do not decompose naturally.In this project, we explored how common household chemicals, such as those found in wintergreen oil, might help break down or transform plastic-related materials more efficiently. We focused on the synthesis of salicylaldehyde and how changing our approach to solvents and purification impacted results. In earlier trials, we used methyl salicylate and ethanol, which led to product contamination. We later switched to sodium salicylate and avoided ethanol, doubling the reaction scale to improve yield. Our project compares the original and modified methods using NMR, with future plans to analyze product purity through TLC and IR. These methods could help inform future plastic breakdown strategies.
15: Fight for Survival: E.coli and pH Persistence in Soil
Hillary Alvarez, Leslie Cruz, Brianna Reyes, Jessica Rough, Shwe Yee Thinn , Mentor Dr. Yuan Liu
Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a widespread bacterial species commonly found in the intestines of humans & animals. While many strains are harmless, certain pathogenic strains can cause gastrointestinal illness. In recent years, there has been a rise of crops contaminated with E. coli, which have become a concern, largely due to animal manure & sewage sludge as the use of fertilizers in agricultural skyrocket. The organic soil in animal manure provides essential nutrients although those essential nutrients can also introduce harmful microorganisms into the environment. Most of them eventually end up within the fruits and vegetables on the shelves of many grocery stores ready to be bought and consumed by consumers. In the Bay Area, environmental factors like stormwater runoff, wastewater discharge, and agricultural practices contribute to the spread of E. coli in the local ecosystems. Soil contaminated with E. coli and water contaminated with E.coli can serve as reservoirs for E. coli bacteria increasing the risk of foodborne outbreaks.
17: Biodiversity & pH in Maintained & Non-Maintained Areas at Big Break Regional Shoreline
Cassidy Hannan, Valerie MacHa Ramos, Natalya Marroquin, Brenda Maya, and Jazmyn Montes Limon Robert Heischman
At Big Break Regional Shoreline, we investigated whether site maintenance affects biodiversity and pH levels by comparing a slough (maintained) and a bridge (non-maintained) area, using trail cameras, insect sticky traps, and pH strips to analyze differences. Initial results show higher biodiversity at the slough, with a total of 567 insects sampled, compared to the bridge, with a total of 365 insects sampled. The pH at the slough and bridge varied between 6 and 8. The slough, compared to the bridge, has a higher biodiversity. The health of ecosystems sustains life, providing clean air, water, food, and economic stability. Our well-being is directly tied to environmental health; protecting nature means protecting ourselves
19: Adsorption of Dyes Using Carica Papaya Seeds
Giselle Cabello, Zephan Ulrich, Samantha Hunt, Naomi Fierros, Sison Girlie
The purpose of the study was to determine whether Carica papaya seeds could act as effective bio-adsorbent for methylene blue dye while also increasing the pH of the solution. The experiment compared the adsorption capacity of coated versus uncoated papaya seeds to identify which produced more favorable results. The objective was to observe how methylene blue interacted with each type of seed and to analyze how dye removal affected the solution’s pH . Carica papaya seeds properties that can aid in the adsorption of dyes, such as lignin and sucrose. The findings aimed to provide insight into the potential use of papaya seeds as a low-cost, natural method for removing contaminants from aqueous solutions. Future experiments could further investigate whether uncoated seeds offer improved adsorption efficiency and greater pH enhancement compared to coated seeds.
21: Using Methyl Salicylate to Dissolve Plastic
Leila Razinejad, Aidyn Codori, Tochi Onyeador, Sergio Gonzalez
Motivated by growing environmental concerns surrounding plastic waste, we aimed to explore more biodegradable solvent systems that could help contribute to plastic degradation. This ongoing experiment explores the use of wintergreen oil to synthesize salicylaldehyde through a Reimer–Tiemann reaction. Following this, a Salen ligand was prepared by reacting salicylaldehyde with ethylenediamine, and then complexed with a metal ion to form a metal–Salen complex. While the exact mechanism by which these compounds might interact with plastic is still under investigation, the goal is to explore their potential chemical reactivity toward certain polymers. The experiment is ongoing, and further analysis will focus on whether these compounds can facilitate plastic dissolution or transform.
23: Antibacterial Properties of Hippodamia Convergens Exoskeletal Secretion
Eliana Garcia-Ortiz, Aiden Garber, Kevin Gabriel, Mohammad Rahmani., Prof. R. Heischman
Lady beetles play a critical role in ecosystems as natural predators of agricultural pests. Previous research on an Asian species of lady beetle revealed that their exoskeleton secretions contain antibacterial enzymes. We hypothesize that secretions from native lady beetles have antibacterial properties that reduce bacterial abundance and species richness in their environment. We collected native lady beetles and extracted secretions from their exoskeletons. These secretions were applied to bacterial cultures under controlled laboratory conditions. We compared bacterial growth, abundance, and species richness between treated and untreated samples using standard culturing and plating techniques. Preliminary results suggest that bacterial cultures exposed to lady beetle secretions exhibited reduced growth compared to control groups. Quantitative analysis showed that the species of lady beetle whose secretions we tested did not make a noticeable change to the cultures. This research contributes to our understanding of the defensive mechanisms of native lady beetles and their potential applications that may lead to new bio-inspired antimicrobial agents.
25: CURE - Salen Catalyst’s Ability to Break Down Plastic
Anagha Mukunda, Talon Dumlao, Vincent Terrenate, Liezyl Ann Catahan
Micro and macro plastics cause significant problems to our global environment due to their resistance to breakdown, yet plastics are the most commonly used materials worldwide due to their versatility, low cost, and durability. Our research is based on the production of a Salen-Metal Complex catalyst, which promotes the degradation of plastics. By starting with salicylic acid and turning it into a salen-metal catalyst with Cobalt Nitrate, we propose this is a potential method to break down plastics. We attached an aldehyde to salicylic acid via Reimer-Tiemann reaction under basic conditions, then developed the salen ligand before adding the metal to form the active Salen-Metal Catalyst complex. While we intended to test the catalyst on plastic under reflux in ethanol, this final part of the experiment could not be attempted or completed due to time constraints. Future work will include, testing the catalyst’s ability to degrade plastic and analyze the results via NMR spectroscopy. This innovative research and methodology establish a framework for future experimentation and optimization of the degradation of plastic.
27: Effects of Indole-3-Acetic Acid And Phosphorus Deprivation On Root And Shoot Growth In Brachypodium Distachyon
Zarah Abatcha, Emma Pasic, Muhsana Rahman, Litzy Vieyra
The world of the study of plant growth is vast and full of potential for research, namely the effects of different hormones on plant growth. One such plant hormone, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), has existing but limited information about its usefulness in reinforcing plants against removal of phosphorus, an essential plant growth mineral. To remedy this gap in research, the focus of this study was to discover the potential of plant growth when assisted by IAA under different conditions. Over the course of several weeks, Brachypodium distachyon, a model grass plant with a simple genome and short growth period, was monitored within EcoFABs under varying conditions. Ecosystem Fabrications, or EcoFABs, are devices used to simulate an ecosystem without the use of soil, thereby maximizing visibility of plant roots. To test the effectiveness of IAA, a research question was put into action: "Can (IAA) protect against phosphorus loss in plants?". The rescue group (treated with phosphorus removal and IAA at 0.2𝛍g/𝛍L) was successful in growth capacity of roots compared to plants grown in phosphorus deprived media and plants treated only with IAA, having an average percent increase of 50.19%. Additionally, the IAA treated group showed significant growth in shoots, with an average 32.62% increase. In future studies, the true growth potential of IAA must be pursued. While it was useful in helping with B. distachyon growth, there are many avenues future studies could focus on, such as various IAA concentrations used on a variety of other plants. The general increase of growth in groups treated with this hormone supports future studies to fully understand the growth potential of IAA on plants in distress. Overall, this success has many unrealized pathways to be explored for the sake of global environmental support in a rapidly changing agricultural environment.
29: The effect of homecooked flavored shrimp on chitin used to adsorb methylene blue dye in wastewater
Michaela Aquino, Justin Cecilio, Kimberly Figueroa, Mindy Capes
Dyes in wastewater have a negative environmental impact due to their toxicity. Many dyes, like methylene blue (MB), have complex chemical structures that resist breakdown, leading to their accumulation in water sources. These dyes pose significant risks to humans, microbial life, and the reduction of biodiversity. Shrimp shells offer a promising, eco-friendly solution for removing MB from wastewater. These shells contain chitin, a natural polymer known for its strong adsorption properties, making it effective for dye removal. Using shrimp shells, typically considered waste, provides a sustainable and accessible method for mitigating the impact of residual dyes. Previous research has found raw shrimp shell waste as an effective bio adsorbent, however, this use of raw material is not a realistic approach to sustainable wastewater treatment. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of brown shrimp shells in removing MB-based preparation and seasoning from a home-cooked meal. Each group of shrimp in the experiment was prepared at home as a dish; boiled in a cilantro sauce (SSBC), grilled with a lemon pepper rub (SSGL), or boiled with no seasoning (SSB), then brought straight to the lab bench after the meal, they were thoroughly cleaned, treated with NaHCO3 , dried, and ground into chitin powder. Duplicate batch adsorption studies were conducted with MB. Results showed that SSGL had the highest percent removal at 35%, followed by SSBC at 30%, then SSB at 15%. This work confirms shrimp shells as a low-cost, environmentally friendly bio adsorbent and that home preparation impacts the efficiency in removing MB dye from wastewater.
31: Effects of Extreme Salinity Concentrations in Water to Mosquito Fern Survivability
Darlene Davis, Gabriella del Rosario, Hazel Reyes, Christina Velarde
The Mosquito Fern (Azolla) is a native aquatic plant native to the Big Break delta brackish waters. It supports the ecosystem in its role as a primary producer by acting as a natural fertilizer and offering crucial habitat for both micro and macroinvertebrates. Mosquito Fern's survival is highly sensitive to salinity levels, rendering it susceptible to shifts in water composition. We hypothesize that elevated salinity, particularly levels approaching that of salt water, will adversely impact the survival of the Mosquito Fern. To evaluate this, we subjected the plant to a range of salt concentrations and used a spectrophotometer to assess chlorophyll content as a proxy for plant health. Preliminary results indicate that mosquito fern in high salinity solutions have a lower absorbance of chlorophyll compared to the other solutions. These findings underscore the significance of the X2 barrier in maintaining optimal salinity levels and safeguarding native species within the delta ecosystem.
33: Catalyst For Plastic Degradation
Julio Gonzalez Zavala, Angel Adriano, Ali Khan
Plastic waste is everywhere, from landfills to oceans, and finding better ways to break it down is more important than ever. In this project, we explored a possible solution by creating a new chemical compound using salicylaldehyde, ethylenediamine, and iron (III) nitrate. When combined, these ingredients form a metal-organic complex that we hoped could help break down Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics more efficiently. The idea is that this Iron-based complex might act like a catalyst, speeding up the degradation process through chemical reactions. Our results from three trials with varying NaOH concentrations showed that the catalyst consistently outperformed the control group, reducing plastic mass about twice as much in each trial. After 1 to 1.5 hours of reaction time, the catalyst trials showed significantly lower final plastic masses compared to the control, suggesting that the catalyst had a meaningful and positive impact on plastic degradation. Although the results were promising, further optimization of the catalyst and experimental conditions is necessary to enhance its effectiveness and fully understand its potential for plastic waste management.
35: Is Baldness Attractive?
Daniela Avalos, Aaliyah Dacasin, Madelynn Jenkins, Dianca Tanod, Reagan Thomas
Developing sustainable methods in order to both reuse waste and reduce pollution in the oceans is a continued pressing challenge for environmental science. Studies show that malachite green (MG) can cause harm to aquatic life. Kiwi peels are an abundant, low-value, biodegradable waste, with no current use for its peels. This experiment explores the effectiveness of shaved and unshaved kiwi peels in adsorbing MG dye in deionized water (DI) and simulated seawater (SW), at different concentrations. Using a spectrophotometer, the absorbance of the shaved and unshaved kiwi peels of MG dye was measured over time in these two different solutions. The investigation reveals that shaved kiwi peels had a similar average maximum percent removal (SW: 49.53%, DI: 49.95%). Furthermore, unshaved kiwi peels proved to be not an effective resolution for reducing water pollution, due to their hair and pigment causing the water to change color.
37: Elimination of Dangerous Solvent in Organic Chemistry Labs
D’Anna Daquioag, Jetzi Guzman, Sara Olah
Dichloromethane (DCM) is commonly used in experiments at LMC, but it poses serious health and environmental risks. This experiment explores safer alternatives to DCM in Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) by testing methanol, ethanol, and acetone mixtures. The goal is to evaluate how these alternative solvents affect compound separation, solubility, and Rf values in organic chemistry labs at LMC. Based on twelve trials, we found that the most effective combinations were ethanol, methanol/ethanol, methanol/acetone, and ethanol/acetone, with ethyl acetate/cyclopentane serving as the optimal mobile phase. The results support the development of greener, more sustainable TLC methods without decreasing performance.
39: Macroinvertebrate Biodiversity Comparison: Impact of Urban Proximity on Water Quality
Jacob Ambriz, Nnamdi Egu, Trevor Green, Pratibh Kaushik
We tested the water quality at L.M.C and Big Break by comparing macroinvertebrate biodiversity. We took samples of water and used a d-net along with a water filtration system to skim the bottom of the body of water to collect macroinvertebrates. The collected macro invertebrates were separated and identified to find the variation of species in each body of water. These tests were performed to determine if the proximity to an urban area has a negative effect on bodies of water, as many organisms build a dependency on this access to water. We used the Shannon Diversity Index formula to calculate biodiversity at each site. We expect to find that the biodiversity will be higher at Big Break compared to LMC, as this would support our hypothesis that Big Break has better water quality. Our results showed this to be true as Big Break had a biodiversity index level was 0.81 and L.M.C. was 0. This shows that water quality levels are better in a restored area compared to urban area, and that we need to take action of purifying the body of water at just not L.M.C. but in a lot of urban areas too.
41: Breaking Up is Hard to do
Luisa Atoche, Haren Kaur
As more plastic pollution finds its way into our environment the negative effects of such a long-lasting pollutant has become increasingly hard to ignore. To that effect our research aims to synthesize an organic catalyst using the: Reimer-Tiemann, Salen Ligand, and Metal complex reaction to create an alcohol-amine catalyst that will speed up the degradation process of plastics. Our reaction synthesis begins with 2-Naphthol, and the Reimer-Tiemann reaction. Using the Reimer-Tiemann we added an aldehyde functional group to our starting material ortho to the hydroxyl group to create a substituted salicylaldehyde. Using this new product, we attempted to do the Salen Ligand reaction in which we would be adding the amine group to our product. However, after conducting the reaction, and verifying the structure it was found that we did not have the desired product. As such due to a lack of our initial starting material we had to pivot to liquid salicylaldehyde to move forward with the Salen ligand reaction. After synthesizing our amine came the metal complex reaction in which we used copper(II) nitrate to add a copper atom to our product. Due to time constraints, we were unable to test the catalytic properties of our product however we have high hopes for its functionality, and plan to test it at a future date.
43: Investigating the Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Growth and Development of Brachypodium distachyon
Analee Botello, Gabrielle Clavido, Jennifer Gutierrez, Stephanie Pacheco, and Jill Bouchard
Plants interact with various soil microorganisms, many that play a key role in obtaining nutrients and the availability of macro- and microelements for plants. Among these are Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), soil microorganisms that form symbiotic relationships with most terrestrial plant roots. AMF has been found to increase plant uptake of soil nutrients such as phosphorus, and supply nutrients to other members of root-associated microbial communities. Many agricultural practices are now including fungi as a way of increasing crop yield. This research aims to explore the effects of different concentrations (low, medium, and high) of AMF on growth and development of the plant species Brachypodium distachyon. We hypothesized that the moderate concentration of AMF would result in the greatest overall plant growth. To test this, we grew B. distachyon in fabricated Ecosystems called EcoFAB’s and collected data on roots and shoots weekly over a period of several weeks. Using Image J, an image processing program, to measure root and shoot growth, we found that B. distachyon grown in moderate concentration conditions produced the weakest growth results, while those grown in both low and high concentration conditions exhibited very similar results, with the highest growth. Based on this data, we can conclude that the moderate concentration did not result in the highest overall growth, therefore this data did not support our hypothesis. Future studies should be aimed at how we can utilize different concentrations of AMF to protect plants in our ever-changing climate where plants are significant to human life.
45: 2-Naphthol Vs. Salicylic Acid
Rebecca Keel, David Udeh, Adrian Ochoa Montal
Plastic has been polluting the ocean and environment ever since its creation. Not only do they pollute the environment with the amount of plastic within the water, it can also dissolve into microplastics which can show significant harm within an ecosystem, including ours. For this experiment, we worked on a catalyst to help breakdown plastics faster. The two molecules we used are salicylic acid and 2-naphthol. We put the molecules through a series of reactions to get a catalyst we wanted. It’s important to not that salicylic acid would have some troubleshooting issues with it. 2-naphthol is more than likely to be the better catalyst since it is easier to deal with. The attempted acetylation of salicylic acid did not yield acetylsalicylic acid under the given experimental conditions. Future attempts should ensure anhydrous conditions, appropriate reaction temperatures, and the use of pure reagents to facilitate successful product formation.
47: Otter Scat Impact on Soil at Big Break Regional Park
Diana Gutierrez, Justin Cecilio, Faraz Kabiri, Muhammed Padilla, James Bareng
The river otter species (Lontra canadensis) are a great environmental indicator, and upon further looking into this species, our group of researchers found that they play an important role in their contribution to soil quality and nutrient cycling. Our goal is to look at the impact of River Otter scat on soil quality at Big Break Regional Park as we hypothesize that river otter scat enriches soil nutrients, promoting the overall ecosystem. Scat and soil samples will be collected from areas with and without otter activity, and soil nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and pH) will be analyzed. Findings will show us the role of River Otters in nutrient cycling and show us their potential as natural contributors to soil fertility and ecosystem health.
49: Catalytic Degradation of Plastic Using Salicylaldehyde
Vanzelle Cabinta, Micah Currie, Dominic Martin, Lucero Martinez, Daniella Van
As a non-biodegradable material, about 79% of produced plastic has been left to accumulate in dumps all over the world. As plastic production continues to grow at an alarming pace, it is crucial to find methods that can aid in the chemical breakdown and recycling of plastics. Our study aimed to synthesize a chemical catalyst made from salicylaldehyde and copper (II) nitrate that could be combined with hydrochloric acid (HCl) to accelerate the breakdown of plastics in our environment. In the end, we found that our catalyst was not effective.
51: Investigating Potential Antibacterial Properties of Flavopunctelia flaventior
Isabella Imasa, Lilah Blackman, Valeria Martinez-Yela
Lichen, a symbiotic association between fungi and photosynthetic partners, typically algae, play a vital role in ecosystems. This study aims to investigate the antibacterial properties of lichen extracts when tested against Micrococcus luteus and Serratia marcescens. The objective was to enhance our understanding of how lichens interact with their surroundings, particularly in their ability to resist microbial threats. Lichen samples were collected from Black Diamond Mine, a local regional preserve, and were subsequently prepared and tested against M. luteus and S. marcescens. Our findings were that M. luteus exhibited no bacterial growth across all samples, yet the lichen extract demonstrated inhibitory effects on the growth of S. marcescens.
53: Preparation of Banana Peel Effect on Adsorption of Anionic and Cationic Dyes
Jonathan Mattes, Wais Siddiqi, Gabriel Mendoza, Jason Hernandez, Peyton Perez, Christopher Nichols
This study aims to investigate the adsorption of semi-ripe banana peel (BP) as a biosorbent for removing cationic and anionic dyes. Previous research has demonstrated the ability of fruit peels to adsorb pollutants, with a notable efficacy against cationic contaminants. Inspired by these findings BP prepared using different treatments was studied as an affordable and eco-friendly alternative for dye adsorption. Four peel preparation methods—sodium hydroxide (NaOH), hydrochloric acid (HCl), oven dried after water (H₂O), and not dried after water (H₂O) were used to prepare BP for batch adsorption of an anionic and cationic dye, allura red (AR) and methylene blue (MB), respectively. With the goal of maximizing pollutant removal efficiency by optimizing BP preparation while still maintaining environmental sustainability, we controlled peel size to reduce variability in our comparisons between findings and established literature on similar biosorbents. We found that BP prepared using NaOH had the highest percent removal. Following the pseudo second order kinetics model the peels achieved an adsorption capacity of 2.9 mg/g at equilibrium with a max percent removal of 85% after 7 hours. This suggests potential for other dyes with this preparation technique. This study contributes to the growing body of research on low-cost, renewable bio adsorbents by presenting a comparative analysis of BP treatments, with potential applications for improved wastewater treatment methods
55: Potential Plastic Degradation Catalyst From Pharmaceutical Precursor
Ryan Lohmeier, Mustafa Sherzai, Jeremiah Contreras
Aspirin, first synthesized in 1897, is derived from salicylic acid—a naturally occurring compound found in plants. Due to its aromatic structure, salicylic acid can be modified to form a Salen-ligand, a known catalyst that accelerates various chemical reactions. This project aimed to synthesize a Salen-ligand complex from sodium salicylate via a Reimer-Tiemann reaction. Initial attempts yielded poor results, largely due to incomplete dissolution and issues with using ethanol as a solvent. Optimizations, including excess chloroform addition and avoiding ethanol, improved product yield purity as confirmed by TLC and a yield of around 75 percent. The resulting aldehyde was reacted with ethylenediamine and copper(II) acetate to form a Salen-metal complex. This complex was tested for its ability to degrade plastic in solution against negative controls which contained no catalyst. While our catalyst was ineffective in this experiment, this research highlights the challenges and potential of developing sustainable, metal-based catalysts for plastic degradation.
57: Mystery
Ghost
Shhhhh...