RESEARCH IDEA:

A Talk on Recent Developments, Motivation and Sources

of Information

Research Seminar # 1
Faisal Mushtaq, Ph.D.
Chairperson
Department of Chemical Engineering
Faculty of Engineering and Architecture
Presentation Highlights

Introduction
Recent Developments
Motivation
Sources of Information
Using scholar.google.com
Using patents.google.com
Using sciencedirect.com
Using nature.com
Selection of Research Area and considerations
Interesting Research Areas
My Experience
Q&A
Introduction
Research
Finding something that we do not
know
Diligent and systematic investigation
into a subject in order to discover or
revise facts, theories, applications
Research is systematic because it
follows certain steps that are logical in
order
Introduction
Recent Developments
 Recent Developments

Using an innovative fabrication process developed at HRL, researchers created a microlattice structure of
interconnected hollow tubes with a wall thickness of 100 nanometers, 1,000 times thinner than a human hair.
Source: http://www.hrl.com/hrlDocs/pressreleases/2011/prsRls_111117.html
 Recent Developments

Source: http://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/graphene-sieve-turns-seawater-into-drinking-water/
Recent Developments
Recent Developments

NASA Recently reveals the report on effective Plants of removing benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and ammonia from
the air chemicals that have been linked to negative health effects like headaches, dizziness, eye irritation, and others.
Title : Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement, Sept. 15th, 1989
Source: Report available on https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19930073077.pdf
Recent Developments
Recent Developments
Recent Developments
Recent Developments
Recent Developments

An Engine That is Faster, Lighter, and More Powerful? Meet the Technology of
Tomorrow
Source: https://futurism.com/an-engine-that-is-faster-lighter-and-more-powerful-meet-
the-technology-of-tomorrow/
Recent Developments

Database of hazardous reactions launched, tool allows scientists to submit and search
for safety information not publicly cataloged elsewhere
Source: https://cen.acs.org/articles/95/i12/Database-hazardous-reactions-launched.html
Recent Developments
Recent Developments

A team of researchers managed to make a synthetic pathway that

converts CO2 into organic compounds faster than plants.
In order to find an enzyme to improve CO2 fixation, the researchers
carefully selected 17 enzymatic compounds from nine organisms.
Recent Developments

Bionic eyes are already in development and could alleviate sight issues
for hundreds of millions suffering from visual impairments or blindness.
The mechanical eyes could also provide enhanced sight so cybernetic
humans could see more of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Recent Developments

A new nanoparticle therapy that uses a minute gel pellet to deliver siRNA to
cancer cells has reduced or eliminated carcinomas in in vivo tests in four mice.
The treatment is still in its very early stages, but joins a growing number of
nanoparticle therapies looking to improve how we combat disease on a
cellular level.
Recent Developments
Motivation
Motivation
Motivation
Motivation
Motivation
Motivation
Motivation
Motivation
Motivation
Motivation
Motivation
Motivation
Motivation
Improve your Skills
Motivation
Dont Work hard, Work Intelligent
Motivation
Find BEST FRIEND
 Motivation
To be successful in life, we need to have many FRIENDS
 Motivation
Improve your CONFIDENCE

What matters most is how you see YOURSELF

Sources of Information
Google and other search engines
Google scholar
www.scholar.google.com

Google Patents
www.patents.google.com

Science Direct
www.sciencedirect.com

Nature
www.nature.com

ACS
www.acs.org
Sources of Information
Face-book pages
Futurism

Hashem Al-Ghaili

The Science Explorer

World of Chemistry

MIT Chemical Engineering (ChemE)

Others
Using scholar.google.com
Type your area of Interest
Target your area
Read Review papers first
Read the recently published review papers
Focus on Materials and Methods and results
Read targeted research papers
Study materials and method, and Results
Find major challenges
Reading between the lines
Ask yourself questions what if and why not ???
Take notes
Using scholar.google.com
Using patents.google.com
Type your area of Interest
Target your area
Read different patents
Read the recently available patents
Focus on Materials and Methods and results
Read targeted patents
Study materials and method, and Results
Find major challenges
Reading between the lines
Ask yourself questions what if and why not ???
Take notes
Using patents.google.com
Using sciencedirect.com
Type your area of Interest
Target your area
Read different Review and research papers
Read the recently available Review and research papers
Focus on Materials and Methods and results
Read targeted research papers
Study materials and method, and Results
Find major challenges
Reading between the lines
Ask yourself questions what if and why not ???
Take notes
Using sciencedirect.com
Using nature.com
Selection of Research Area and
considerations

Why is the research important?

What other studies have there been in this
area?
How will this research add to knowledge in this

area?
What do you want to find out?

What is the main question you wish to answer?

What are the specific questions you will ask to

address the main question?
Interesting Research Areas

Bio-fuel production from waste resources

Coal desulphurization

Coal-char and bio-char, and fly-ash Utilization

Talcum powder and cancer

Paper money and coins as a vector source for

transmissible disease
My Experience
Biomass
Convectional Chemical
Oil
/MW Pyrolysis Feed stocks
Coal
 My Experience
Technical challenges in MW heating of pyrolysis solids
Presence of MWA
Hotspots formation
Uniform process heating
Penetration depth
Controlled final pyrolysis temperature
My Experience

Uniform mixing of
pyrolysis solids
with MWA

Effects uniform Effects

process heating conversion
Hotspots formation
(Localized heating)
Effects oil Effects oil yield
composition
My Experience
My Experience
My Experience
My Experience
Thank you
Q&A