REU Project

Cement manufacturing plants are the third largest source of process-related carbon dioxide emissions. This project looks at the feasibility of wasted kiln dust to sequester this carbon dioxide. During sequestration, the kiln dust changes to calcium carbonate, which is a more stable waste allowing the dust to be reused. The sequestration also absorbs the CO2 from processing—so that less is going into the atmosphere. The project has been on-going for a year, and my goal this summer is to run multiple samples at varying concentrations of CO2 to find the optimum time and concentration, as well as the limit of CO2 that can be sequestered by a sample. We are also looking at previous results to see how repetitive the process is as cement kiln dust changes slightly in composition within a sample.

Personal Information

I am originally from Ames, Iowa and will be finishing up my undergraduate degree next spring. I studied abroad twice, one semester at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics in Budapest, Hungary and one semester at the University of Tartu in Tartu, Estonia. I love traveling and at any given time, I am planning my next trip or adventure. I also love music, and have been involved in college radio throughout my years at school. This summer I was delighted to get a show on the Michigan Tech. radio station and am also standing in as their Americana Music Director for the summer. I also enjoy being outside, camping, and reading.
Last summer I had in internship with the Indian Health Services and was stationed in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. I spent the summer collecting soil and water samples, observing construction of wells and septic systems, and designing wells and septic systems for tribal members and lands.
At ISU, I am involved with the Society of International Engineers (a club encouraging students to study abroad and welcoming incoming exchange students). I am also starting to become more of an active member to our recently formed chapter of Engineers for a Sustainable World.