Publications

  • Pyrite Oxidation Rates from Laboratory Tests on Waste Rock,” accepted for publication in the Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage (ICARD-2015), Santiago, Chile. Published, 04/2015.
  • Roper, D. Keith Edward Trujillo and Rachel Bradshaw, “Photovoltaic Hydrogen Production Prototype: Sustainable Energy for Residences,” Journal of Green Building, College Publishing, Volume 3, Number 3, pp. 133-141, Summer, 2008. Published, 2008.

Research Statement

Environmental Research: Acid Rock Drainage (ARD) is the generation of acid and subsequent leaching of heavy metals from rock material. Our research is now being supported by the US Bureau of Land Management and Molycorp Inc. to conduct experiments and develop mathematical models. Our objective is to study the mechanisms that produce acid rock drainage in the laboratory and in the field to assist mining companies and regulatory agencies in their waste management practices and operations. Our EPA-sponsored research was part of an effort to study the immobilized biomass bead process originally developed by the US Bureau of Mines for removal of toxic metals from wastewater. The removal of selenium from a wastewater has also been studied using an oxidation/reduction process. This project was supported by a grant from Kennecott Utah Copper. Medical Research: Our research group has developed a novel substratum for tissue growth in which gelatin is bonded to a perfluorocarbon reservoir using a perfluoroalkylating technique. This technique opens up a new approach to studying problems involved in cell-cell interaction and development of histotypic structures in vitro. Work has been supported by the National Science Foundation and various local biotech companies.

Research Keywords

  • syngas fermentation
  • biosorption
  • biofuels
  • acid mine drainage

Presentations

  • “Removal of Heavy Metals from Wastewater Using Immobilized Biochar,” Edward Trujillo (presentor), presented at the 2014 AIChE Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, November 20, 2014. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 11/20/2014.
  • “Acid Rock Drainage: Chemical Engineering in a Geological World,” E. M. Trujillo (presentor), present at the University of Utah, Department of Chemical Engineering Seminar, Salt Lake City, Utah, November 13, 2012. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 11/13/2012.
  • “Pyrite Oxidation in a Packed Bed Configuration,” Edward Trujillo (presentor), Surya Sunkavalli, presented at the 2012 AIChE Annual Meeting, , Pittsburg, PA, November 1, 2012. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 11/01/2012.
  • “Mathematical Simulation of Acid Rock Drainage,” Surya Sunkavalli (presentor), Edward Trujillo, Marcin Niewiadomski and You Li, presented at the 2010 AIChE Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, November 7-12, 2010. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 11/2010.
  • “Modified Humidity Cell Testing Program for the Prediction of Acid Rock Drainage,” Surya Sunkavalli (preentor), E. M. Trujillo, Danilo Garcia and Sally Kaiser, presented at the 240th ACS National Meeting & Esposition, Boston, MA, August 22-26, 2010. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 08/2010.
  • “In-situ Evaporation of Water within Mining Rock Piles,” E.M. Trujillo (presentor) and Paul S. Evans, presented at 2008 AIChE National Meeting, Environmental Division, Session 86 -Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering, Philadelphia, PA, November 17, 2008. Conference Paper, Other, 2008.
    http://www.aiche.org

Research Equipment and Testing Expertise

  • bioreactor leaching humidity cells. Contact: Ed Trujillo , 801-581-4460 , 3290H MEB.

Software Titles

  • TOUGHER. A user-friendly graphical interface for TOUGH2 and TOUGHREACT. Release Date: 07/31/2009. Inventors: You Li; Marcin Niewiadomski; Edward Trujillo; Surya Sunkavalli.