Water is the essence of life, the most important fluid in our ecosystem. The survival of all living things on Earth depends on clean water resources. However, many Indigenous communities, as well as rural and remote communities across Canada still cannot access clean drinking water. Unsanitary water can lead to severe health risks, such as accelerating the spread of infectious diseases. Purifying drinking water involves many challenges, such as financial constraints, limited space, and the risks of toxic chemical accumulation. Therefore, scientists are actively seeking sustainable solutions for water treatment.
Nelson Rutajoga, a Ph.D. student supervised by Professor Juan Scaiano, is pioneering a new water purification method using visible light. Nelson and the Scaiano Lab have designed a water remediation technique that can be achieved in a flowing solution using photocatalysis. The key to this catalytic technology is black titanium dioxide, a chemical compound that can absorb visible light and react with toxins in polluted water to disintegrate them in a continuous flow process. In essence, this photocatalytic technique accelerates the process of toxic chemical removal using absorption of sunlight or LED light, offering a highly scalable solution. This new technology developed by Nelson and colleagues in the Scaiano Lab holds great promise to improve living conditions in numerous communities.
Image: Photo of the Scaiano Group at their 2023 research retreat in Cantley, Québec. (from left to right starting with the top row): Connor Bourgonje (PhD Student), Nelson Rutajoga (PhD Student), Carly Frank (Undergraduate Student), Professor Juan Scaiano, Anastasiia Suprun (MSc Student), Saba Didarataee (PhD Student), Daliane Regis Correa da Silva (PhD Student), Mahzad Yaghmaei Sabegh (PhD Student), Melissa Cely (PhD Student), Pascual Sebastian Medina Baez (Visiting Researcher), Sara Currie (MSc Student), and Neeraj Joshi (Lab Technician).
Nelson first joined the Scaiano Lab to complete his Honours Project in 2022. Under Professor Scaiano’s guidance, Nelson learned how to use his knowledge of chemistry for water decontamination and other environmental applications. Reflecting on his experience, Nelson remarked, “The prospect of potentially providing clean water for a family through our experiments motivated me to invest countless hours in testing.” Indeed, the water purification project allowed Nelson not only to put years of effort and training into practice but also provided a platform to directly contribute to societal welfare.
Beyond his research, Nelson serves as President of the Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences Graduate Student Association (CBGSA), where he helps to organize social events, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) talks, and guest speakers for graduate students in his department. As his water purification technique evolves, Nelson and the Scaiano Lab look forward to providing it to communities in need. For Nelson, the key to success, whether academic or personal, lies in following one's passion with unwavering dedication.
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