Research Facilities
 The
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering has its main
office, most faculty offices, and a variety of research laboratories
in the historic Towne Building. Named for Philadelphia industrialist,
trustee, and donor, John Henry Towne, the facility is part of the
National Register's University of Pennsylvania's Historic District.
Interior renovations provide the historic building with state-of-the-art
laboratories and advanced-technology classrooms.
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering research facilities are also
found in the Roy and Diana Vagelos Laboratories of the Institute
for Advanced Science and Technology just a few steps down Smith
Walk from the Towne Building.
Advanced Chemical Technologies Laboratory
The Advanced Chemical Technologies Lab was designed to create new
knowledge and applications in emerging technologies. It provides
a flexible facility where students gain hands-on experience with
state-of-the-art instrumentation and experimental techniques in
an environment that encourages interaction and collaboration between
the faculty and graduate student research enterprise and our undergraduate
students.
The Unit Operations and Biotechnology Laboratory (Undergraduate
Teaching Laboratory)
Directed by Prof. David J. Graves
1st floor, Towne Building
In the Unit Operations section of the Laboratory, undergraduate
students conduct experiments about kinetics, reaction engineering,
humidification operations, fluid flow, separations processes, and
heat transfer. State of the art equipment teaches students how to
conduct experiments using automated processes and digital data acquisition.
In the Biotechnology section of this laboratory, undergraduates
conduct bench-scale experiments involving the growth and genetic
manipulation of cells, measurements on proteins and DNA, manipulation
of biomolecules such as cutting, joining and amplifying DNA, linking
biomolecules to solid surfaces, and separating and purifying them.
The Unit Operations and Biotechnology Laboratory is used primarily
for two courses: CBE 410 (Chemical Engineering Laboratory) and CBE
480 (Laboratory in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering).
Other Laboratory Facilities
Cell Mechanics and Colloidal Self-Assembly Laboratory
Directed by Prof. John C. Crocker
5th floor, Vagelos Labs
The Diamond Lab in the Institute for Medicine and Engineering
Directed by Prof. Scott L. Diamond
1st Floor, Vagelos Labs
The Biophysical Engineering Laboratory
Directed by Prof. Dennis E. Discher
1st floor, Towne Building
The Gorte Lab
Directed by Prof. Raymond J. Gorte
5th floor, Vagelos Labs
The laboratories of Prof Gorte are well equipped for general synthesis
and characterization of materials. Two catalytic reactors capable
of on-line GC analysis of products are available, as well as capabilities
for temperature programmed oxidation and reduction measurements,
with product analysis using a quadrupole residual-gas analyzer.
A Mattson FTIR with DRIFTS attachment is available for taking IR
spectra of materials in controlled environments. Several autoclaves
are present for synthesis of materials, as well as furnaces with
a variety of temperature ranges and capabilities for controlled
environments. Two vacuum-capable microbalances, two microcalorimeters,
and an atomic absorption spectrometer are available for additional
characterization.
Ceramics processing instrumentation is available for tape casting
to synthesize model fuel cells and for performance testing of the
model cells. Capabilities for impedance spectroscopy measurements
are also available.
The Engineering Biotechnology Laboratory
Directed by Prof. David J. Graves
3rd floor, Towne Building
Fundamental studies involving bioseparations, cell growth, and
biomolecules take place in this laboratory, with a particular current
emphasis on DNA microarray hybridization. In addition to equipment
commonly used for biological studies such as computers, ovens, vacuum
and electrophoresis systems, meters and power supplies, the lab
has two major experimental systems. The first is an inverted Nikon
microscope with a 1 watt argon ion laser and cooled CCD camera for
kinetic optical studies. The second is a confocal scanning microscopy
system with four lasers and a computer-controlled precision stage
for analyzing fractional monolayers of molecules on microarray surfaces.
Cell Adhesion and Biophysics Laboratory
Directed by Prof. Daniel A. Hammer
Skirkanich Hall
The Seider Research Offices
Directed by Prof. Warren D. Seider
3rd floor, Towne Building
The Seider research group uses four clustered PCs with processors
of 200-800 MHz. Available licensed software includes the Aspen Engineering
Suite, HYSYS, MATLAB, and Macromedia DIRECTOR. Networked color and
laser printers are available.
Environmental Research Laboratory
Directed by Prof. Wen K. Shieh
1st floor, Towne Building
The Environmental Research Laboratory, located in 129 Towne, is
designed to carry out research work related to biodegradation of
anthropogenic organic compounds, biological nitrogen removal (BNR)
using either suspended- or attached-growth bioreactor configurations,
and sustainable aquaculture practices. The laboratory houses a number
of reactor systems (e.g., biofluidized bed reactors and submerged
packed-bed reactors) that are custom-made for specific biodegradation
and BNR applications. Three 100-gallon acrylic fish tanks equipped
with on-line pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature monitors are
available for aquaculture studies. In addition, the laboratory is
well equipped with the analytical instruments commonly found in
modern environmental laboratories for physical, chemical, and biological
analyses. Notably, the laboratory has a total organic carbon (TOC)
analyzer, a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system,
two gas chromatography (GC) systems, a nitrogen digestion and distillation
system, two UV-VIS spectrophotometers, two electrolysis cell respirometers,
two autotitration systems, a cell culture incubator, and a video
microscopy system. Common auxiliary equipment includes peristaltic
pumps, pH meters, specific ion meters, ORP meters, and dissolved
oxygen meters.
Two ventilation hoods located in 129 Towne are specifically used
for studies involving volatile and hazardous compounds.
Computational Materials Modeling Laboratory (CMML)
Directed by Prof. Talid R. Sinno
Mezzanine level, Towne Building and 5th floor Vagelos Labs
The Vohs Lab
Directed by Prof. John M. Vohs
5th floor, Vagelos Labs
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