Sarah (Xiao) Wu, Ph.D., P.E.

• Plasma technology for environmental remediation, green chemistry, renewable energy, and food processing
• Waste/biomass conversion for energy and chemical uses
• Advanced water and waste treatment technology
• Bioprocess engineering

Dr. Sarah Wu joined the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering in August 2016. Dr. Wu has training in Environmental and Biological Engineering with research experience covering a wide range of topics in advanced technologies to treat water, wastewaters and crop production residues for disinfection, emerging contaminant remediation, production of value-added biofuel and chemicals, and nutrients management. Sarah’s current research interests include design, evaluation, development, improvement and application of physical chemical, and biological processes for environmental remediation, green chemistry, renewable energy, nutrient recovery, and food processing with strength in various nonthermal plasma, electrochemical, and biochemical processes.

• Wu, X., S. Deng, J. Zhu. “Liquid plasma discharge device and method for biodiesel synthesis using SAME”, International Patent Application Reference NO.: PCT/US2017/014907; US Patent NO.: US 11,679,369, June 2023.

• R. Ndeddy Aka, MM. Hossain, A. Nasir, Y. Zhan, X. Zhang, J. Zhu, Z. Wang, S. Wu. 2024. Enhanced nutrient recovery from anaerobically digested poultry wastewater through struvite precipitation by organic acid pre-treatment and seeding in a bubble column electrolytic reactor. Water Research, 252: 121239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2024.121239.
• Sheng, H., S. Wu, Y. Xue, W. Zhao, A. B. Caplan, C. J. Hovde. S. A. Minnich. 2023. Engineering conjugative CRISPR-Cas9 systems for the targeted control of enteric pathogens and antibiotic resistance. PLoS ONE, 18(9): e0291520. https://doi. org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291520.
• Hossain, MM., R. Ndeddy Aka, YS. Mok, S. Wu. 2023. Investigation of silver nanoparticle synthesis with various nonthermal plasma reactor configurations. Arabian Journal of Chemistry, 16(10):105174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2023.105174.
• R. Ndeddy Aka, MM. Hossain, Y. Yuan, E. Agyekum-Oduro, Y. Zhan, J. Zhu, S. Wu. 2023. Nutrient recovery through struvite precipitation from anaerobically digested poultry wastewater in an air-lift electrolytic reactor: process modeling and cost analysis. Chemical Engineering Journal, 465:142825. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2023.142825.
• Ndeddy Aka, RJ., S. Wu, J. Zhu, Y. Zhan. 2023. Optimization of a dual-chamber electrolytic reactor with a magnesium anode and characterization of struvite produced from synthetic wastewater. Environmental Technology, 44(25) :3911–3925. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2022.2077131.
• Holloway, N., S. Wu, J. Zhu. 2022. Evaluating Al-based coagulants for drinking water facilities using Jar test and CCD/RSM analysis. J. Environ. Sci. Health Part A, 57 (13-14): 1138-1145. https://doi.org/10.1080/10934529.2022.2160601.
• Ndeddy Aka, RJ., S. Wu, D. Mohotti, MA. Bashir, A. Nasir. 2022. Evaluation of a liquid-phase plasma discharge process for ammonia oxidation in wastewater: process optimization and kinetic modeling. Water Research, 224: 119107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2022.119107.
• Hossain, MM., S. Wu, A. Nasir, #D. Mohotti; #RJ. Ndeddy Aka, #Y. Yuan, #E. Agyekum-Oduro, A. Akter, KA. Bhuiyan, R. Ahmed, VT. Nguyen, KH. Yoon, QH. Trinh, YS. Mok. 2022. Superhydrophobic and superoleophilic surfaces prepared by one-step plasma polymerization for oil-water separation and self-cleaning function. Surfaces and Interfaces, 35:102462. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfin.2022.102462.
• Hossain, MM., YS. Mok, S. Wu, VT. Nguyen, and A. Denra. 2022. Effect of metal on corona discharge plasma in a honeycomb catalyst and optimization of the critical parameters for ethylene removal, Applied Catalysis A: General, 674: 118911. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcata.2022.118911.
• Bashir, MA., S. Wu, J. Zhu, A. Krosuri, MU. Khan, RJ. Ndeddy Aka. 2022. Recent development of advanced processing technologies for biodiesel production: A critical review. Fuel Processing Technology, 227: 107120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2021.107120.
  
   

• Effective per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) destruction in drinking water by plasma treatment
• Nonthermal destruction of aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) concentrate by liquid-phase plasma discharge
• Nonthermal plasma processes for microplastics and heavy metal remediation
• Milk processing by nonthermal liquid plasma technology
• Nonthermal plasma catalysis for CO2 conversion 
• Nanoparticle synthesis by plasma discharge
• Inactivating fungal pathogens using plasma activated water as a green fungicide
• Production of green nitrogen fertilizer from air and water by plasma technology
• Rapid and continuous and efficient biodiesel synthesis by plasma technology
• Sustainable treatment system for animal wastes with maximum nutrient recovery
• Nutrient recovery and struvite production by an electrolytical process
• Fate and transportation of PFAS on dairy farms and water remediation