2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Photocatalytic Reactor Designs for Sustainable Remediation of Agricultural Pollutants in South Carolina Water Resources: A Student-Led Review

Presented at Sustainability in Materials and Makerspaces- ENVEST Division (Tech Session 7/7)

The state of South Carolina’s extensive agricultural activities—poultry production, row crops, and aquaculture—generate significant non-point-source pollution, including pesticides, nitrates, and other persistent organic contaminants that threaten surface and groundwater quality. Conventional remediation technologies are often energy-intensive, expensive, or ineffective against recalcitrant compounds. Photocatalytic reactors, which harness sunlight or UV light to activate semiconductor catalysts (primarily TiO2) and generate reactive oxygen species for pollutant mineralization, represent a promising, sustainable, and low-cost alternative for decentralized treatment in rural and agricultural settings.
This poster presents, undergraduate engineering students participating in a summer research program where a comprehensive literature review and comparative analysis of photocatalytic reactor designs was conducted. The students focused on suitability conditions for addressing South Carolina-specific environmental challenges. The students selected and evaluated key design parameters including reactor configuration (slurry vs. immobilized catalyst), light source and distribution, mass-transfer enhancement, catalyst support materials, scale-up potential, and operational simplicity. Special attention was given to reactor types such as packed-bed, tubular, microreactors, and solar-powered systems, with emphasis on designs that maximize solar utilization, minimize catalyst loss, and enable easy integration into existing agricultural infrastructure.
Through systematic comparison of reported degradation efficiencies, energy requirements, and practical implementation factors, the student team identified immobilized-catalyst, flow-through reactors with structured supports (e.g., mesh, foam, or optical fibers) as particularly well-suited for South Carolina’s warm climate and abundant sunlight. These designs offer high pollutant removal rates (>90% for many pesticides and dyes), low maintenance, and cost-effectiveness for on-farm or community-scale applications.
This project demonstrates the value of undergraduate-led review and synthesis in engineering education, fostering critical thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and awareness of regional environmental issues. By guiding students through the process of evaluating emerging technologies for real-world problems, the summer program prepares future engineers, researchers, and scientists to contribute to sustainable water management and green chemical solutions that are low-cost and innovative.

Authors

Victor V. Hamidi South Carolina State University
Nevaeh kiarrah Washington
Dr. Seyed Majid Ghoreishian http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6203-3332 South Carolina State University [biography]

Dr. Seyed Majid Ghoreishian received his Ph.D. degree in Biological Sciences and Bioengineering from Inha University (South Korea) in 2021 and joined the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina as a Postdoctoral Fellow. Currently, he is the faculty member of the Center for Energy and Environmental Solutions (CEES), South Carolina State University. He has significantly contributed to the catalysis and bio-active materials fields and maintained an active research agenda with regular publications in high-impact factor journals in the fields of chemistry, energy, and materials science. During his Ph.D. study, he was awarded the Outstanding Research Award for Excellence of Journal Publication, President's Award for Outstanding Research, and Top-ranked Graduate Student in College of Engineering. His research interests include the development of functional nanomaterials for environmental remediation and bio-applications.
Dr. Masoomeh Ghasemi http://orcid.org/https://0000-0002-2252-7028 South Carolina State University [biography]

Dr. Masoomeh Ghasemi is a Staff Research Engineer at South Carolina State University, with expertise in hydrogen energy systems, fuel cell modeling, and computational fluid dynamics. Her research focuses on multi-energy hub integration, techno-economic analysis of renewable energy systems, and optimization of energy efficiency. She has published extensively on energy conversion and sustainable energy technologies.
Dr. Nasrollah Hamidi http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4321-6488 South Carolina State University [biography]

Dr. Nasrollah Hamidi is a Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Biological and Physical Sciences at South Carolina State University (SCSU). His research focuses on polymer synthesis and characterization, waste plastic depolymerization and recycling, and atmospheric water generation. He has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications and has extensive experience with analytical techniques including GPC, light scattering, DSC, and TGA.
Dr. Hamidi has contributed to projects involving VOC detection in water using EPA methods and the development of high-temperature carbon composite materials. He has served as PI/PD on multiple Evans-Allen projects and participated in NSF HBCU-UP initiatives, as well as serving as co-PI in a Minority Leadership Program. His recent work emphasizes hydrogen generation and education for sustainable energy advancement
Dr. H. Bryan Riley South Carolina State University [biography]

Dr. H. Bryan Riley is an accomplished electrical engineer and engineering educator whose expertise vehicle dynamics, systems engineering, renewable energy integration, intelligent control systems, and sensor fusion for autonomous vehicles and engineering education. His work focuses on developing sustainable and resilient energy solutions, advancing workforce development in STEM, and bridging academic research with real-world applications in the energy and environmental sectors.

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