Qingye (Gemma) Lu

Qingye (Gemma) Lu

Positions

Associate Professor

Schulich School of Engineering, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

Contact information

Phone number

Office: 403.210.7645

Location

CNRL Engineering Complex: END204A

For media enquiries, contact

Joe McFarland
Media Relations and Communications Specialist

Cell: +1.403.671.2710
Email: Joe.Mcfarland@ucalgary.ca

Preferred method of communication

Please contact me to book an appointment 

I'm looking for...

Learning opportunities

Dr. Lu’s group is always looking for motivated, talented master and PhD students. Diverse backgrounds are welcomed. Please send her your CV with research interests by email to inquire.

Research partners

Dr. Lu’s group is always looking for motivated, talented researchers. Diverse backgrounds are welcomed. Please send her your CV with research interests by email to inquire.

Background

Educational Background

PhD Analytical Chemistry, University of Alberta,

MSc Physical Chemistry , Wuhan University,

BSc Chemistry, Wuhan University,

Biography

Dr. Lu is currently an associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the University of Calgary. Her research is focused on bioadhesion, colloid and interfacial chemistry, polymers, nanomaterials/nanotechnology and their applications in biomedical and industrial processes such as anti-fouling, oil sands process water treatment, greenhouse gases emission control, etc. She also has strong expertise in microfluidics, fuel cells and electrocatalysis obtained from her graduate studies. She did both her BSc and MSc in Chemistry at Wuhan University, China under the supervision of Prof. Juntao Lu and Prof. Lin Zhuang, and obtained her PhD in Analytical Chemistry at University of Alberta, under the supervision of Prof. Jed Harrison. After her PhD, she was trained as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in Prof. Yang Liu’s group, the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering in Prof. Hongbo Zeng’s group at the University of Alberta. Dr. Lu has published one book chapter and over 50 papers in top journals such as Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Advanced Functional Materials, Water Research, Langmuir, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, Biomaterials, etc.

Research

Areas of Research

Interfacial and surface sciences applicable in energy and environment

Research focuses on using advanced analytical techniques including QCM-D, AFM, SFA, etc. to fundamentally understand interfacial and surface sciences.

  • Surface and interfacial phenomena involved in SAGD produced water treatment
  • Properties and behavior of colloidal particles at fluid interfaces
  • Interfacial behaviour and surface chemistry of 2-D and 3-D metal organic framework (MOF) materials
  • Molecular interaction mechanisms of membrane fouling
  • Molecular interactions of contaminants of interest with surrounding natural environment
Biomimetic materials and naturally derived polymer materials for energy and environment

Research focuses on developing bioinspired nanocomposite materials and naturally derived polymer materials for environmental and energy applications.

  • Nanocellulose based materials for CO2 capture
  • Lignin based materials for oil/water separation
  • Bioinspired nanocomposite materials for oil sands produced water and tailings treatment
  • Chitosan based materials for wastewater treatment
  • Chitosan and graphene composite as thin-film electrolyte
  • Hydrogels and aerogels as antibacterial materials
Nanomaterials (2D, 3D, composites) and nanotechnology for energy and environment

Research focuses on developing nanomaterials and nanotechnology for environmental and energy applications.

  • 2D and 3D MOF-based nanomaterials and composites for water and wastewater treatment
  • Materials and technology for environmental sensing, detection and monitoring.
  • Microfluidic and nanofluidic platforms
  • CO2 conversion

Courses

Course number Course title Semester
ENCH 665 Wastewater Issues for the Oil and Gas Industry
ENCH 630 Electrochemical Engineering
ENCH 699 Special Projects
ENCH 423 Chemical Engineering Process Development
ENPE 423 Oil and Gas Engineering Process Development
ENER 400 Engineering Design and Economics
ENCH 551 Chemical Engineering Laboratory
ENCH 530 Electrochemical Engineering
ENEN 665 Wastewater Issues for the Oil and Gas Industry
ENCH 511 Capstone design group supervision
ENCH 531 Capstone design group supervision

Projects

Research

Dr. Lu’s multidisciplinary research program is aimed at: 1) understanding surface/interfacial science and using this knowledge to create new advanced functional materials to resolve challenges related to energy and environment processes, and 2) fundamental surface/interfacial interaction understanding of multi-component complex industrial systems. Dr. Lu’s innovative and unique approaches have allowed her to gain the knowledge and skills needed to manipulate interactions (hydrophobic force, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic, etc.) to create new materials and to optimize various industrial processes, which generate economic and environmental benefit to the industry and the public.

Awards

  • Early Career Research Excellence Award, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary. 2020
  • Excellence in Oral Presentation, PDF Research Day, University of Alberta. 2011
  • Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship, University of Alberta. 2009
  • Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship, University of Alberta. 2008
  • GSA Professional Development Grants, University of Alberta. 2008
  • GSA Professional Development Grants, University of Alberta. 2007
  • Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, University of Alberta. 2006
  • Outstanding Graduate Students Scholarship, Wuhan University. 2003
  • Outstanding Graduate Students Scholarship, Wuhan University. 2002
  • Outstanding Graduate Students Scholarship, Wuhan University. 2001
  • Excellent BSc Thesis, Wuhan University. 2001
  • Outstanding Undergraduate Students Scholarship, Wuhan University. 2000
  • Outstanding Undergraduate Students Scholarship, Wuhan University. 1999
  • Outstanding Undergraduate Students Scholarship, Wuhan University. 1998
  • Outstanding Undergraduate Students Scholarship, Wuhan University. 1997

Publications

  • Ultra-stretchable hydrogel with long-lasting adhesion and antimicrobial activity toward engineering of strong 1D macroscopic hydrogel fibers. He X., Li Z., Li J., Mishra D., Ren Y., Gates I., Hu J., Lu Q.. Small. (2021)
  • Effect of MgO hydration on silica removal during warm lime softening of SAGD produced water. Zhang K., Pernitsky D., Jafari M., Lu Q.. Industrial Engineering Chemistry Research. 1839. (2021)
  • Dual physically cross-linked hydrogels incorporating hydrophobic interactions with promising repairability and ultrahigh elongation. Liu X., He X. Yang B., Lai L., Chen N., Hu J., Lu Q.. Advanced Functional Materials. 2008187. (2021)
  • Quantifying the impact of solution feed deviations on coagulant dosage in synthetic SAGD produced water. Zhang L., Mishra D., Zhang K., Perdicakis B., Pernitsky D., Lu Q.. Water Research. 117202. (2021)
  • Electrokinetic study of calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide particles in lime softening. Water Research. 116415. (2020)
  • Phosphorus recovery from synthetic biosolid digestion supernatant through lignin-induced struvite precipitation. Li M., Sun H., Zhang H., Mohammed A., Liu Y., Lu Q.. Journal of Cleaner Production. 124235. (2020)
  • Buckling effect of sole zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 nanoparticles adsorbed at the water/oil interface. Song P., Mao X., Ren Y., Hongbo Zeng H., Lu Q.. Langmuir. 2322. (2020)
  • Lipase-immobilized cellulosic capsules with water absorbency for enhanced pickering interfacial biocatalysis. He X., Binks B., Hu, J., Gates I., Lu Q.. Langmuir. 810. (2021)
  • Porous clusters of metal-organic framework coated stainless steel mesh for highly efficient oil/water separation. Song P., Lu Q.. Separation and Purification Technology. 116454. (2020)
  • Dendrimer functionalized nanocrystalline cellulose for CO2 adsorption. Ye C., He X., Lu Q.. Cellulose. 2173. (2021)
  • Dendrimer functionalized nanocrystalline cellulose for Cu(II) removal. Wang Y., Lu Q.. Cellulose. 2173. (2020)
  • An In Situ Procedure for the Preparation of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework‐8 Polyacrylamide Hydrogel for Adsorption of Aqueous Pollutants. Advanced Materials Interfaces. Maan O., Song P., Chen N., & Lu Q.. (2019)
  • 2D and 3D metal-organic framework nanosheets at the oil/water interface: a case study of copper-benzenedicarboxylate. Song P., Natale G., Wang J., Bond T., Hejazi H., Siegler H., Gates I., Lu Q.. Advanced Materials Interfaces. (2019)
  • Probing Molecular Interactions between Humic Acid and Surface-grafted Polyacrylamide using Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation and Atomic Force Microscopy: Implication for Environmental Remediation. Maan O., Huang J., Zeng H., Lu Q.. Environmental Chemistry. 336. (2018)
  • Probing molecular interaction mechanisms of organic fouling on polyamide membrane using a surface forces apparatus: implication for wastewater treatment. Lu Q., Huang J., Maan O., Liu Y., Zeng H.. Science of the Total Environment . 644. (2018)
  • Nanomechanics of cation-p interactions in aqueous solution. Lu Q., Oh D.X., Lee Y., Jho Y., Hwang D.S., Zeng H.. Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 3944. (2013)
  • Adhesion of mussel foot proteins to different substrate surfaces. Lu Q., Danner E., Waite J.H., Israelachvili J.N., Zeng H., Hwang D.S.. Journal of the Royal Society Interface. 20120759. (2012)
  • Molecular interactions of mussel protective coating protein, mcfp-1, from Mytilus californianus. Lu Q., Hwang D.S., Liu Y., Zeng H.. Biomaterials. 1903. (2012)
  • Understanding the molecular interactions of lipopolysaccharides during E. coli initial adhesion with a surface forces apparatus. Lu Q., Wang J., Faghihnejad A., Zeng H., Liu Y.. Soft Matter. 9366. (2011)