04 August 2015

Dr. Aura Matias

Program Leader
Dean, College of Engineering
University of the Philippines, Diliman
Thru: Dr. Augustus Resurreccion
ERDT Project Leader
Dear Dean Matias,
I am pleased to submit my application for a one-year sandwich program at the University of the Illinois Urbana
Champaign (UIUC) starting 15 October 2015 to 15 October 2016. My intended dissertation study is entitled
Kinetic Studies of Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Microalgae and Swine Manure Feedstock. The main objective of
the proposed study is to help accelerate the development of environmentally acceptable, and cost effective energy
conversion process for biowaste and microalgae biomass via the hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) route. The kinetic
studies will be critical in the design of commercial scale reactors and in HTL process control. The Philippines has
great potential for the large-scale production of microalgae both on- or off-shore, while biowaste such as animal
waste from the swine and poultry industry is abundantly generated. HTL of these biomass will provide an alternative
and sustainable source of liquid fuel for the country for transportation and other industrial application. The proposed
study will be in-line with the Energy R&D Track of the ERDT R&D Agenda. Ultimately, the proposed study will
help: propel the country towards greater energy security; alleviate poverty by creating more jobs in agriculture, and
energy sector; and reduce greenhouse gas emission of the country.
Regrettably, the required facility to be able to conduct the study is not available in the country. The proposed
sandwich program for my PhD study at UIUC, will provide me much needed exposure and advancement in the field
of study. My host professor, Dr. Yuanhui Zhang, under the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
at UIUC, has pioneered the research in Environment-Enhancing Energy (E 2-Energy), which combines waste
treatment, water cleaning, carbon dioxide sequestration and biofuel conversion into one process. Recently, the HTL
research program at UIUC has successfully converted biowaste including animal and human waste, food processing
waste and algae into crude oil. In terms of resources, the HTL research lab at the UIUC housed all of the laboratory
equipment that I will be needing to conduct my research, while the microalgae and the swine manure samples can be
conveniently collected at the Swine Research Center and microalgae tank farm, which are also located inside the
UIUC campus. The HTL program at the UIUC, would be a great opportunity for me, as a PhD student, to learn from
the best and get expert guidance to be able to successfully deliver the objective of my research study.

Thank you very much and hoping for your favorable response.
Respectfully,
Rowena B. Carpio,
PhD Candidate, DChE
Endorsed by:
Dr. Rizalinda De Leon,
Thesis Adviser and Chairperson, DChE