Samantha Ruelas

Biography

Subject Matter Expertise

Upgrading gaseous waste streams via bioreactors

Methane is converted to organic acids (i.e. lactic, succinic, etc.) via methanotrophic bacteria.
3D-printed scaffolds are used to house a microbe-hydrogel suspension, forming a solid-state bioreactor.
Maximizes gas-to-liquid mass transfer to enhance gas feedstock conversion.

Silicone aging and degradation studies

Explore various degradation mechanisms that may cause changes in bulk material properties.
Monitor compression set and load retention to evaluate aging behavior.
Evaluate environment (temperature, humidity, oxygen) effects on silicone aging behavior.

Current Position

Zone Lead for Materials Aging and Compatibility in the Modification Program.

Xiao, M.; Sarma, M.; Nguyen, D.; Ruelas, S.; Yang, L.; Bhatnagar, S.; Jorgensen, T.; Abad, K.; Liu, K; Thompson, J. (2023). “Efficient carbon capture using sub-textured polymer packing surfaces via 3D printing.” Chemical Engineering Science. 267: 118320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2022.118320

Xiao, M.; Sarma, M.; Thompson, J.; Nguyen, D.; Ruelas, S.; Liu, K. (2022). “CO2 absorption intensification using three-dimensional printed dynamic polarity packing in a bench-scale integrated CO2 capture system.” AIChE Journal.: e17570. https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.17570

Sarma, M.; Abad, K.; Nguyen, D.; Ruelas, S.; Liu, K.; Thompson, J. (2021). “Investigation of chemical stabilities and contact angle of 3D printed polymers with CO2 capture solvents to enhance absorber performance.” International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control 111: 103478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2021.103478
Rodriguez, N.; Ruelas, S.; Forien, J. B.; Dudukovic, N.; DeOtte, J.; Rodriguez, J.; Moran, B.; Lewicki, J. P.; Duoss, E. B.; Oakdale, J. S. (2021). "3D Printing of High Viscosity Reinforced Silicone Elastomers." Polymers 13(14): 2239. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13142239
Sawvel, A. M.; Crowhurst, J. C.; Mason, H. E.; Oakdale, J. S.; Ruelas, S.; Eshelman, H. V.; Maxwell, R. S. (2021). "Spectroscopic Signatures of MQ-Resins in Silicone Elastomers." Macromolecules 54(9): 4300-4312. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.1c00086
Troksa, A. L.; Eshelman, H. V.; Chandrasekaran, S.; Rodriguez, N.; Ruelas, S.; Duoss, E. B; Kelly, J. P.; Ceron, M. R.; Campbell, P. G. (2021). "3D-printed nanoporous ceramics: Tunable feedstock for direct ink write and projection microstereolithography." Materials & Design 198: 109337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2020.109337

Qian, F.; Zhu, C.; Knipe, J. M.; Ruelas, S.; Stolaroff, J. K.; DeOtte, J. R.; Duoss, E. B.; Spadaccini, C. M.; Henard, C. A.; Guarnieri, M. T.; Baker, S. E. (2019). "Direct Writing of Tunable Living Inks for Bioprocess Intensification." Nano Letters 19(9): 5829-5835. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b00066