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Title: Modeling & Optimization of Membrane Ozonation Systems
Principal Investigator's Name(s): Dr. Drew Johnson
Project Sponsor: NSF-EPSCOR
Program Overview: This project seeks to develop an optimal hollow fiber membrane ozonator for water treatment. The proposed research, which will incorporate faculty, undergraduate and graduate students from two universities in a multidisciplinary setting, will concentrate on developing the information necessary to enable the design and optimization of membrane ozonation systems for water treatment. Faculty and graduate students in the Civil and Architectural Engineering Department at the University of Wyoming will perform the experimental work while collaborating with faculty and undergraduate students in both the Civil Engineering Department and Mathematics Department at Valparaiso University who will mathematically model the transfer process. While the experimental work will concentrate on transferring ozone to a waste stream, the results and the model will be applicable to the dissolution of other gases such as chlorine, and could be applied to other disinfection processes.
Objective of the Project: This study will develop an optimized membrane ozonation system for teaching natural and process waters. The research will combine the joint efforts of a modeling team at Valparaiso University with an experimental team at the University of Wyoming. This project, seeks to fulfill the mission of both universities. By collaborating with a Research II school, the project will provide undergraduate students at VU a unique research opportunity that they may use to continue their education at the graduate level at UW or another research institution. Each member of the civil engineering and mathematics team will learn to communicate and work effectively not only in a research environment but also with members from outside their discipline. The math students will work with a practical application within their area of study and the civil engineering students will use their calculus skills in a civil engineering application. All of these aspects support the mission of Valparaiso University and will enhance the undergraduate education received by the students. These positive effects will be expanded beyond the students directly involved in the project as the results can and will be discussed and incorporated into other civil engineering and mathematics courses at VU. This project also fulfills the research mission of the University of Wyoming by developing a new technology for ozonation of natural and process waters.