Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
University of Waterloo
$149,939.00
LC/OCD - a novel tool to optimize water and wastewater treatment processes; relating specific organic components to membrane fouling and hazardous by-product formation
FY 2009-10
Summary
Natural organic matter (NOM) is present in all waters as a natural breakdown product of plant debris, algae, bacteria etc. It has an immense impact on aquatic systems and on drinking water and wastewater treatment.
The requested funding will be used for the purchase of a unique instrument, the LC/OCD (liquid chromatograph coupled to an organic carbon detector). With this novel tool researchers will be readily able to characterize the different portions of NOM according to their size. LC/OCD is not commonly used and this LC/OCD will be the first in North America. Eight different researchers from the Universities of Waterloo, Toronto and Guelph will benefit from having access to this instrument.
Drs. Huck and R. Andrews' groups are investigating membrane processes to produce drinking water. The main problem limiting membrane applications is fouling resulting in loss of production. The LC/OCD will allow innovative research such as using biological filtration to remove specific NOM foulants before they reach the membranes. Drs. Parker and Zhou's research focuses on membrane bioreactors and LC/OCD will support optimisation of this advanced wastewater treatment technology. Dr. Legge's group is developing a fluorescence based sensor to detect NOM-based membrane foulants, which would not be possible without confirmation using the LC/OCD. Dr. S. Andrews' research group studies the role of NOM in the identification and minimization of hazardous disinfection by-products. Her research assists in balancing benefits from disinfection with health risks from disinfection by-products. Dr. Hofmann is conducting research on removing micropollutants from drinking water and wastewater using advanced oxidation. Dr. Schiff's group focuses on aquatic biogeochemistry, including the NOM characterisation in Canadian surface waters.
Overall, the LC/OCD will allow engineers and scientists to conduct internationally recognized, leading edge research addressing critical issues in drinking water and wastewater treatment, and in aquatic biogeochemistry.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
390879-2010
Name nom
Huck, Peter
Department département
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Organization id
33
Institution établissement
University of Waterloo
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2009
Competition year année de concours
2010
Award amount
149939
Program id
EQPEQ
Program nane en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1509
Committee name en
Civil, Industrial and Systems Engineering
Committee name fr
Génie civil, industriel et des systèmes
Area of application code
702
Area of application group en
Transportation systems and services
Area of application group fr
Services et systèmes de transport
Area of application en
Water
Area of application fr
Maritime
Research subject code
1500
Research subject group en
Environmental engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie de l'environnement
Research subject en
Environmental engineering
Research subject fr
Génie de l'environnement
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
LC/OCD - a novel tool to optimize water and wastewater treatment processes; relating specific organic components to membrane fouling and hazardous by-product formation
Keyword
NA
Application summary
Natural organic matter (NOM) is present in all waters as a natural breakdown product of plant debris, algae, bacteria etc. It has an immense impact on aquatic systems and on drinking water and wastewater treatment.
The requested funding will be used for the purchase of a unique instrument, the LC/OCD (liquid chromatograph coupled to an organic carbon detector). With this novel tool researchers will be readily able to characterize the different portions of NOM according to their size. LC/OCD is not commonly used and this LC/OCD will be the first in North America. Eight different researchers from the Universities of Waterloo, Toronto and Guelph will benefit from having access to this instrument.
Drs. Huck and R. Andrews' groups are investigating membrane processes to produce drinking water. The main problem limiting membrane applications is fouling resulting in loss of production. The LC/OCD will allow innovative research such as using biological filtration to remove specific NOM foulants before they reach the membranes. Drs. Parker and Zhou's research focuses on membrane bioreactors and LC/OCD will support optimisation of this advanced wastewater treatment technology. Dr. Legge's group is developing a fluorescence based sensor to detect NOM-based membrane foulants, which would not be possible without confirmation using the LC/OCD. Dr. S. Andrews' research group studies the role of NOM in the identification and minimization of hazardous disinfection by-products. Her research assists in balancing benefits from disinfection with health risks from disinfection by-products. Dr. Hofmann is conducting research on removing micropollutants from drinking water and wastewater using advanced oxidation. Dr. Schiff's group focuses on aquatic biogeochemistry, including the NOM characterisation in Canadian surface waters.
Overall, the LC/OCD will allow engineers and scientists to conduct internationally recognized, leading edge research addressing critical issues in drinking water and wastewater treatment, and in aquatic biogeochemistry.
