Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

The proposed research builds on the strengths of past research efforts undertaken by the applicant revolving around the process development and analysis of the interactions between the transport processes and chemical reactions. It is aimed at synthesis of new environmentally-friendly materials, development of innovative reactor design, inventing novel approaches for process intensification, and optimal operation of such process systems. The main thrust of the proposal is in finding new ways to produce valuable products, treatment technologies and energy sources with improved efficiency, reactor simplicity, and lower costs. The motivation of the proposed research program is to obtain a deep understanding required to develop the next generation of technologies for applications in energy, environment, food, health and water, the humanity's most important challenges for next few decades, and garner significant fundamental expertise in a wide range of areas such as reaction engineering, reactor design, fluid mechanics, nanotechnology, modeling, and multi-objective optimization. The key objective is to train well-rounded graduates with sound technical, scientific, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills groomed by an integrated multi-disciplinary comprehensive research training program. The research focus addresses two broad areas: continuous reaction chromatography based of simulated moving bed technology and development of solar photocatalytic materials and innovative photo-reactor designs. Specific projects include intensified purification and protein refolding, process intensification in biodiesel production from microalgae grown on waste resources, development of new dye-sensitized visible light activated photocatalytic materials and novel high-rate reactors for clean hydrogen production and treatment of micro-pollutants, and design of novel photo-reactors for disinfection of opaque fluids. Overall, the program will provide training for 6 PhD students and number of UG students exposing them to cutting-edge research. This research is expected to result in significant technology development for applications in tomorrow's energy, environment, food and health, and economical benefit to Canada.