Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Sir Sandford Fleming College of Applied Arts and Technology
$25,000.00
Development of industry-specific real-time UVA spectrum analyzers as an innovative alternative for monitoring regulated wastewater parameters.
FY 2014-15
Summary
Real Tech Inc. is an award winning company that has developed an innovative, patented line of real-time waterquality monitoring solutions that provide rapid and accurate detection of many common and emergingcontaminants in water and wastewater. Wastewaters contain varying levels of natural organic matter (NOM), acomplex matrix of organic materials. These materials can have significant effects on water treatment(performance of unit processes, application of disinfectants, biological stability) and in turn have implicationson human health and the environment. The ability to rapidly and continuously detect these compounds inwastewaters is extremely valuable.Traditional water quality measurements of organics are lengthy with some taking up to 5 days to obtain results,and include parameters such as Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), TotalSuspended Solids (TSS), Turbidity, and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). Ultraviolet absorbance (UVA)spectrum analyzers are designed to measure regulated organic wastewater parameters (TOC, COD, TSS andBOD). As each industry produces wastewater with characteristics unique to their operating processes they varyin organic matter and organic matter concentrations, providing each industry with a unique spectral absorbancesignature.The primary objective of this applied research is to develop industry specific UVA spectrum analyzers byidentifying UV wavelengths most strongly correlated to regulated organic parameters for each industrywastewater type. The second objective of this study if to validate use of a UVA spectrum analyzer targeted forthe dairy industry through two onsite installations. The results of this applied research will provide technicalcredibility and allow Real Tech to market their technology to multiple industries across Canada.
Program
Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
477380-2014
Name nom
Balch, Gordon
Department département
Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences
Organization id
4915
Institution établissement
Sir Sandford Fleming College of Applied Arts and Technology
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2014
Competition year année de concours
2014
Award amount
25000
Program id
CARD1
Program name en
Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement appliquée - niveau 1
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1561
Committee name en
Applied Research and Development Grants
Committee name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement appliquée
Area of application code
9999
Area of application group en
Not available
Area of application group fr
Non disponible
Area of application en
Not available
Area of application fr
Non disponible
Research subject code
1501
Research subject group en
Environmental engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie de l'environnement
Research subject en
Water quality, pollution
Research subject fr
Qualité de l'eau, pollution
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Development of industry-specific real-time UVA spectrum analyzers as an innovative alternative for
monitoring regulated wastewater parameters.
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Real Tech Inc. is an award winning company that has developed an innovative, patented line of real-time waterquality monitoring solutions that provide rapid and accurate detection of many common and emergingcontaminants in water and wastewater. Wastewaters contain varying levels of natural organic matter (NOM), acomplex matrix of organic materials. These materials can have significant effects on water treatment(performance of unit processes, application of disinfectants, biological stability) and in turn have implicationson human health and the environment. The ability to rapidly and continuously detect these compounds inwastewaters is extremely valuable.Traditional water quality measurements of organics are lengthy with some taking up to 5 days to obtain results,and include parameters such as Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), TotalSuspended Solids (TSS), Turbidity, and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). Ultraviolet absorbance (UVA)spectrum analyzers are designed to measure regulated organic wastewater parameters (TOC, COD, TSS andBOD). As each industry produces wastewater with characteristics unique to their operating processes they varyin organic matter and organic matter concentrations, providing each industry with a unique spectral absorbancesignature.The primary objective of this applied research is to develop industry specific UVA spectrum analyzers byidentifying UV wavelengths most strongly correlated to regulated organic parameters for each industrywastewater type. The second objective of this study if to validate use of a UVA spectrum analyzer targeted forthe dairy industry through two onsite installations. The results of this applied research will provide technicalcredibility and allow Real Tech to market their technology to multiple industries across Canada.
