Grant: Strategic Projects Supplemental Competition

OBJECTIVES. The project proposes the development of an electrochemical flow-electrolyte for continuous treatment of waste waters. The device will incorporate commercial metallic foams manufactured by Inco Technical Services. The electrochemical degradation of pollutants (electro-oxidation or electro-reduction) will take place at the foam electrode. We will study the penetration and flow of aqueous solutions in metallic foams. Jointly with Inco Technical Services, we will design and fabricate new foams of well-tailored 3D structure, porosity, and enhance aqueous electrolyte penetration and flow. The control of these parameters is needed to apply metallic foams in the proposed electrochemical flow-electrolyte reactor for waste watertreatment. Following its optimization, it will be used in the electrochemical treatment of dangerous pollutants commonly found in hospital waste waters and ground water. We will train two students and a post-doctoral fellow in state-of-the-art surface, materials, physical-chemistry, analytical-chemistry instrumentation, and electrochemical waste-water treatment methods. We will strengthen the existing link between Queen's and Inco Technical Services.  SIGNIFICANCE. The project envisaged a detail study of the 3-D porosity, micro- and nano-structure of commercial metallic foams. Characterization of the 3-D structure and properties of the metallic foams is essential in order to assess their long-term performance in electrochemical devices. Application of state-of-the-art research tools will allow us to gather this much needed structural and compositional data, and tocommunicate them to Inco Technical Services. The metallic foams of well-tailored properties will be tested as new-type of electrode materials with unique environmental and health applications in mind. They will be incorporated in the prototype of an electrochemical flow-electrolyte reactor. The end-product has the potential of being very beneficial to Canada that suffers from a variety of issues related to the contamination of surface, ground and lake waters.