Research activities at AQWATEC are directed to advance research and development of novel water treatment processes and hybrid systems to enable sustainable and energy efficient utilization of impaired water sources to provide potable and non-potable water supplies. Our focus areas include:
- Engineered natural systems for elimination of chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) from the environment
- Traditional and novel membrane separation processes for water purification, reuse and desalination including zero-liquid discharge
- Development of multiple-barrier hybrid processes to provide more efficient water treatment systems
- Advanced concepts in decentralized water treatment facilities
- Development of more efficient water treatment systems for the industrial and renewable energy sector
Our current activities include:
- Viability of nanofiltration and ultra-low pressure RO membranes for indirect potable reuse applications
- Beneficial reuse of co-produced water using capacitive deionization (CDT) and high-pressure membrane technologies
- Evaluation of river bank filtration systems to optimize removal of bulk organic matter, nutrients, and chemicals of emerging concern
- Development of indicators and surrogates for chemical contaminant removal during wastewater treatment and reclamation
- Desalination product water recovery and concentrate volume minimization
- Zero-liquid discharge systems for the recovery of cooling tower water in geothermal power plants
- A novel hybrid membrane desalination process with minimal pretreatment and concentrate
- A novel hybrid system to increase recovery and lower energy costs in treatment of recycled water and ocean desalination
AQWATEC faculty currently sustain a research funding base of over $5M via active grants and contracts from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Water Research Foundation (WRF), Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF), WateReuse Research Foundation (WRRF), Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), NREL, as well as public and private industry.
Indirect Cost Return and Policy
AQWATEC receives IDC returns for all full over-headed research accounts at a rate of 19.2% of IDC paid. IDC return funds are administered through AQWATEC’s IDC account. AQWATEC encourages faculty members to submit research proposals through the center that are in support of AQWATEC’s mission. Principal investigators submitting proposals through AQWATEC have the privilege to utilize center infrastructure that is available on a service basis at the internal billing rate. A list of infrastructure that is available on a service basis is posted on the center’s website (http://www.aqwatec.com/facilities/). External and internal billing rates will be provided upon request. For more information IDC return policies, please click here.