Hemodialysis functions to remove the build up of salts, water, and toxins from the body when a patient's kidneys are not working adequately. For many patients, receiving hemodialysis treatments means traveling to a hospital or dialysis center several times each week for hours at a time. With an increase in remote healthcare technology, hemodialysis has expanded to the home. Within the hospital or home setting, hemodialysis devices are still a water intensive process that results in all wastewater being disposed of. Dial-Assist supplements commercial portable hemodialysis systems by recycling the effluent wastewater, also known as dialysate, to minimize the need for a tap water connection and increase the independence of the patient. The system is comprised of sorbent canister to remove salts and uremic toxins and utilizes UV sterilization to destroy bacteria. The effluent dialysate is recycled to a purity level that allows it to be reused by the patient once the prescribed amount of salts and other dialysate components are re-added. The entirety of the device fits in a compact container above the portable dialysis system. Dial-Assist will aid in the progression of more independent hemodialysis treatments so that patients dealing with kidney disease may have a higher quality of life.

Design of a recycling stream from rinse chamber with its auxiliary equipment for rinsing of patterned wafers connected to either individual rinse chamber or fab recycled water during semiconductor manufacturing. 

Making Bio aviation fuel using algae as a feedstock

There is a growing need to find creative ways to conserve water in Arizona. The Coloroado River, which supplies the water for Phoenix and Tucson through the Central Arizona Project (CAP) canal, is currently in a Tier 2 draught, causing Arizona's water allotment to be cut by 21%. This project evaluates the economic feasability of using solar covers to reduce evaporation along the CAP canal.

The proposed design consists of solar structures over the CAP canal, with a corresponding model of energy collection and evaporation reduction. The team developed a model that can adequately respond to various input conditions based on seasonal trends. The model was used to determine sections of the canal that a solar structure would have the largest positive impact on the specified objectives. With adaptive and assumption based modeling techniques, the feasibility of solar structures can be determined.

This project explores adding a microbial electrolysis reactor in series with a hydrogen fuel cell to a water treatment facility to generate electricity. A microbial electrolysis reactor (MER) is a device that utilizes an anode and a cathode to produce hydrogen gas from microbial growth within wastewater. The hydrogen gas is then sent to a fuel cell, where it combines with oxygen to produce electricity. The team researched both hydrogen production and hydrogen fuel cells in order to create a system that would generate electricity from only wastewater. The generated electricity could be used for many different applications, including powering different machinery in the water treatment plant or adding the electricity to the grid. The system was optimized so that it was both economically and environmentally friendly.

Our project investigates the potential of carbon dioxide removal by algae grown in photobioreactors (PBRs). Using lab-scale batch PBRs and synthetic gas mixture containing 40 - 60% of CO2, we plan to grow algae and measure its growth rate and CO2 uptake. This process could eventually find broad application to remediate CO2 from nearly any point source including direct-air-capture systems. Our project aims to contribute to the mitigation of CO2, produce algae biomass for alternative energy and co-products, and improve sustainability.

Design a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) receiving terminal to be sited in the Gulf Coast. The unloading and tankage will be designed to off-load LNG from 125,000 m3 LNG ships. The nominal sendout capacity of the receiving terminal will be 1,050 MMSCF/D measured at the ship’s rail. After vaporization Natural Gas will be delivered to the pipeline at 1,250 psig and 40°F.

Improve the Rainbow Valley Water Reclamation Facility by implementing new techniques for treating wastewater, in compliance with environmental regulations, in response to population growth and increased interest in environmentally safe disposal of waste.

Many companies use different types of plants for different purposes. Often, they only use part of the plant and the rest is discarded. Bridgestone uses part of the Guayule plant as an alternative to rubber. To maximize resource usage and profit output, a process including a pyrolysis reactor will turn the lignocellulosic biomass into bio-oil amongst other products such as char and syngas. All products have value alone; however, the bio-oil can be refined and sold as useable biodiesel that can power combustion engines. The goal is to design a process using a pyrolysis reactor that turns the biomass from the plant Guayule into biodiesel.

Create an automated irrigation water requirements forecast tool