Engineering Commons^™

The Effect Of Activated Carbon Addition On Membrane Bioreactor Processes For Wastewater Treatment And Reclamation - A Critical Review, George Skouteris, Devendra Saroj, Paraschos Melidis, Faisal Hai, Sabeha Ouki

Faisal I Hai

This review concentrates on the effect of activated carbon (AC) addition to membrane bioreactors (MBRs) treating wastewaters. Use of AC-assisted MBRs combines adsorption, biodegradation and membrane filtration. This can lead to advanced removal of recalcitrant pollutants and mitigation of membrane fouling. The relative contribution of adsorption and biodegradation to overall removal achieved by an AC-assisted MBR process can vary, and "biological AC" may not fully develop due to competition of target pollutants with bulk organics in wastewater. Thus periodic replenishment of spent AC is necessary. Sludge retention time (SRT) governs the frequency of spent AC withdrawal and addition of fresh …

Introduction To Membrane Biological Reactors, Faisal Hai, Kazuo Yamamoto, Chung-Hak Lee

Faisal I Hai

This chapter delineats the rationale of combining the membrane and bioreactor technologies and systematically introduces the membrane biological reactors that are the focus of this book. This is followed by a brief account of the history of the various applications of membranes in conjunction with bioreactors and how the initial formats led to the development of the present day commercialized ones. The relative advantages of membrane biological reactors over the conventional biological processes are presented. The current status of the MBR market is described and the drivers propelling its growth along with the constraints are highlighted. The trends in world-wide …

Gas-Diffusion, Extractive, Biocatalytic And Electrochemical Membrane Biological Reactors, Oskar Modin, Faisal Hai, Long Nghiem, Angelo Basile, Kensuke Fukushi

Faisal I Hai

Several emerging technologies for treatment or resource recovery from wastewater are based on the combination of membranes and biochemical conversions. In this chapter, we review gas-diffusion, extractive, biocatalytic, and electrochemical membrane bioreactors (MBRs). Gas diffusion MBRs facilitate efficient delivery of a gaseous oxidant or reductant such as oxygen, hydrogen, or methane to microbial biofilms treating wastewater. Extractive MBRs completely separate the wastewater stream from the microbes and make toxic wastewaters amenable to biological treatment. Biocatalytic MBRs utilize enzymes or immobilized microbial cells for degradation of persistent xenobiotics or for synthesis of fine chemicals. Electrochemical MBRs make it possible to utilize …

Wastewater Reuse: Removal Of Emerging Trace Organic Contaminants (Troc), Faisal Hai, Long Nghiem, Stuart Khan, William Price, Kazuo Yamamoto

Faisal I Hai

This chapter reviews current and new technologies for the removal of emerging TrOC from wastewater for reuse purposes. In particular, it compares the relative performance of Membrane bioreactors (MBR) with other conventional biological processes. It is shown that MBR has many intrinsic advantages over other methods leading to superior performance. Fundamental to this is the presence of a membrane barrier which provides a range of other adsorption mechanisms for TrOC. However, in practice there are many factors affecting TrOC removal by MBR, leading to sometimes conflicting reports in the literature from both lab scale studies as well as full scale …

Rock Bolt Corrosion - An Experimental Study, Naj Aziz, P Craig, Jan Nemcik, Faisal Hai

Faisal I Hai

The effect of long term exposure of full size bolts to corrosive environments is presented. A special test rig was used to test four bolts under different loading conditions. Four X-grade identical profile bolts, each 21·7 mm core diameter (23·7 mm full diameter) were subjected to prolonged corrosion testing using acid sulphate water. The pH value of the circulated water varied between 3·4 and 4·3. The corrosion exposure test period lasted 3·5 years. Two bolts were axially loaded to 10 t and 20 t force respectively, the third bolt was subjected to a 360 Nm torsion load and the fourth …

Membrane Biological Reactors: Theory, Modeling, Design, Management And Applications To Wastewater Reuse, Faisal Hai, Kazou Yamamoto, Chung-Hak Lee

Faisal I Hai

Membrane Biological Reactors: Theory, Modeling, Design, Management and Applications to Wastewater Reuse comprehensively covers the salient features and emerging issues associated with the MBR technology. The book provides thorough coverage starting from biological aspects and fundamentals of membranes, via modeling and design concepts, to practitioners’ perspective and good application examples. Membrane Biological Reactors focuses on all the relevant emerging issues raised by including the latest research from renowned experts in the field. It is a valuable reference to the academic and professional community and suitable for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology.

Application Of Membrane Technology For The Development Of Sustainable Biotechnology Processes, Faisal Hai, Oskar Modin

Faisal I Hai

The scope of application of membranes in biotechnology has widened significantly in the recent years. Although many of the membrane options are yet to achieve wide industrial applications, they show tremendous potential for the transformation and synthesis of valueadded products, energy production, therapeutic applications and environmental remediation. This chapter provides an overview of membrane applications in selected established and emerging biotechnology processes. Approaches to overcoming the technology bottlenecks that impede the scale-up of such systems have been discussed in this chapter.

Biocatalytic Membrane Reactors For The Removal Of Recalcitrant And Emerging Pollutants From Wastewater, F Hai, L Nghiem, O Modin

Faisal I Hai

The potential fields of application of biocatalytic membrane reactors have widened considerably in recent years. Although biocatalytic membrane reactors, in general, are yet to achieve broad industrial application, in the not too far future they are expected to play a major role, not only for the production, transformation and valorization of raw materials but also for environmental remediations. This chapter comprehensively reviews the laboratory scale studies which demonstrate the potential of biocatalytic membrane reactors in wastewater treatment applications. Studies reponed in the literature, however, serve as proof of concept only. Issues that need to be addressed in order to achieve …

Anaerobic Mbrs, Weijue Gao, Bao-Qiang Liao, Faisal Hai

Faisal I Hai

Anaerobic MBRs (AnMBRs) have been shown to be one of the most promising technologies for sustainable wastewater treatment. It offers several advantages over the aerobic MBRs, namely, requirement of no energy for aeration, low sludge production and energy resource. Compared to the conventional anaerobic processes, AnMBRs can maintain higher biomass concentrations, have higher treatment capacity, excellent effluent quality, and smaller footprint. Compared with the conventional anaerobic digestion, they are relatively robust to cope with variations in organic loading and inhibitory conditions due to complete retention of biomass by membranes. The AnMBR technology is now gaining acceptance by a wide range …

Understanding The Landscape Of Overruns In Transport Infrastructure Projects, Peter Love, Jim Smith, Ian Simpson, Michael Regan, Oluwole Olatunji

Michael Regan

Cost and schedule overruns are endemic features of transport infrastructure projects. Despite the considerable amount of research within the field of transport and planning in the past thirty years, limited progress has been made to improving the performance of projects. We contend that this will continue to be an issue as long as research efforts focus on the ‘outside view’ with emphasis being placed upon strategic misrepresentation and optimism bias. Understanding ‘why’ and ‘how’ projects overrun, particularly from both ‘outside’ and ‘inside’ perspectives, is pivotal to reducing their impact and occurrence. Thus, in conjunction with the transport and planning literature, …

Study Of An Axial Fan Combined With A Microperforated Duct, Seungkyu Lee

Seungkyu Lee

The fans used in the ventilation duct systems usually fall into two categories: (i) axial, and (ii) centrifugal. These types of fans are distinguished by having different performance characteristics. For instance, centrifugal fans are capable of generating high static pressures compare to axial fans. However, an axial fan can deal with higher air volume flow rates than a centrifugal fan, and, more importantly, an axial fan produces relatively low fan noise compared to a centrifugal fan. Thus, even though axial fans may be advantageous from a noise point-of-view, they are generally avoided in duct systems when relatively high static pressures …

Review Of Performance Measurement: Implications For Public–Private Partnerships, Junxiao Liu, Peter Love, Jim Smith, Michael Regan, Ekambaram Palaneeswaran

Michael Regan

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the normative literature in regard to public-private partnerships (PPPs) and their evaluations, and attempts to investigate whether the Performance Prism is a feasible framework for effective PPP performance measurement. Design/methodology/approach – An in-depth and critical literature review is conducted in this study. Discussion concentrates on PPP features, performance measurement in PPPs, performance measurement in construction, and characteristics of the Performance Prism. Findings – The Performance Prism exhibits a strong ability to capture the distinct features of PPP infrastructure projects and can be considered as a framework suitable for effective and …

The Rapid Formation Of Functional Monolayers On Silicon Under Mild Conditions, Simone Ciampi, Erwann Luais, Michael James, Moinul Choudhury, Nadim Darwish, J Gooding

Michael C James

We report on an exceedingly mild chemical functionalization of hydrogen-terminated Si(100) with unactivated and unprotected bifunctional α,ω-dialkynes. Monolayer formation occurs rapidly in the dark, and at room temperature, from dilute solutions of an aromatic-conjugated acetylene. The method addresses the poor reactivity of p-type substrates under mild conditions. We suggest the importance of several factors, including an optimal orientation for electron transfer between the adsorbate and the Si surface, conjugation of the acetylenic function with a π-system, as well as the choice of a solvent system that favors electron transfer and screens Coulombic interactions between surface holes and electrons. The passivated …

An Analysis Of Delta's Oil Refinery Acquisition, Wilfred Manuela, Dawna Rhoades, Tamilla Curtis

Dr. Tamilla Curtis

Scenarios For Peer-To-Peer Learning In Construction With Emerging Forms Of Collaborative Computing, Teemu Leinonen, Jukka Purrna, Kiarii Ngua, Alexander Hayes

Alexander Hayes Mr.

Many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Europe are interested in finding new methods of training and workplace learning. Technology-enhanced practices of peer-to-peer learning may offer various new possibilities for SMEs. In this study we consider emerging technologies for informal learning in construction work. These technologies include wearable computing, invisible and ambient computing, augmented reality and novel interaction technologies. Three preliminary scenarios presented in this paper demonstrate how these technologies may be used. These scenarios have been developed, with a focus on the use of technology within a community supporting peer-to-peer learning, that may negate some of the social concerns …

Identity Awareness And Re-Use Of Research Data In Veillance And Social Computing, Alexander Hayes, Stephen Mann, Amir Aryani, Susannah Sabine, Leigh Blackall, Pia Waugh, Stephan Ridgway

Alexander Hayes Mr.

Identity awareness of research data has been introduced as a requirement for open research, transparency and reusability of research data in the context of eScience. This requirement includes the capability of linking research data to researchers, research projects and publications, and identifying the license for the data. This connectivity between research data and other elements in research ecosystems is required in order to make the data available and reusable beyond the initial research. In this paper, we examine these capabilities in the domains of veillance and social computing. The dataset cases presented in this paper articulate the challenges that researchers …

An Integrated Centrifugo-Opto-Microfluidic Platform For Arraying, Analysis, Identification And Manipulation Of Individual Cells, Robert Burger, D Kurzbuch, Robert Gorkin Iii, Gregor Kijanka, Macdara Glynn, C Mcdonagh, Jens Ducree

Robert Gorkin III

In this work we present a centrifugal microfluidic system enabling highly efficient collective trapping and alignment of particles such as microbeads and cells, their multi-colour fluorescent detection and subsequent manipulation by optical tweezers. We demonstrate array-based capture and imaging followed by "cherry-picking" of individual particles, first for fluorescently labelled polystyrene (PS) beads and then for cells. Different cell lines are discriminated based on intracellular as well as surface-based markers.

Optical Sensing System Based On Wireless Paired Emitter Detector Diode Device And Ionogels For Lab-On-A-Disc Water Quality Analysis, Monika Czugala, Robert Gorkin Iii, Thomas Phelan, Jennifer Gaughran, Vincenzo Curto, Jens Ducree, Dermot Diamond, Fernando Benito-Lopez

Robert Gorkin III

This work describes the first use of a wireless paired emitter detector diode device (PEDD) as an optical sensor for water quality monitoring in a lab-on-a-disc device. The microfluidic platform, based on an ionogel sensing area combined with a low-cost optical sensor, is applied for quantitative pH and qualitative turbidity monitoring of water samples at point-of-need. The autonomous capabilities of the PEDD system, combined with the portability and wireless communication of the full device, provide the flexibility needed for on-site water testing. Water samples from local fresh and brackish sources were successfully analysed using the device, showing very good correlation …

Design And Fabrication Of A Cop-Based Microfluidic Chip: Chronoamperometric Detection Of Troponin T, Llibertat Abad, Francisco Javier Del Campo, Francesc Xavier Munoz, Luis J Fernandez, Daniel Calavia, Gloria Colom, Juan P Salvador, Maria Pilar Marco, Vanessa Escamilla-Gomez, Berta Esteban-Fernandez De Avila, Susana Campuzano, Maria Pedrero, Jose M Pingarron, Neus Godino, Robert Gorkin Iii, Jens Ducree

Robert Gorkin III

This work demonstrates the design and fabrication of an all cyclo-olefin polymer based microfluidic device capable of capturing magnetic beads and performing electrochemical detection in a series of gold electrodes. The size of chip is of a microscope slide and features six independent measuring cells formultianalyte detection purposes. The aim of this work is to show that rapid prototyping techniques can be instrumental in the development of novel bioassays, particularly in clinical diagnosis applications. We show the successful determination of troponin-T, a cardiac disease marker, in the clinically relevant range of 0.05–1.0 ng/mL. This methodology achieves a detection limit of …

Fabricating Electrodes For Amperometric Detection In Hybrid Paper/Polymer Lab-On-A-Chip Devices, Neus Godino, Robert Gorkin Iii, Ken Bourke, Jens Ducree

Robert Gorkin III

We present a novel, low-resource fabrication and assembly method for creating disposable amperometric detectors in hybrid paper-polymer devices. Currently, mere paper-based microfluidics is far from being able to achieve the same level of process control and integration as state-of-the-art microfluidic devices made of polymers. To overcome this limitation, in this work both substrate types are synergistically combined through a hybrid, multi-component/multi-material system assembly. Using established inkjet wax printing, we transform the paper into a profoundly hydrophobic substrate in order to create carbon electrodes which are simply patterned from carbon inks via custom made adhesive stencils. By virtue of the compressibility …

Centrifugo-Pneumatic Valving Utilizing Dissolvable Films, Robert Gorkin Iii, Charles Nwankire, Jennifer Gaughran, Xin Zhang, Gerard Donohoe, Martha Rook, Richard O'Kennedy, Jens Ducree

Robert Gorkin III

In this article we introduce a novel technology that utilizes specialized water dissolvable thin films for valving in centrifugal microfluidic systems. In previous work (William Meathrel and Cathy Moritz, IVD Technologies, 2007), dissolvable films (DFs) have been assembled in laminar flow devices to form efficient sacrificial valves where DFs simply open by direct contact with liquid. Here, we build on the original DF valving scheme to leverage sophisticated, merely rotationally actuated vapour barriers and flow control for enabling comprehensive assay integration with low-complexity instrumentation on "lab-on-a-disc" platforms. The advanced sacrificial valving function is achieved by creating an inverted gas-liquid stack …

Centrifugal Automation Of A Triglyceride Bioassay On A Low-Cost Hybrid Paper-Polymer Device, Neus Godino, Elizaveta Vereshchagina, Robert Gorkin Iii, Jens Ducree

Robert Gorkin III

We present a novel paper-polymer hybrid construct for the simple automation of fundamental microfluidic operations in a lab-on-a-disc platform. The novel design, we term a paper siphon, consists of chromatographic paper strips embedded along a siphon microchannel. The paper siphon relies on two main interplaying forces to create unique valving and liquid-sampling methods in centrifugal microfluidics. At sufficiently low speeds, the inherent wicking of the paper overcomes the rotationally induced centrifugal force to drive liquids towards inwards positions of the disc. At elevated speeds, the dominant centrifugal force will extract liquid from the siphon paper strip towards the edge of …

Centrifugal Microfluidics For Cell Analysis, Robert Burger, Daniel Kirby, Macdara Glynn, Charles E Nwankire, Mary O'Sullivan, Jonathan Siegrist, David Kinahan, Gerson Aguirre, Gregor Kijanka, Robert Gorkin Iii, Jens Ducree

Robert Gorkin III

Over the past two decades, centrifugal microfluidic systems have successfully demonstrated their capability for robust, high-performance liquid handling to enable modular, multipurpose lab-on-a-chip platforms for a wide range of lifescience applications. Beyond the handling of homogeneous liquids, the unique, rotationally controlled centrifugal actuation has proven to be specifically advantageous for performing cell and particle handling and assays. In this review we discuss technologies to implement two important steps for cell handling, namely separation and capturing/counting.

Partition-Based Weighted Sum Filters For Image Restoration, Kenneth Barner, Ahmad Sarhan, Russell Hardie

Russell C. Hardie

We develop the concept of partitioning the observation space to build a general class of filters referred to as partition-based weighted sum (PWS) filters. In the general framework, each observation vector is mapped to one of M partitions comprising the observation space, and each partition has an associatedfiltering function. We focus on partitioning the observation space utilizing vector quantization and restrict the filtering function within each partition to be linear. In this formulation, a weighted sum of the observation samples forms the estimate, where the weights are allowed to be unique within eachpartition. The partitions are selected and weights tuned …

Session D-4: Coolhub.Imsa: Collaborative Innovation In Action, Carl Heine, James Gerry

Carl Heine

Transform STEM teaching and learning with CoolHub.IMSA, a free virtual platform where youth and adults collaborate on projects they create. Explore the site through the eyes of project members and discover powerful ways to collaborate, innovate and network for learning.

Enhancing Classroom Learning Experience By Providing Structures To Microblogging-Based Activities, Tian Luo, Fei Gao

Fei Gao

Microblogging tools such as Twitter have been frequently adopted in educational settings to facilitate learning in recent years. Although the original purpose of microblogging tools is to connect with others in a wide network and instantly share what is happening to them with the rest of the world, educators have vigorously attempted to repurpose the utilization of the tool and integrate it into various educational settings to promote student learning. The purpose of this study is to examine student learning experience under a set of structured microblogging-based activities and to identify the affordances and constraints of the technology. Students participated …

Designing A Discussion Environment To Enhance Connectivity And Sustainability In Asynchronous Online Discussion, Fei Gao

Fei Gao

Lack of connectivity and sustainability are two common problems in asynchronous online discussions. In this paper, the author proposes that the two problems may have to do with the structure of threaded forums, that is, the design of threaded forums may constrain participants from having well-connected and sustained discussions. A new discussion environment was developed to promote the connectivity and sustainability of discussion in an online course, and an exploratory study was conducted to test the effectiveness of the new environment.

The Influence Of Optimality Criteria On Optimization Predictions Of Muscle And Knee Contact Forces During Walking, Allison Kinney

Allison Kinney

Funded research sponsored by the University of Dayton Research Council Seed Award. Awarded $6,500.

Support For New Course Development For Introduction To Biomechanics, Allison Kinney

Allison Kinney

Funded research sponsored by the University of Dayton KEEN Fellows Cohort. Awarded $13,000.

Three-Dimensional Vibrometry Of The Human Eardrum With Stroboscopic Lensless Digital Holography, Morteza Khaleghi, Cosme Furlong, Mike Ravicz, Jeffrey T. Cheng, John J. Rosowski

Morteza Khaleghi

The eardrum or tympanic membrane (TM) transforms acoustic energy at the ear canal into mechanical motions of the ossicles. The acousto-mechanical transformer behavior of the TM is determined by its shape, three-dimensional (3-D) motion, and mechanical properties. We have developed an optoelectronic holographic system to measure the shape and 3-D sound-induced displacements of the TM. The shape of the TM is measured with dual-wavelength holographic contouring using a tunable near IR laser source with a central wavelength of 780 nm. 3-D components of sound-induced displacements of the TM are measured with the method of multiple sensitivity vectors using stroboscopic holographic …