Water. desalination + reuse

RESEARCH US and UK in water research exchange Research strategies, tools, and knowledge in the area of clean water are to be exchanged between researchers in the USA and the UK under a collaboration agreed between the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the US and the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in the UK. Research subjects include: a foulingresistant ultrafiltration membrane; bringing household water reuse options into water treatment models; barriers and incentives affecting implementation of urban-scale water reuse; and new technologies such as synthetic biology, nanomaterial science and bio-electrochemical systems. With a combined funding of around £800,000 to supplement existing grant awards, expertise from both countries will be shared at workshops and symposia, and via visits and videoconference calls, leading to new robust collaborations and adding value to existing research projects. "The NSF and the EPSRC coordinated their investments to spur the creation of breakthrough solutions to clean water challenges," said Pramod Khargonekar, assistant director for the NSF Directorate for Engineering. "These collaborations not only promote the very best engineering research, they also help prepare the future US engineering workforce to think and engage globally." ASTM seeks turbidity monitoring standard Standards body ASTM International is looking for input on development of a standard for determination of turbidity, including setting up a monitoring system. ASTM committee D19 on Water is developing WK4193 Test Method for Determination of Turbidity above 1 TU in the In-Situ Mode. The committee vice chairman, Michael Sadar, says that the standard will provide "practical guidance into the setup, calibration and verification of a turbidity monitoring system before and after it has been placed in the field." "Many government entities, such as the US Geological Survey, have intensified their monitoring of turbidity," says Sadar. "With the increased interest came more questions. For example, if two different technologies are used, why? This is often the case, and the intent of the proposed standard is to explain how technologies can be broken down to simplified parts and how each is impacted by turbidity samples and the interference in the samples." The proposed new standard is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee D19.07 on Sediments, Geomorphology and Open-Channel Flow. Those interested in participating in the ongoing development of ASTM WK4193 and other turbidity-related standards are invited to join D19.07. Foundation grant for VOC membrane research The Water Research Foundation has awarded a grant to US water utility United Water to evaluate the use of water-resistant membranes to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from drinking water. The Water Research Foundation will contribute US$ 175,000 and Suez Environnement, United Water's parent company, will contribute US$ 200,000. Another US$ 148,000 of in-kind contributions will be made by project team members. Previous testing by United Water has shown that using low-cost membrane technology is effective in removing potentially harmful chemicals such as VOCs. They include tetrachloroethylene, used in dry cleaning; radon, a colorless, odorless, naturally occurring gas formed from the disintegration of radium; and trihalomethanes, a byproduct of water chlorination. The objective of this project is to better understand how the membrane works and what is needed to maintain it. ZLD trials at Alamagordo for solar still KII/Suns River has provided D&WR with more information about its extended work at the Brackish Ground Water National Research Facility in Alamogordo, New Mexico, during the coming months. As reported by D&WR on 2 September 2013, the company is one of nine organizations to share new US Bureau of Reclamation funding for its research project. KII will be using its modular design for solar collection and evaporation, and will also use its zero liquid discharge (ZLD) design for the first time. All this is part of the patented 99%+ solar desalination design Suns River proved at Alamogordo in 2012 (D&WR feature, November/ December 2012). Operating results from the ZLD operation and other operations are expected in early 2014. Can$ 1 million for PRO energy research A three-year Canadian research project on pressure-retarded osmosis for the production of electrical energy has received Can$ 299,911 (US$ 288,939) funding from the National Sciences & Engineering Research Council. The project, at the Centre National en Électrochimie et en Technologies Environnementales (CNETE)/Shawinigan College in Quebec, is also being funded by Hydro-Québec, bringing its total value to Can$ 959,911 (US$ 924,753). The work aims to facilitate construction of test laboratory benches in 2013 to test the pretreatment options for fresh water and their effect on the forwardosmosis performance of membranes, all in conjunction with Norwegian company Statkraft. November-December 2013 | Desalination & Water Reuse | 41 |

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