박사과정을 밟고 있는 North Carolina 대학교의 Ariel Atkinson와 Clemson 대학교의 Erin Partlan가 멤브레인 기술을 위한 2014년 AMTA-NWRI Fellowship 어워드에서 멤브레인 부착물에 대한 졸업 수준의 연구로 상을 수상했다. 이 상은 미국 멤브레인 기술협회(AMTA)와 국립 물과학 연구소(NWRI)에서 공동으로 수여한다.

이 협력 장학금은 수질개선이라는 NWRI의 목적과 관련한 연구를 지원하기 위해 연간 1만 달러씩 2년 동안 수여된다.

 

 

 

STUART, FL, Sept. 25, 2014 -- Two doctoral students -- Ariel Atkinson of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and Erin Partlan of Clemson University (CU) -- have received the 2014 AMTA-NWRI Fellowship for Membrane Technology award from the American Membrane Technology Association (AMTA) and the National Water Research Institute (NWRI) for their ongoing efforts in conducting graduate-level research focused on membrane fouling.

 

This joint fellowship provides $10,000 per year for two years to support this research that pertains to NWRI's objectives in improving water quality; protecting public health and the environment; and creating safe, new sources of water; as well as carrying out AMTA's vision statement to solve water supply and quality issues through the widespread application of membrane technology.

 

Both recipients, who will each receive the $10,000 award, are conducting research in which particles and other constituents in water stick to and obstruct membranes used as part of the water treatment process. Membrane fouling is considered a major operational issue in treatment plants employing reverse osmosis (RO) technology, such as desalination plants and water recycling plants.

 

Atkinson is a third-year doctoral student in the Environmental Sciences and Engineering Department at UNC. Her graduate research project focuses on the development and application of a novel anti-biofouling membrane. A more reliable technology or process for preventing biofouling could produce better water quality and save on treatment costs, as any amount of fouling increases energy, cleaning and replacement costs. Her graduate advisor is Assistant Professor Orlando Coronell.

 

Partlan is a first-year doctoral student in the Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences Department at CU. Her research project will evaluate the use of dissolved carbon dioxide (DCD) for the prevention and removal of foulants from RO membranes. The potential use of DCD to clean foulants from membranes could decrease treatment plant operational costs because carbon dioxide could be recovered in greater amounts than chemical cleaners and removed from water through simple mechanisms. Her graduate advisor is Assistant Professor David Ladner.

 

Both Atkinson and Partlan will attend the 2015 AMTA-AWWA Membrane Technology Conference and Exposition in March 2015 in Orlando, Fla., to present on their fellowship-funded graduate research. In addition, they will each receive a plaque at the Awards Luncheon.

 

[출처 = Water World / 2014년 9월 25일]