The Water Equipment and Policy I/UCRC Research Center Inventing the next generation of Water Sensors, Equipment and Syst

1. The Water Equipment and Policy I/UCRC Research CenterInventing the next generation of Water Sensors, Equipment and Systems

2. Consumer Inventing the next generation of water treatment products, systems, and policy Point-of-Use Technologies Industrial Municipal Emerging Contaminants Research Thrusts Market Segments Materials Systems Sustainability Strategic Thrusts Sensors & Devices Policy Reduced Energy Consumption

3. Creating futuristic materials today • Toilets never require cleaning, and pipes, pumps and industrial equipment resist scaling and corrosion. • Water travels through pipes with minimal resistance and turbulence, dramatically reducing pumping costs.

4. Innovative wastewater research that advances biotechnology, renewable energy and protecting the environment • At the vanguard of innovating the next generation of practical wastewater solutions. • Specializing in advancing anaerobic digestion in which specific microorganisms convert wastes and other feedstocks to biogas that contains methane for municipalities, manufacturers, agriculture and food processors.

5. Modular sensing platforms provide the foundation of the intelligent water distribution system • Sensors distributed throughout the water system in POU devices will instantly alert plant operators of the appearance of contaminants. • Low–cost portable handheld devices enable contractors and homeowners to instantly analyze remote water supplies.

6. This microsensor applies shear horizontal surface acoustic waves to provide in-situ real-time monitoring of chemical contaminants in water. thickness, h, density, ρ Shear modulus, G = G’ + jG’’ Photograph of Actual SH-SAW Sensor Device with PMMA Waveguide

7. A miniaturized real-time micro-calorimeter array detects the unique thermo properties of bio/chemical molecules in water.

8. Hybrid nanotube structures provide real-time sensing of various chemicals (e.g., phosphates, residual chlorine, mercury, and E. coli) in water S

9. NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center • Provides seed funding • Guiding hand • Proven model • Best practices Collaborative Pre-competitive Industry Research • Industry Members (IAB) • Fund research • Provide general direction • Focus & prioritize research to meet member needs • Universities • World renowned scholars within reach • Students & post-doc researchers • State-of-the-art laboratories • Manage the Center • Provide matching funds through reduced overhead

10. How do companies benefit? • Network with industry peers. • Access to students with relevant hands-on experience. • Collaborate with scientists on innovative water treatment products and processes. • Member research dollars are leveraged. • Save on university research. • 10% overhead instead of 40% to 50% • Prepublication access to technical papers. • Easier access to other NSF research funding. • Royalty free access to intellectual property.

11. 35 Years of Success • 61 Centers, 168 I/UCRC Sites • Over 760 Member Organizations • Bio Energy Research and Development (CBERD) • Center for Electromagnetic Compatibility (CEMC) • Center for Fuel Cells (CFC) • Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) • Cooling Technologies Research Center (CTRC) • Laser and Plasma for Advanced Manufacturing (LPAM) • Next Generation Photovoltaics (NGPV) • Wood-Based Composites Center (WBC)

12. How does an I/UCRC Work? • IAB & Universities identify industry’s technology needs. • University scientists propose research projects. • IAB votes to prioritize and fund projects. • Principle Investigators (PIs) provide IAB with periodic updates. • Universities review WEP status to IAB semi-annually.

13. WEP’s Mission • To foster close collaboration between engineers from the water industry’s leading companies and the brightest university water research scientists. • Pursue precompetitive research that creates the next generation of products and processes and advance the water industry.

14. PR I WEP’S Guiding Principles Pursue collaboration Research for game changers Immerse in members’ businesses Student focused Manage through frequent personal contact SM

15. Your Company Additional Universities Additional Universities Industry Engineers WEP I/UCRC Collaboration University Scientists Other Companies

16. Intellectual Property Process • IP provisions are detailed in membership agreement. • Industry members review all scientific papers prior to publication. • Invention disclosures are required. • Universities & members collaborate on pursuing IP protection. • Industry members are granted royalty-free licensing.

17. How members… even competitors benefit by joining the WEP I/UCRC WEP I/UCRC members Working directly with university Pay 40% to 50% overhead on research Pay royalties for IP No access to other IP available to competitors • Pay only 10% overhead on university research • Royalty free access to IP • Access to all IP… same as member competitors Members choose to advance, customize and differentiate precompetitive research to meet their individual needs.

18. Materials Research Projects Alternative catalyst materials for bio-electrochemical systems Biofilm in water distribution systems Biomimetic antifouling coatings Lead removal using foam polymers impregnated with ZrP/TiP NPs Lead-free castings for water industry Self-cleaning materials for water industry Self-cleaning industrial components for water industry

19. Sensor Research Projects • Array chemical sensing microsystems with novel signal processing • Betavoltaic battery for powering microsensors • Chemical sensors for monitoring contaminants in aqueous environments • Guided SH-surface acoustic wave sensor array for detection and monitoring of human viruses • Hybrid nanomaterials for low-cost detection of chemicals and bacteria in water • Low-cost paper-fluidic device for the detection of extremely low concentration of heavy metals and pH • Micro-calorimeter array for real-time water quality monitoring • Molecular Biosensor for detection of TBA in groundwater • Selective detection of heavy metal ions using graphene

20. Components & Systems Projects Activated carbon filtration Advanced aeration technology Photo-electrochemical water treatment device Arsenic removal by Fe2O3/TiO2 modified Mesoporous silica Assessment of titanium dioxide photocatalysis pretreatment for granular activated carbon filtration Biochar product and processing of wastewater biosolids Biologically inspired robot for pipe inspection and repair Concurrent wastewater treatment and hydrogen production in a solar photoreactor using nanostructured catalysts

21. Components & Systems (Cont.) Cost-Effective and High-Performance Waste Water Treatment Cost-Effective Filtration Device for Grey Water Treatment and Reuse Improving aeration effectiveness Low-Cost Low-Fouling Nano-Membrane System for Water Filtration and Treatment Microbial fuel cell technology for simultaneous bioenergy production and wastewater treatment Miniature High Efficiency Transducers for Use in Ultrasonic Flow Meters Novel Hybrid Nanofiber Membranes for Removal of Multi-Pollutants from Water Nutrient-Enhanced Biochar Product and Processing of Wastewater Biosolids Photo-Electrochemical Water Treatment Device Treatment

22. 3 Year Old Center Milestones • One patent application and one in process • Three invention disclosers: • Innovative polymer foam for lead removal • Portable detection device for heavy metals • Remotely read, passive, wireless sensors using acoustic wave devices. • Migrating superhydrophobic research breakthroughs into member product development and manufacturing of self-cleaning products. • Two $200K fundamental research grants from the National Science Foundation.

23. 3 Year Old Center Milestones • $50K grant from NSF to collaborate with another I/UCRC to study the efficiency of water and wastewater treatment technologies by using inline sensors. • Submitted 10 journal papers, numerous invited talks and conference presentations, 7 graduate theses. • Center PI Mike Nosonovsky featured in the Journal Nature. • Two students hired by industry members.

24. Benefits of working with WEP Universities Benefit • Interact with industry engineers • Provide students with funded laboratory work • Prestige of NSF’s I/UCRC Program Students Benefit • Earn income • Laboratory research experience • Work with potential employers Members Benefit Network with peers Leverage research dollars Breakthrough precompetitive research Royalty-free licensing Employ brightest engineering students

25. Consumer creating the next generation of water treatment products, systems, and policy creating the next generation of water treatment products, systems, and policy Point-of-Use Technologies Industrial Municipal Emerging Contaminants Research Thrusts Market Segments Materials Systems Sustainability Strategic Thrusts Sensors & Devices Policy Reduced Energy Consumption

26. Questions