Project:  Capacitive Deionization Water Purifier

SEAS students received an Undergraduate Research Award to work on their water purification project.  The team members are:  Travis Bufler (Darrtown, OH), Christopher Green (Ottawa Ontario, Canada), John Lyons (Avon Lake, OH), Jorge Toro (Cary, NC), and Joseph Terbrueggen (Fairfield, OH).

The purpose of this project is to research and analyze the capabilities of capacitive deionization (CDI) technology utilizing carbon aerogel as a means of water filtration.  Current research has shown that CDI is effective at removing salt from brackish water, and industrial and civil implementations have been purposed.  Their research will focus on designing an affordable, small scale CDI solution for use in regions lacking infrastructure, as well as testing the ability of CDI to remove other pollutants such as microorganisms, heavy metals, and organic compounds.

A working prototype will be manufactured and its purification performance thoroughly analyzed by the conclusion of the spring school semester, 2010.  As contaminated drinking water is one of leading causes of death in the third world, research and development of technologies such as CDI promise to save thousands, if not millions, of lives.  Even in industrialized nations such as the United States, purifying brackish water could help regions suffering water shortages.  Such research requires extensive knowledge in the fields of design, mechanical, electrical, and thermo fluid engineering.

Check back this summer for more on the project, and photos of the prototype!