CAREER: Sustainable Urine Processes through integration of Education and Research (SUPER)

1150790-BoyerUrine分离和处理有可能从根本上改变废水管理，从而回收水、营养物质和能量，并隔离有毒污染物。尽管尿液分离和处理有潜力，但由于缺乏有效去除污染物、实用且为社会接受的工程策略，该技术尚未得到广泛实施。因此，该项目的研究目标是产生尿液中物理化学过程的新知识，以实现可持续的尿液分离、治疗和资源回收。研究的中心假设是，离子交换是一个健壮的、选择性的和可扩展的过程，因此，可以作为尿液治疗的基本策略。这个项目的教育目标是激发人们对废水管理的兴奋和更好的理解？这是一个很大程度上被社会低估的话题，因为？因素。中心的教育假设是，节水和视觉图标符号可以用来增加欣赏、增进理解和促进与废水管理相关的STEM概念的学习。研究和教育目标将通过追求四个具体目标来实现：(1)确定实现最大限度和选择性回收营养物质的尿液离子交换过程；(2)从去除效率和毒性两个方面量化离子交换去除尿液中药物的效果；(3)确定用于恢复营养物质和从来源分离的尿液中去除药物的处理策略的生命周期影响；以及(4)评价产生兴奋和提高对废水管理的理解的创新学习方法。该方法将通过实验室实验系统地评估尿液中离子交换过程的动力学、热力学和毒性；建立一个将微型离子交换与大型反应堆工程相结合的数学模型；进行尿液处理的生命周期影响评估；与佛罗里达公园管理局开发教育试点计划；与中学科学教师合作；指导本科生和研究生的研究。这项拟议的研究有望产生有关尿液中物理化学过程的新知识，并确定恢复营养、降低毒性并导致可持续生命周期的离子交换策略。该项目将与密歇根大学学前教育和培训中心(CPET)建立新的合作伙伴关系。CPET伙伴关系将通过本科生和研究生为中学科学教师举办研讨会，将他们的新知识带给他们的学生，促进教学、培训和学习。这些教育活动预计将影响儿童、学生和成人，从而产生兴奋和对废水管理的新理解。

1150790-BoyerUrine separation and treatment has the potential to radically transform wastewater management whereby water, nutrients, and energy are recovered and toxic contaminants are sequestered. Despite the potential of urine separation and treatment, it has not been widely implemented because of an absence of engineering strategies that are efficient in contaminant removal, practical to implement, and acceptable to society. Accordingly, the research objective of this project is to generate new knowledge of physicochemical processes in urine to achieve sustainable urine separation, treatment, and resource recovery. The central research hypothesis is that ion exchange is a robust, selective, and scalable process, and as such, can be used as a foundational strategy for urine treatment. The education objective of this project is to generate excitement and better understanding of wastewater management ? a topic that is largely underappreciated by society due to the ?ick? factor. The central education hypotheses are that water conservation and visual iconic symbols can be used to increase appreciation, improve understanding, and facilitate learning of STEM concepts related to wastewater management. The research and education objectives will be accomplished by pursuing four specific aims: (1) identify ion exchange processes in urine that achieve maximum and selective recovery of nutrients; (2) quantify the efficacy of ion exchange removal of pharmaceuticals from urine in terms of both removal efficiency and toxicity; (3) identify the life cycle impacts of treatment strategies used to recover nutrients and remove pharmaceuticals from source-separated urine; and (4) evaluate innovative learning approaches for generating excitement and improving understanding of wastewater management. The approach will be to systematically evaluate the kinetics, thermodynamics, and toxicity of ion exchange processes in urine through laboratory experiments; formulate a mathematical model that couples microscale ion exchange with macroscale reactor engineering; conduct life cycle impact assessment of urine treatment; develop an educational pilot program with the Florida Park Service; work with middle school science teachers; and mentor undergraduates and graduates in research. The proposed research is expected to generate new knowledge of physicochemical processes in urine and identify ion exchange strategies that recover nutrients, decrease toxicity, and lead to a sustainable life cycle. The project will establish a new partnership with the UF Center for Precollegiate Education and Training (CPET). The CPET partnership will promote teaching, training, and learning through undergraduate and graduate students hosting workshops for middle school science teachers who will bring their new knowledge back to their students. The educational activities are expected to impact children, students, and adults thereby generating excitement and new understanding of wastewater management.