Development of novel UV reactors operating with microplasma technology for water treatment

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This research program applies an emerging technological opportunity to address an important health/environmental challenge associated with clean drinking water. Microcavity plasma or "microplasma" lighting technology is a new light source capable of generating ultraviolet (UV) radiation of different wavelengths in a slim and flat form. This technology creates the opportunity for the development of novel UV-based water purifiers, thereby expanding the reach and applicability of UV technology, which has come to be considered one of the best water purification alternatives in the last few years. In the proposed research program, we plan to investigate how certain distinctive features of microplasma UV can be utilized to significantly improve water purification. We will study the fundamentals of microplasma UV for water treatment and its application in the development of novel UV reactors. Further, we will investigate the impact of several unique characteristics of microplasma UV, which are likely to result in much more efficient methods of water purification. Furthermore, we will simulate, design, and fabricate original microplasma UV reactor prototypes to identify the capabilities of this emerging technology for water purification as well as its new potential applications. Collectively, our team has over 30 years of experience in industry, academia, and communities on the development and application of UV reactors. We have strong support and partnership with three Canadian UV companies that contribute industrial expertise and provide a potential pathway to commercialization of the technology. Our international collaborator is a world-leading manufacturer of UV microplasma irradiators. We expect this project to result in the development of a new generation of highly efficient UV photoreactors with special features, which could potentially be marketed within a short few years of the completion of the project. The financial benefits, potentially amounting to millions of dollars, will likely be capitalized upon by Canadian manufacturers of UV reactors with substantial global sales.