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1. Helping to Make Pee Potable: Michigan Tech Scientists Optimize New Space Station Water System |
by Marcia Goodrich, senior writer
Two hundred and fifty miles above the Earth puts you a long way from the nearest kitchen tap. And at $10,000 a pint, the cost of shipping fresh water aboard the space shuttle is, well, astronomical.
So astronauts on the International Space Station have to recapture every possible drop. That includes water evaporated from showers, shaving, tooth brushing and hand washing, plus perspiration and water vapor that collects within the astronauts' space suits. They even transfer water from the fuel cells that provide electric power to the space shuttle.
Until now, however, NASA has not attempted to tap one major potential source of water: urine. But that will soon change with the deployment of the new Water Recovery System. It departs Nov. 14 from the Kennedy Space Center on the Space Shuttle Endeavor.
The Water Recovery System, made possible in part by researchers at Michigan Tech, can transform ordinary pee into water so pure it rivals the cleanest on Earth.
David Hand was the lead researcher on the project, which ran from 1993 to 1997 at Tech. It was a memorable time. "We received jars of sweat from NASA," he said. "Then we did experiments on the system, measured it at every step, evaluated it and made recommendations."
Under the new system, urine undergoes an initial distillation process and then joins the rest of the recovered fluids in the water processor. The processor filters out solids such as hair and lint and then sends the wastewater through a series of multifiltration beds, in which contaminants are removed through adsorption and ion exchange.
"What's left over in the water are a few non-adsorbing organics and solvents, like nail polish remover, and they go into a reactor that breaks them all down to carbon dioxide, water and a few ions," said Hand, a professor of civil and environmental engineering.
After a final check for microbes, the water is again clean and ready to drink.
NASA's Layne Carter, the Water Recovery System lead engineer, credits Hand and the rest of the Tech research team with making the system as good as it is. "Without a doubt, if it hadn't been for their modeling effort, we never would have been able to redesign the multifiltration beds and achieve that level of efficiency," Carter said. "They did a fantastic job."
Using mathematical models, the Tech researchers helped improve the overall design of the multifiltration beds. The redesigned beds have 30 percent more capacity, which means that NASA doesn't have to send about 60 pounds of additional supplies up to the space station annually. "That may seem trivial, but it saves NASA about $600,000 each year," Carter said.
Researchers sometimes feel that their discoveries end up lost in space, and indeed, Hand was pleasantly surprised to learn that the team's work was finally being put to its intended use. "We made our recommendations, and then we didn't hear from them for 10 years," he said, noting that NASA follows a painstaking certification process before deploying new equipment. "Next thing we know, the Water Recovery System is going up to the International Space Station. Isn't that neat?"
Other Michigan Tech researchers who worked on the project were, from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), former faculty member John Crittenden, research chemist David Perram, analytical chemist Jackie Leshkevich, former research engineers David Hokanson and John Bulloch and research assistant Shelle Sandell; and, from the Department of Chemical Engineering (CE), Professor Michael Mullins, Associate Professor Tony Rogers and former research engineer Andrew Kline. Graduate students who worked on the project included Anisa Ali (CEE), Mike Debraske (CEE), Brooke Clancy Routhier (CEE), Ji Yang (CEE), Eric Oman (CEE), Louis Kindt (CE), Dinorah Audeves (CE) and Changlin Huang (CE). |
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2. Reminder: Enrollment Open for 2009 Employee Benefits Through Dec. 3 |
Open enrollment for the 2009 benefits package started last Monday, Nov. 3, and will run until Wednesday, Dec. 3. Please log into your Employee Self Service and complete the open enrollment process to choose your benefits for 2009. It is very important that employees complete this before Dec. 3. Please refer to the open enrollment website at www.admin.mtu.edu/hro/TechSelect/index.shtml for detailed information on the 2009 benefits.
The benefit summaries of the HuskyCare PPO and HuskyCare HSA (including dental) have been updated on the website.
Open enrollment forums scheduled for this week will be held in Memorial Union Ballroom B2 and B3. A representative from Aetna Insurance will also be available at the forums this week. Times for the forums are:
*Wednesday at 2 p.m.
*Wednesday at 6 p.m.
*Thursday at 10 a.m.
Please check the website for the open enrollment forum schedule; forums will be held throughout the enrollment. If you have any questions, please email Renee Hiller at rlhiller@mtu.edu or call 487-2517. |
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3. Please Remove Wooden Sign Advertising Boards |
All of the wood sign boards used at the entrances of buildings to advertise fraternity parties and other events must be removed for the winter. The Grounds Department will not be responsible for any damage caused by the snow plows. The equipment operators will not leave their equipment to move the sign boards if they are in the way.
If you have questions please contact Andy Niemi at agniemi@mtu.edu or 487-2722. |
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4. On the Road |
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Associate Professor Dana M. Johnson (SBE) was an invited panelist at the Social Dimensions of Sustainable Biofuels Conference at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, sponsored by the Sloan Foundation. Her presentation was entitled, "Balancing Business, Economic and Societal Dimensions in Biomass Alternative Energy Technology Decisions." |
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5. "From Garbage to Stuff: How We Recycle Plastics" Nov. 12 |
William F. Carroll will give a talk, “From Garbage to Stuff: How We Recycle Plastics” on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m. in Chem Sci 102.
This presentation discusses the four critical steps in recycling--collection, separation, reprocessing and remanufacture--and how they relate to plastics. The technology, the cost and the efficacy of the processes all matter. And the operative word, plastics, really is plural. The presentation includes a primer in the basic kinds of plastics, how they differ and how they're used in common articles, especially packaging. The presenter brings a few common articles for demonstrations and promises not to recycle an old quote from "The Graduate."
Carroll is vice president for Chlorovinyl Issues at OxyChem in Dallas and works on public policy issues and communications related to chlorine and PVC. He is an adjunct professor of chemistry at Indiana University, Bloomington, and teaches polymer chemistry there. He has previously served as president of the American Chemical Society.
This seminar is sponsored by the Upper Peninsula Section of the American Chemical Society and is open to the public. |
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6. Trouble Online: Campus Computing and the Law (CL Lindsay) |
In 1998, attorney C.L. Lindsay III left his practice in New York City to found the Coalition for Student and Academic Rights (CO-STAR). Since then, acting as its executive director, he has built CO-STAR into a national student rights organization that helps thousands of college students with their legal problems, free of charge, each year.
Lindsay will present "Trouble Online: Campus Computing and the Law" on Monday, Nov. 17, at 7:30 p.m. in the Rozsa Center. This is a free event sponsored by the Office of Information Technology.
Topics presented include the following:
*how your Facebook and MySpace pages can come back to haunt you
*plagiarism and intellectual property online
*potential employers and online information: the content of your MySpace page can undermine future job opportunities
*computing privacy: the dangers of Internet predators obtaining personal information and how posting underage drinking on the Internet can result in problems
Lindsay is a nationally recognized expert and leader in the field of student rights and academic freedom. His syndicated column, "Ask CO-STAR," is distributed nationwide on Knight Ridder/Tribune's College Wire Service. The column, published weekly, has become one of Knight Ridder/Tribune's most popular features.
He is also the author of "The College Student's Guide to the Law: Get a Grade Changed, Keep Your Stuff Private, Throw a Police-Free Party, and More!" published in August 2005 by Taylor Trade Publishing. He has appeared on national television and radio and has been featured in countless regional and national publications, including US News & World Report, the Chronicle of Higher Education, the Review of Higher Education, The Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, New York Daily News, Newsday, CBS News Radio, Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane (NPR), the Sally Jesse Raphael Show, College Bound Teen and the Christian Science Monitor.
He graduated magna cum laude from Denison University and received his JD from the University of Michigan. In his spare time, he teaches courses in law and literature at the University of Pennsylvania. |
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7. Seminar Thursday on Atomic Layer Deposition, Nanomaterials |
Professor John F. Conley Jr. from Oregon State University will give a presentation on Thursday, Nov. 13 at 3p.m. in MEEM U115.
His presentation is entitled "Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) Assisted Surface Modification and Directed Growth of Nanomaterials."
Conley is brought to the University through the efforts of the Multi-Scale Technologies Institute (MuSTI), the electrical and computer engineering department and the mechanical engineering-engineering mechanics department. |
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8. Physics Colloquium Thursday |
Boris E. Nadgorny from Wayne State University will present a physics colloquium entitled “Exploring Spin Transport and Ferromagnetism with Andreev Reflection Spectroscopy” on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 4 p.m. in Fisher 139.
Nadgorny is an associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Wayne State University. He came to Wayne State in 2001, after spending four years at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC, as an ASEE/ONR Fellow, where he worked on spin transport, magnetism and superconductivity.
For more information, contact Ranjit Pati at patir@mtu.edu or 487-3193 or Claudio Mazzoleni at cmazzoleni@mtu.edu or 487-1226. |
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9. MSE Seminar Friday |
Yongmei Jin of the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University will give a seminar, "Modeling and Simulation of Microstructure Evolution in Crystalline Solids," on Friday, Nov. 14, from 3 to 4 p.m. in M&M 610.
His visit is sponsored by the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. For more information,contact Margaret Rothenberger at mproth@mtu.edu . |
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10. Sports in Brief |
What’s Happening This Week
Wednesday, Nov. 7
Huskies Drive Time, 7:30-8 a.m., live on 93.5 FM
Men’s Basketball at Michigan State, 7 p.m., live radio (93.5 FM) and live TV (Big Ten Network)
Volleyball at #8 Grand Valley State, 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 9
Blue Line Club Luncheon, noon, Grant Hockey Educational Center
#13 Hockey hosts St. Cloud State, 7:07 p.m., live on 93.5 FM
Tuesday, Nov. 11
Men’s Basketball at Michigan, 7 p.m. Live radio (Mix 93.5 FM) and live TV, (ESPNU)
Wednesday, Nov. 12
Huskies Drive Time, 7:30-8 a.m., live on 93.5 FM
Men’s Basketball vs. IUPUI/Northeastern, 5/8 p.m. at Ann Arbor, live on Mix 93.5 FM
Volleyball hosts Saginaw Valley State, 7 p.m. (GLIAC Tournament Quarterfinal)
Saturday, Nov. 15
Volleyball at GLIAC Tournament (Site and Time TBA)
Hockey at No. 4 Minnesota, 2:07 p.m. live radio (Mix 93.5 FM) and live TV (FSN North)
No. 7 Women’s Basketball vs. UW-Parkside, 5:30 p.m. in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., live on Mix 93.5 FM
Men’s Basketball vs. UW-Parkside, 5:30 p.m. in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., live on Mix 93.5 FM)
Sunday, Nov. 16
Volleyball at GLIAC Tournament (Site and Time TBA)
Hockey at No. 4 Minnesota, 2:07 p.m., live on radio (Mix 93.5 FM) and TV (FSN North)
No. 7 Women’s Basketball vs. Lewis, 5:30 p.m., in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., live on Mix 93.5 FM
Men’s Basketball vs. Lewis, 5:30 p.m., in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., live on Mix 93.5 FM
Last Week’s Results
Hockey (2-6-0, 1-5-0 WCHA)
Nov. 7: at Wisconsin 3, Michigan Tech 2
Nov. 8: at Wisconsin 6, Michigan Tech 0
Football (8-3, 7-3 GLIAC)
Nov. 8: Michigan Tech 25, at Northwood 13
Volleyball (19-9, 12-4 GLIAC)
Nov. 7: at Michigan Tech 3, No. 2 Grand Valley State 1 (25-23, 25-20, 22-25, 25-19)
Nov. 8: at Michigan Tech 3, Ferris State 0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-17)
Women’s Basketball (0-0, 0-0 GLIAC)
Nov. 6: at UW-Milwaukee 70, Michigan Tech 61, OT
Cross Country
Nov. 8: Michigan Tech men 11th of 19 teams; women 15 of 18 NCAA Midwest Regional (at Big Rapids, Mich.)
Top News of the Week
Volleyball Clinches Home Playoff Match
The Michigan Tech volleyball team swept its final two home matches to earn a home court advantage in the first round of the GLIAC Tournament Wednesday (Nov. 12). The Huskies finished the regular season at 19-9 and 12-4 in the league and will the the No. 2 seed in the GLIAC North Division. They will host the No. 3 seed in the North Division Saginaw Valley State (21-6, 11-5 GLIAC) at 7 p.m. at the SDC Gym. The winner will advance to the league tournament semifinal Saturday (Nov. 15) at the site of the semifinalist with the best league record.
Men's Basketball Set to Play at Michigan Tuesday
The Michigan Tech men’s basketball team will take part in the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer Tuesday (Nov. 11) and Wednesday (Nov. 12) at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor. The Huskies will face Michigan on day one of the tournament in a game that will be televised by ESPNU live at 7 p.m. Tech will play either IUPUI or Northeastern in day two of the classic at either 5 p.m. or 8 p.m. The winner of the Ann Arbor regional of the 2K Sports Classic will earn a spot in the championship round at Madison Square Garden in New York on Nov. 20-21.
Football Huskies Finish on Doorstep of Playoffs
Michigan Tech finished as one of only three teams since 1974 with eight wins, but just missed the program’s second NCAA Playoff berth. The Huskies were not one of the six teams from Super Regional Three selected for the playoffs. All six except Ashland (which defeated Tech head-to-head) had better records than Michigan Tech’s final 8-3 mark.
Hockey on Road to Minnesota
The Michigan Tech hockey team will play a rare Saturday-Sunday series against WCHA leader Minnesota this weekend (Nov. 15-16). Game time is set for 2:07 p.m. (ET) time both days, and the games will be televised live on FSN North.
Cross Country Wraps Up 2008 Campaign
Both the Michigan Tech men's and women's cross country seasons came to end at the Midwest Regional Championships hosted by Ferris State. Sophomore Brian Stetter and senior Laura Kangas both placed 48th to lead their respective teams. The men scored 327 to place 11th, while the women finished in 15th place, one spot better than Northern Michigan, with a score of 362.
Women's Hoops Forces Overtime at UW-Milwaukee
Michigan Tech held UW-Milwaukee to 19 first half points and led by as many as 11 in the second half but couldn’t close out the win over the NCAA Division I team last Thursday (Nov. 6). The host Panthers tied the game with three seconds left and won 70-61 in overtime. Sarah Stream (18 points, 8 rebounds) and Katie Wysocky (17 points, 11 rebounds) combined for 35 of the Huskies’ 61 points. |
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11. New Funding |
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Terry McNinch (LTAP) has received $138,221 from the Michigan Department of Transportation for "TMAC Training 2009." |
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12. Free Furniture from Information Technology Services |
Information Technology Services has the following pieces of furniture to give away:
*executive desk with a walnut laminate top measuring three feet by 70 inches
*several metal tables with a walnut finish measuring three feet by four, five and six feet
*two metal Steelcase desks with walnut tops measuring three feet by five feet
*two gray wall panels measuring 24 inches by 62 inches
*five bookshelves with a walnut finish measuring seven feet tall
If you are interested in any of these items, please stop by the EERC basement or call Diane Koskela at 487-0076.
University property may only be transferred between departments; it may not be given or sold to individuals. |
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