Projets novateurs réalisés

GPU-based implementation of a multifactor term structure model

The corner stone of the project is GPU-based implementation of a multifactor term structure model. The project aims to Implement a “typical” advanced pricing model, such as LMM, using OpenCL, a C language-based open standard for parallel computing; Test the prototype against more conventional benchmark implementations; e.g. a pre-existing implementation based on QuIC Script, QuIC’s proprietary scripting language; Obtain performance metrics that are clear enough for QuIC management to make an informed decision about whether further investment is warranted. It is of interest to QuIC to investigate the possibility of extending its existing software platform to accommodate its own native GPU-based financial modeling capabilities.

Production of n-alkanes by In-situ Hydrogenation and Decarboxylation of Unsaturated Fatty Acid with hydrogen donor

This research topic has significant potential industrial application as it can convert waste (or industrially unusable) fatty acids into fully saturated fatty acids by hydrogenation, then decarboxylation to long hydrocarbon chains. Catalyst is a fundamental aspect to many chemical reactions, where many important laboratory and industrial processes are dependent on carefully selected catalyst to operate. Majority of this research project will be dedicated to finding the right catalyst by prepare and screen various catalysts that might be suitable for decarboxylation and hydrogenation reactions. Co-precipitation will be used to precipitate out fine particles and form catalysts to be used. A microreactor will be used to allow greater range of conditions to be tested while exercise finer micro process control. Various detection method such x-ray diffraction, TEM, will be used to identify the product and the catalyst used by mapping its detailed molecular structure.

Ammonia nitrogen removal from wastewater by anaerobic-aerobic fluidized bed

Recent decades have seen an increase in nitrogen concentration in bodies of water as a result of human activity. High nitrogen concentrations in water are toxic to humans and can be harmful to the environment. The purpose of the research project to be performed at the Zhejiang University of Technology is the study of the hydraulic characteristics associated with removal of ammonia nitrogen from wastewater treated in an anaerobic-aerobic fluidized bed bioreactor. There is a need to study the hydraulic characteristics of the proposed process in order to determine optimal reactor conditions for ammonia nitrogen removal. The goal of this study is to
see if high removal efficiencies of both nitrogen and chemical oxygen demand (COD) are possible in the proposed process. Removal efficiencies of greater than 90% for nitrogen and greater than 80% for COD are expected.

Caking of crystal particles and the inhibition : Effect of adhesion free energy

Caking, in the crystallization field, also known as agglomeration, is a phenomenon that can be defined as the process of formation of clumps or masses rather than flow smoothly. There are several factors involved in determining the degree of caking including but not limited to: the substance’s particle surface chemistry, particle size and particle-size distribution, particle shape, and environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. Since it allows for powders or crystals to clump up, caking of crystals can be very problematic in industrial settings where a steady flow is required at all times for smooth operations, otherwise resulting in the loss of quality and function of a product. Thus, this research project seeks to study the mechanism of caking and how to inhibit it, to be able to prevent future problems such as the one described above. This will be accomplished based on calculations of adhesion free energy of the particles in study while applying the Lifshitz–van der Waals acid-base theory. TO BE CONT’D

Raman spectroscopic study on the solubility of CO2 in water in a fused silica capillary reactor

With the development of social and economic structures, and an increase in energy consumption, the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere has increased rapidly. This increase is regarded as one of the greatest factors in global warming. Capturing CO2 from large stationary sources and inject it into deep saline aquifers is being considered as part of a possible mitigation strategy to reduce anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. However, in order to make this a reality, it is necessary to enhance the reliability of numerical simulations for CO2 storage capacity of specific saline aquifers. This project will use the experimental method to measure the solubility of CO2 in water from 293 to 363K and from 3MPa to 30MPa. The data collected should provide the CO2 solubility data needed to increase the numerical reliability. The end goal is to move a step closer to making the storage of CO2 in saline aquifers a safe and plausible way to reduce the emissions that are a leading factor in global warming.

Size dependant catalytic behaviour of supported Cu nanoparticles on CeO2 in ethanol synthesis from methyl acetate

Ethanol is a versatile feedstock that is extremely beneficial. A new route of EtOH synthesis from syngas via dimethyl ether carbonylation and methyl acetate hydrogenation has been proposed. This is environmentally friendly and efficient. Throughout this research, the relationship between the nature of MA activation and the size of the supported Cu nanoparticles will be analyzed, in order to illuminate the size effect of Cu/CeO2 catalysts on catalytic properties in ester hydrogenation reactions. In this lab CuCl and dimethyl sulfoxide are used to prepare different CuOx nanoparticles. The reactivity evaluations will be carried out on a continuous-flow heterogeneous reactor and analyzed on an online Agilent Micro GC 6820. The textual and catalytic properties of the catalysts are also analyzed. With this data there may be a proof of adsorption or activation of methoxy and acyl species on the surface of CeO2. Overall the goal is to find the induction period in the beginning of the reaction which could be dependent on the size of Cu nanoparticles.

Amplifying the Developmental Impact of the Ernest C. Manning Youth Innovation Awards: An Evidence-Based Design for the First Canadian Youth Innovator Mentorship Network

By studying the key features of these top achieving youth innovators, we will gather evidence via research to learn more about what drives them, what supports they need and how mentors (anywhere) can be engaged well to support them. The result of the project will be an organization and process design for the development of the first (online) Canadian youth mentorship network aimed at connecting youth to important people, expertise, knowledge and institutions. There is too little research and support for our high-achieving young Canadian innovators. This project answers that need by extending from a rewards program into a youth development network, with cognisance that there is a network of Adult Innovation Award winners that could, with careful design, be further developed by the Foundation to mentor youth innovators.

Modélisation de la compaction d’une boue rouge sous l’action d’un râteau

Les systèmes de raclage sont répandus dans les procédés de séparation solide-liquide des industries minières. Même si leurs effets sont connus depuis de nombreuses années, leurs mécanismes d’action restent encore mal connus. Le calcul du rendement de ces équipements est donc pour le mieux approximatif. De plus, les industries minières doivent constamment améliorer leurs procédés afin de rester compétitives. Une meilleure compréhension phénoménologique des équipements faciliterait leur amélioration et permettrait une évaluation plus juste de leur rendement.
L’objectif du projet consiste à concevoir un outil de calcul qui permet de simuler et de prévoir l’épaississement produit par un équipement de raclage à l’aide d’essais expérimentaux. Les propriétés de la boue et la configuration géométrique de l’équipement seront des paramètres d’entrée. La fraction solide de la boue sera la variable de sortie de l’outil.

Kinetic and Reactor Models for Sugar-to-Glycol Conversion

The sustainable use of forest- and agriculture-based resources to produce clean fuels and value-added chemicals is an opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated by non-renewable fossil fuels. Glycol, a valuable industrial chemical, can be derived from sugars that originate from agricultural and forest waste and byproducts using a catalytic process. S2G Biochem, located in Vancouver, is working to develop and demonstrate technology to convert sugars and polyols to glycols. This study is intended to simulate an existing pilot plant unit facility in S2G Biochem using computational methods and then utilize the results to improve the design and performance of a commercial-scale unit.

Deconvolution of Whole Blood Transcriptome based on mRNA-Seq data

Gene expression in blood is highly affected by the type and proportion blood cells. Therefore, cell composition needs to be taken into account when looking for signatures specific to a condition. The issue is that cell composition needs to be assessed on fresh blood, i.e. at time of blood collection. If this has not been done, the only way one can assess is by predicting it using a methodology suggested in this proposal. Therefore, if blood cell count is not available, the cell composition can be inferred from existing next generation sequencing data sets. This would help researchers being able to use their existing datasets or publicly available data that do not have corresponding blood composition information.

Study on Alkylation of Benzene with Methanol over ZSM-5 Zeolite with controllable Internal and External Surface Acidity

The research project is studying the reaction of benzene to produce toluene and xylene is very useful as both of these products have great commercial value. The challenge that is being researched is to make this reaction more efficient by minimizing the sub-reactions that happen simultaneously, specifically the reaction of methanol to olefins. These sub-reactions tend to interfere with the main reaction and cause less of an output of the desired product. In order to minimize these reactions, Zeolites (which are porous minerals that can be taken from nature or synthesized artificially and act at a catalyst for certain reactions) will be manipulated to control the reaction. The varying aspect will be the acidity of the surface of the Zeolite that will inhibit the methanol from reacting into olefins.

Network Analysis of the Ontario Technology StartUp Innovation Ecosystem

The purpose of this research project is to explore, in more detail, the technology innovation ecosystem in Ontario with particular focus on mapping the network of existing relationships between start-ups, investors and supporting networks (i.e., incubators, innovation clusters and accelorators such as MaRs Innovation, MaRs Discovery District and various associations which include those servicing angel and venture capital investors locally and nationally). The focus of the research will be to deepen our understanding of the connections among the elements of the ecosystem and the strength (or absence of) network ties.

1. Who are the players in the innovation ecosystem?

2. What is their role?

3. How are they inter-related?

4. What factors influence these relationships? (e.g., geographic, business activity, reputation, concentrations of connections, etc?)

5. Where in the overall innovation network are there areas of relatively low connectivity (i.e., Structural Holes, Burt, 1995) where interventions could be designed and applied to increase venture capital access and productivity?