Mathematical Model of Electrolytic Wastewater Treatment Cell

The purpose of this project is to mathematically model the process of electrochemical wastewater treatment in an effort to expedite the formulation of design parameters and increase the viability of such a treatment system. An electrochemical cell is a specific example of a physical system with multiple interfaces. These interfaces are characteristic of systems with phase boundaries or boundaries between insulators, conductors and semi conductors. Since these types of systems share so many similar features with one another, it should be possible to model all of them in a similar fashion.

There are two objectives of the proposal. The first is to develop a general, systematic framework for modeling systems with interfaces. This is a crucial first step that must be completed before the second objective of the research may begin The second objective is to develop a robust mathematical model for an electrolytic treatment cell. This is because modeling a system with interfaces carries particular challenges. Far away from the interface one may make a number of approximations that significantly reduce the complexity of the model allowing one to obtain a reasonable solution. However, near the interface such approximations are no longer valid. Some of these are listed below.

Faculty Supervisor:

Dr. Mary Pugh

Student:

Tyler Wilson

Partner:

Xogen Technologies

Discipline:

Mathematics

Sector:

Construction and infrastructure

University:

University of Toronto