Title: Produced Water Treatment with Smart Materials for Reuse in Energy Exploration
Start Date: 03/01/2016
End Date: 02/28/2019
Project Funds Requested: $182,932
Principle Investigator: Dongmei (Katie) Li, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical
Engineering, University of Wyoming, dli1@uwyo.edu, (307) 766-3592
Non-Technical Statement of Relevance to Wyoming Water Development:
Both energy industry and the citizens of Wyoming are concerned with our limited resources of
water. While energy companies are facing the constraints of availability and cost of water in the
energy production loop, Wyomingites are mostly concerned with the potential detrimental
environmental impact of produced water if it is not disposed properly. Concerns from both sides
boil down to a group of chemicals that are often referred to as dissolved organic compounds (DOC)
or dissolved organic matters (DOM) (referred to as DOC hereafter). Since DOC are often found
to be above a critical concentration, they tend aggregate, consequently causing unexpected subsurface pore plugging during energy exploration activities. In addition, DOC are often found in
aquifers, resulting in environmental concerns. Therefore, the focus of the proposal is to evaluate
the feasible pathways from an engineering perspective to break down the DOC to smaller, harmless
molecules such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and water. To achieve this overarching goal, smart
nanoparticles will be applied to modify commercial water/oil separation module surfaces. Starting
from commercial separation modules will expedite future process transfer to large-scale water
treatment facilities. As such, the proposed technology will benefit energy industry economically
and socially, and the citizens of Wyoming by allowing responsible and sustainable energy
exploration.
1
Title: Produced Water Treatment with Smart Materials for Reuse in Energy Exploration
Abstract
Hydraulic fracturing, also referred to as Hydrofracturing, has enabled the economical recovery of
gas and oil from the unconventional reservoirs, such as Marcellus Shale and Niobrara. Produced
water refers to the water that returns to the surface, typically 10 to 30% of the original injected
amount. The produced water is composed of the original components in the fracturing fluid as well
as any materials that may have entered it through its contact with the surrounding geology and
groundwater, which generally results in an aqueous mixture rich in organic and inorganic
substances. Produced water management has been discussed and reported by government agencies
and industrial partners. The soluble organics often result in problematic re-injection of the
produced water (for pressure control), such as unpredictable pore plugging of the fractures, when
used to make up part of the hydraulic fracturing fluid. However, to remove the dissolved organic
compounds (DOC) requires advanced water treatment that can be as costly as $8/barrel in
Wyoming. One of the primary reasons for high costs results from fouling on commercial surface
treatment facilities caused by DOC. The fouling issue is a concern because it results in decreased
process efficiency and, consequently, increased operating and capital costs. Here we propose to
develop hybrid membranes by depositing smart materials, such as TiO2 nanoparticles, onto
commercial membranes (the central pieces of a commercial water/oil separation module) via a
recently developed technique in the Li lab. Thanks to the photo-oxidative and hydrophilic
properties of smart materials, the hybrid membrane allows decomposition of DOC, consequently
breaking up aggregations of organic molecules before the formation of much larger particles. As
such, the proposed technology prevents pore plugging when rejecting produced water as part of
the hydraulic fracturing fluid, providing a cost-effective reuse in energy exploration loop and,
alleviating environmental concerns of the citizens of Wyoming.
2
Title: Produced Water Treatment with Smart Materials for Reuse in Energy Exploration
Statement of critical regional or State water problem: Due to the vast amount of water used in
hydrofracturing process, the cost of produced water treatment and the availability of water
resources have become barriers for hydrofracturing in Wyoming. The proposed research addresses
these challenges by developing hybrid membranes that can self-clean their surfaces, in addition to
increase clean water flux, which provides a cost-effective, energy-efficient produced water
treatment approach for reuse.
Statement of results or benefits: We anticipate that this project will generate the following
outcomes: 1) Novel hybrid membranes that can decompose dissolved organics in produced water,
consequently reducing water treatment costs in capital and operation and enabling hydrofracturing
practice in acrid areas in Wyoming. 2) Generation of testing data related to water recovery for
different produced water chemistries. Due to the complex nature of produced water chemistry,
addressing the dissolved organics in produced has been challenging on a well-to-well base. Since
the proposed TiO2 nanoparticles can decompose the organics by the radicals generated by photon,
the hybrid membranes can self-clean without the need to ‘identify’ those compounds. 3) Through
PI’s existing partnership with service and exploration companies, water sample from the drilling
field will be tested, increasing our understanding on whether and how the treated produced water
can be reused for irrigation and hydrofracturing.
Nature, scope, and objectives of the project and a timetable of activities: We are proposing
the construction of hybrid membranes consisting of a continuous polymer phase that contains pore
structures that will be modified by TiO2 nanoparticles with well-controlled size and distribution
density via both wet-chemistry and Plasma Enhanced Atomic Layer Deposition (PEALD). The
unique functionalities of TiO2 nanoparticles have been well recognized, studied and applied to
tailor membrane structures to mitigate fouling and enhance flux. Although there is no limitation
on the starting membrane materials, we will primarily focus on use of microfiltration (MF) and
reverse osmosis (RO) polymeric membrane supports since they span the range of pore sizes used
in produced water treatment systems, where oftentimes MF was used as a pretreatment step for
RO desalination in produced water treatment. We will modify commercial flat membrane samples
and test them in bench scale module in the PI’s lab. Briefly, to fabricate a hybrid membrane
material, TiO2, as small as 1-2 nm, will be deposited onto a polymer membrane substrate via
solution and vapor deposition approaches. While traditional in-situ nanoparticles deposition has
been problematic due to nanoparticle aggregation, the proposed approach will take advantage of
cutting-edge surface chemistry by adding a short, semi-rigid polymer chain so that the
nanoparticles can be deposited on the substrate surface ‘indirectly’, with a bonding agent guiding
the deposition to minimize nanoparticle aggregation and a strengthened bonding between the
nanoparticle and modified substrate surface as shown in Fig. 1.
Figure 1. Guided Nanoparticle Deposition with Strengthened Bonding Between Membrane Substrate and
Nanoparticles
3
For comparison, Plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition
(PEALD) will be employed since vapor phase deposition
historically provides more accurate control in deposition
density and . Before the PEALD deposition, the membrane
surface will go through plasma treatment to enhance
adhesion between TiO2 nanoparticles and membrane
surface. The nanoscale deposited particle size is achieved
by the nature of atomic layer deposition (ALD), which
consists of two half reactions in vapor phase, resulting in its
self-limiting nature [Figure 2]. By simply controlling the
Figure 2. Schematic of ALD
number of ALD cycles, the size of deposited TiO2
nanoparticles can be accurately controlled. In addition, the
density of hydroxyl groups on the membrane surface before
ALD deposition is proportional to the density of the deposited TiO2, which can be adjusted by
tuning both the number of ALD cycles and surface plasma treatment process parameter [25, 26].
The notable innovations of this proposal are twofold: 1) the ability to integrate TiO2 nanoparticles
onto a polymer support surface with a controlled distribution density, particle size; 2) to construct
such hybrid membranes with polymer membranes of different pore sizes and structures (MF and
RO). These innovations will enable a tremendous acceleration in the pace of anti-fouling hybrid
membrane development, especially for the energy sector, such as produced water reuse, by
significantly reducing fouling caused by dissolved organic compound, while enhancing clean
water flux, thanks to the photo-oxidative and hydrophilic properties of TiO2 nanoparticles. Not
only does this innovative approach present a more controllable platform for optimizing the
antifouling and flux enhancement functionalities TiO2 nanoparticles allow, but also it does so in a
fashion that is potentially translatable to facile manufacturing scale-up [7].
Related Research and Preliminary Results from Li Lab
To reduce fouling and improve membrane performance including permeation enhancement,
thermal and mechanical stabilities, nanoparticles have been implemented either to modify
membrane surface or use them as filler to achieve different morphology. Among the nanoparticles
used for antifouling hybrid membranes, TiO2 is one of the most studied nanoparticles due to its
photo-catalytic, hydrophilic properties. However, there exist several disadvantages in current
manufacturing approaches of implementing TiO2 nanoparticles into membranes, where the
following sol-gel wet-chemistry approaches were often applied to implement the nanoparticles: 1)
dip coat a membrane in colloidal nanoparticle suspension; or 2) dip coat a membrane in
nanoparticle precursor solution; or 3) directly incorporate commercially available nanoparticles
into polymeric membrane casting solution. Due to the lack of precise control over deposition sites,
hybrid membrane using above manufacturing methods resulted in well-known particle aggregation
issue on membrane surfaces. However, our guided nanoparticle deposition technique shows the
potential of addressing this challenge, as shown in Figure 3.
4
180
water flux [L/(m2*h)]
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Figure 3. Deionized water flux comparison among different substrates: 1) PVDF – neat
commercial membrane; 2) PVDF-Ti2O: nanoparticle deposition with the guiding bonds; 3)
PDVF/xhDA/Ti2O: dopamine coating before TiO2 nanoparticle deposition, with x being the
number of hours used for dopamine self-polymerization time.
Results above (Figure 3) showed that without the guiding bonds, DI water flux decreased,
compared to the neat, microfiltration PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) membrane. With the DA
guiding bonds, the water flux actually increased compared to the neat membrane, most likely due
to the increased surface hydrophilicity. To test the antifouling properties of the guided deposition
processes, we recently used a standard protein, Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) on the various
membranes. As shown in Figure 4, four hour DA together TiO2 nanoparticle deposition resulted
in best anti-fouling behavior, since the ratio of different water flux are defined as: 1) Jw1 = DI
water flux before BSA testing; 2) Jw2 = DI water flux after BSA testing; 3) Jp: water flux with
BSA in the solution. FRR, Rf, Rr and Rir are defined as flux ratios:
5
FRR
Rt
Rr
Rir
100%
80%
Percentage
60%
40%
20%
0%
-20%
-40%
-60%
-80%
Figure 4. Antifouling behavior of various substrates: 1) PVDF – neat commercial membrane;
2) PVDF-Ti2O: nanoparticle deposition with the guiding bonds; 3) PDVF/xhDA/Ti2O:
dopamine coating before TiO2 nanoparticle deposition, with x being the number of hours used
for dopamine self-polymerization time.
Since
Proposed Project Objectives
In situ photo-oxidative, hydrophilic TiO2 nanoparticles deposited via easily scalable ALD process
may have the potential to heavily impact the field of cost-effective, sustainable produced water
treatment by enhancing water flux and minimizing fouling caused by organic matters. To
investigate the potential of this novel hybrid membrane manufacturing process, we will focus on
6
three research goals: Research Goal #1 establishes TiO2 ALD deposition conditions using
common polymer materials that have shown promise in the past or are currently being used by
researchers for RO or MF applications. Research Goal #2 will explore bench scale testing of the
hybrid membranes in terms of fouling resistance and permeate flux using synthetic hydrofracturing
produced water sample. Naturally, we are interested in identifying the optimal deposition
conditions that generates lowest fouling with enhancing permeability for long-term use, but also
evaluating the short-term performance of the hybrid material will shed light on importance of how
to further optimize process parameters. In addition, we will begin to evaluate the long-term
membrane performance. Research Goal #3 will investigate how irradiation intensity and duration
affect hybrid membrane performance in decomposing dissolved organic in produced water.
Research Goal #1: To deposit TiO2 via ALD onto common RO/MF Polymeric Membranes.
We have recently coated a polyethersulfone (PES) MF membrane using the Fiji 200 ALD
equipment available in Professor Bruce Parkinson’s lab in the Department of Chemistry on
University of Wyoming campus. The preliminary AFM and X-ray-photoelectron spectroscopy
(XPS) results (not shown here) have demonstrated the feasibility of deposition TiO2 nanoparticles
on PES MF membrane.
Research Goal #2: To explore bench testing of the hybrid membranes in terms of fouling resistance
and permeate flux using synthetic hydraulic fracturing produced water sample.
While much effort has focused on developing hybrid anti-fouling membranes, bench testing using
such membranes for hydrofracturing produced water treatment has been scarcely seen. The
ambition of this goal is to use synthetic produced water sample to test the performance of the
hybrid RO membranes. For the testing at this stage, the modified MF and RO membranes will be
tested in a stirred cell testing system available in the PI’s laboratory.
Research Goal #3: To study the effect of irradiation
As suggested by literature, irradiation intensity and duration affected TiO2 photo-oxidative
properties. We will also explore these effects with our hybrid membranes.
Training Potential: The proposed project will involve one Ph.D. Student from Chemical and
Petroleum Engineering. One undergraduate will also be recruited by the Undergraduate Research
for Credit program, then the undergraduate will be require to apply for fellowship. Currently, all
three undergraduate researchers in the PI’s group are supported by fellowship awarded while the
students are working in her lab.
Investigator Qualifications: Dr. Li has extensive industrial and academic experience in product
and process development in addition to over twenty years of materials research. She has authored
and co-authored 4-peer reviewed papers, 2 patents, several technical reports and 15+ conference
proceedings.
7
Dongmei Li
Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
University of Wyoming
PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION:
University of Colorado at Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering
University of Colorado at Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering
Tianjin University, China
Chemical Engineering
Shandong University (Formerly
Shandong University of Technology) Chemical Engineering
Ph.D., 2003
M.S., 1999
M.S., 1997
B.S., 1994
APPOINTMENTS:
2011- present Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering,
University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
2010 - 2011 Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical and Petroleum
Engineering, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
2010 - 2011 Senior Research Scientist, Department of Chemistry, University of Wyoming,
Laramie, WY
2007 – 2008 Sr. New Product Development Engineer , DRC Metrigraphics, Wilmington, MA
2006 – 2007 Sr. Process Engineer, Intel Corporation, Phoenix, AZ
2005 – 2006 Sr. Engineer, Metafluidics, Inc., Golden, CO
2003 – 2005 Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering,
University of Colorado at Boulder
HONORS AND AWARDS:
Anadarko Faculty Fellowship Award (2013)
Intel Fab12 Achievement Awards (2007)
Intel Fab12 Achievement Awards, (2006)
14th North American Membrane Society (NAMS) Graduate Student Paper Award – First place
(2003).
th
12 North American Membrane Society (NAMS) Graduate Student Paper Award – Third Place
(2001).
Beverly Sears Graduate Student Grant Award (2001).
Three-value Student Scholarship, Tianjin University, China, 1997.
Excellent Student Leader of Dept. of Chem. Eng., Shandong University of Technology, China,
1993.
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Shuai Tan, Steve Paglieri and Dongme Li, Nano-scale Sulfur-Tolerant Lanthanide
Oxysulfide/Oxysulfate Catalysts for Water-Gas-Shift Reaction in a Novel Reactor Configuration,
Catalysis Communication, accepted, September, 2015.
Dongmei Li, W. Medlin, Application of Polymer-Coated Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor
Sensors in Detection of Dissolved Hydrogen, Applied Physics Letters, 88, p.233507, 2006.
8
Dongmei Li, W. Medlin, R. Bastasz and T. McDaniel, Effects of Membrane Coating on the
Response of Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor (MIS) Sensors, Sensors and Actuators B:
Chemical, 115, p.86-92, 2006.
Dongmei Li, R. L. Sani, A. R. Greenberg and W. B. Krantz, Membrane Formation via SolidLiquid Thermally Induced Phase Separation (TIPS) - Model Development and Validation,
Journal of Membrane Science, 279, p.50-60, 2006.
Huaxian Ma and Dongmei Li, Synthesis and Application of Methyl 1-Naphalene Acetic Ester,
Modern Chemical Industry, p.76-78, 1996.
CONFERENCE PROCEEDING PAPERS
Jennifer Hegarty, Dongmei Li and Jonathan Brant, Integration of Accelerated Precipitation
Softening - Microfiltration (APS-MF) Assembly to Maximize Water Recovery from the
Treatment of Brackish Water, Proceedings of NAMS 2013, June, 2013.
Shuai Tan and Dongmei Li, Catalytic Micro-Membrane Reactor (MMR) Development for
Hydrogen Purification, Proceedings of NAMS 2013, June, 2013.
Shibely Saha and Dongmei Li, co-Catalyst Modified Nafion Membrane for Proton Exchange
Membrane Fuel Cell Application, Proceedings of NAMS 2013, June, 2013.
Dongmei Li, Beyond TIPS (Thermally-Induced Phase Separation), Proceedings of American
Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), October, 2012.
Dongmei Li, W. Medlin, Performance of Polymer Film Modified Sensors in Hydrogen
Detection, Proceedings of North American Membrane Society, June 2005.
Dongmei Li, W. Medlin, Catalytic Sensors for Hydrogen Detection in Industrial Applications,
Proceedings of Western State Catalysis Club Meeting, Feb. 2005.
Dongmei Li, W. Medlin, R. Bastasz and T. McDaniel, Hydrogen-Selective Sensors for Industrial
Applications, Proceedings of AIChE, Nov. 2004.
Dongmei Li, R. L. Sani, A. R. Greenberg and W. B. Krantz, Study of Solid-Liquid Thermally
Induced Phase Separation (TIPS) Membrane Formation Process - Comparison of Model
Predictions and Experimental Results, Proceedings of NAMS, May, 2003.
Dongmei Li, R. L. Sani, A. R. Greenberg and W. B. Krantz, Modeling of Thermally Induced
Phase Separation (TIPS) Membrane Formation Process”, Proceedings of NAMS, May,
2001
Dongmei Li, W. B. Krantz, R.L. Sani and A. R. Greenberg, Modeling Study of Thermally Induced
Phase Separation (TIPS) Membrane Formation Process, Proceedings of NAMS, May, 2000.
Dongmei Li, W. B. Krantz, R.L. Sani and A. R. Greenberg, Study of Thermally Induced Phase
Separation (TIPS) Membrane Formation Process, Proceedings of The Third Joint China-US
Chemical Engineering Conference, Sept. 2000.
PATENTS
Dongmei Li, W. Medlin, R.L. Bastasz, Anthony McDaniel, MIS-based Sensors with Improved
Hydrogen Sensitivity, US Patent 7,340,938, 2008.
9
BUDGET (Project Year 1 - FY16)
Start Date of FY: 3/1/16
End Date of FY: 2/28/17
Project Title: Produced Water Treatment with Smart Materials for Reuse in Energy
Exploration
Principal Investigators:
Dongmei Li
Cost Category
Request
$
1. Salaries and Wages
Principal Investigator(s)
9,077
Graduate Students
Stipends
Tuition/fees/health ins (not included in indirect costs)
Salaried Students
Technical Support (Staff)
Non-benefited employees
Total Salaries and Wages
2. Fringe Benefits (45.56% for benefited, 20% for nonbenefited,
9% for salaried students, and 1% for students on stipends)
3. Supplies
4. Equipment (List only items costing $5000 or more each
as equipment and items less than $5000 as supplies.)
5. Services or Consultants
6. Travel
UW
$
9,077
24,000
6,525
0
Total
$
18,154
0
0
0
39,602
9,077
24,000
6,525
0
0
0
48,679
4,375
4,135
8,511
15,000
15,000
0
0
0
2,000
2,000
7. Other Direct Costs
0
8. Total Direct Costs*
60,977
9. Indirect Costs (41.5% of total, requested and University,
direct
costs-except tuition/fees/health insurance and equipment)
10. Total Estimated Cost
10
60,977
13,212
74,190
28,081
28,081
41,293
102,271
*The UW direct costs total must be at least 20% of the total
direct cost requested.
That is, the UW direct cost contribution must be at least
11
$12,195
$60,977
BUDGET (Project Year 2 - FY17)
Start Date of FY: 3/1/17
End Date of FY: 2/29/18
Project Title: Produced Water Treatment with Smart Materials for Reuse in Energy
Exploration
Principal Investigators:
Dongmei Li
Cost Category
Request
$
1. Salaries and Wages
Principal Investigator(s)
9,077
Graduate Students
Stipends
Tuition/fees/health ins (not included in indirect costs)
Salaried (part-time) Students
Technical Support (Staff)
Non-benefited employees
Total Salaries and Wages
2. Fringe Benefits (45.56% for benefited, 20% for nonbenefited,
9% for salaried students, and 1% for students on stipends)
3. Supplies
UW
$
9,077
24,000
6,525
7. Other Direct Costs
8. Total Direct Costs*
39,602
9,077
4,375
4,135
8,511
15,000
15,000
0
0
2,000
2,000
0
0
60,977
12
18,154
0
0
0
24,000
6,525
0
0
0
48,679
4. Equipment (List only items costing $5000 or more each
as equipment and items less than $5000 as supplies.)
5. Services or Consultants
6. Travel
Total
$
13,212
74,190
9. Indirect Costs (41.5% of total, requested and University,
direct
costs-except tuition/fees/health insurance and equipment)
10. Total Estimated Cost
*The UW direct costs total must be at least 20% of the total
direct cost requested.
That is, the UW direct cost contribution must be at least
13
60,977
28,081
28,081
41,293
102,271
i.e.
$12,195 20% of
$60,977
BUDGET (Project Year 3 - FY18)
Start Date of FY: 3/1/18
End Date of FY: 2/28/19
Project Title: Produced Water Treatment with Smart Materials for Reuse in Energy
Exploration
Principal Investigators:
Dongmei Li
Cost Category
Request
$
1. Salaries and Wages
Principal Investigator(s)
9,077
Graduate Students
Stipends
Tuition/fees/health ins (not included in indirect costs)
Salaried (part-time) Students
Technical Support (Staff)
Non-benefited employees
Total Salaries and Wages
2. Fringe Benefits (45.56% for benefited, 20% for nonbenefited,
9% for salaried students, and 1% for students on stipends)
3. Supplies
UW
$
9,077
24,000
6,525
18,154
0
0
0
39,602
9,077
24,000
6,525
0
0
0
48,679
4,375
4,135
8,511
15,000
15,000
4. Equipment (List only items costing $5000 or more each
as equipment and items less than $5000 as supplies.)
5. Services or Consultants
6. Travel
Total
$
0
0
2,000
2,000
7. Other Direct Costs
0
8. Total Direct Costs*
60,977
9. Indirect Costs (41.5% of total, requested and University,
direct
costs-except tuition/fees/health insurance and equipment)
10. Total Estimated Cost
14
60,977
13,212
74,190
28,081
28,081
41,293
102,271
*The UW direct costs total must be at least 20% of the total
direct cost requested.
That is, the UW direct cost contribution must be at least
$12,195
$60,977
BUDGET (Total Project)
Project End
Date:
Project Start Date: 3/1/14
2/28/17
Project Title: Produced Water Treatment with Smart Materials for Reuse in Energy
Exploration
Principal Investigators:
Dongmei Li
Cost Category
1. Salaries and Wages
Principal Investigator(s)
Request
$
Graduate Students
Stipends
Tuition/fees/health ins (not included in indirect costs)
Salaried (part-time) Students
Technical Support (Staff)
Non-benefited employees
Total Salaries and Wages
2. Fringe Benefits (45.56% for benefited, 20% for nonbenefited,
9% for salaried students, and 1% for students on stipends)
3. Supplies
4. Equipment (List only items costing $5000 or more each
as equipment and items less than $5000 as supplies.)
5. Services or Consultants
6. Travel
7. Other Direct Costs
8. Total Direct Costs*
15
UW
$
Total
$
27,231
0
0
0
27,231
0
0
0
54,462
0
0
0
72,000
19,575
0
0
0
118,806
0
0
0
0
0
27,231
72,000
19,575
0
0
0
146,037
13,126
12,406
25,533
45,000
0
45,000
0
0
0
0
0
0
6,000
0
6,000
0
0
0
182,932
39,637
222,570
9. Indirect Costs (41.5% of total, requested and University,
direct
costs-except tuition/fees/health insurance and equipment)
10. Total Estimated Cost
*The UW direct costs total must be at least 20% of the total
direct cost requested.
That is, the UW direct cost contribution must be at least
16
182,932
84,243
84,243
123,880
306,813
i.e.
$36,586 20% of
$182,932
SUMMARY OF AMOUNTS REQUESTED
Project End
Date:
Project Start Date: 3/1/16
2/28/19
Project Title: Produced Water Treatment with Smart Materials for Reuse in Energy
Exploration
Principal Investigators:
Dongmei Li
Annual, and Total, Funds
Requested
Yr 1
Yr 2
Yr 3
Project
$
$
$
$
Cost Category
1. Salaries and Wages
Principal Investigator(s)
9,077
0
0
0
9,077
0
0
0
9,077
0
0
0
27,231
0
0
0
24,000
6,525
0
0
0
39,602
24,000
6,525
0
0
0
39,602
24,000
6,525
0
0
0
39,602
72,000
19,575
0
0
0
118,806
4,375
4,375
4,375
13,126
15,000
15,000
15,000
45,000
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2,000
2,000
2,000
6,000
7. Other Direct Costs
0
0
0
0
8. Total Direct Costs
60,977
60,977
60,977
182,932
Graduate Students
Stipends
Tuition/fees/health ins (not included in indirect costs)
Salaried (part-time) Students
Technical Support (Staff)
Non-benefited employees
Total Salaries and Wages
2. Fringe Benefits (45.56% for benefited, 20% for nonbenefited,
9% for salaried students, and 1% for students on stipends)
3. Supplies
4. Equipment (List only items costing $5000 or more each
as equipment and items less than $5000 as supplies.)
5. Services or Consultants
6. Travel
17
9. Indirect Costs (41.5% of total, requested and University,
direct
costs-except tuition/fees/health insurance and equipment)
10. Total Estimated Cost
18
60,977
60,977
60,977
182,932
BUDGET JUSTIFICATION - Year 1
Project Title: Produced Water Treatment with Smart Materials for Reuse in Energy
Exploration
Salaries and Wages. Provide compensation proposed for each individual. (Tuition remission
and other forms of compensation paid as or in lieu of wages to students performing necessary
work are allowable provided that the tuition or other payments are reasonable compensation for
the work performed and are conditioned explicitly upon the performance of necessary work.)
1. Dongmei Li, Ph.D. The principle investigator at the University of Wyoming is an
Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering and will supervise project progress,
provide guidance on atomic layer deposition process as well as single-cell testing of
hybrid membranes. Dr. Li’s salary was calculated using procedures that are established
by the University of Wyoming. Summer salary is requested for the PI (Dr. Dongmei Li:
= $9,077. Also, an equivalent UW match.
2. Graduate Research Assistant (12 CM): One graduate student will be supported under
this project to carry out experiments, go to conferences and lead efforts on journal
publication.
Fringe Benefits. Provide the overall fringe benefit rate applicable to each category of
employee proposed in the project.
Fringe benefit rate for the PI: 45.56%
Fringe benefit rate for the graduate student: 1%
Supplies. Indicate separately the amounts proposed for office, laboratory, computing, and field
supplies.
$150,000 total for Year 01 for laboratory supplies, which include chemicals for manufacturing
the hybrid membranes, such as commercial polymeric membranes, titanium precursors for TiO2
nanoparticle deposition as well as laboratory consumables.
Equipment. Identify non-expendable personal property having a useful life of more than one
(1) year and an acquisition cost of more than $5,000 per unit. If fabrication of equipment is
proposed, list parts and materials required for each, and show costs separately from the other
items:
N/A
Services or Consultants. Identify the specific tasks for which these services would be used.
Estimate amount of time required and the hourly or daily rate.
N/A
Travel. Provide purpose and estimated costs for all travel.
Attendance at one technical conference for one project personnel to present findings of studies.
$2000 is requested for Year 01, which will cover registration, lodging and airfare.
Other Direct Costs. Itemize costs not included elsewhere.
We are requesting annual tuition and fees plus health insurance of $6525 for the Ph.D. student.
No indirect costs are assessed on tuition, fees or health insurance.
19
Indirect Costs. Provide negotiated indirect (“Facilities and Administration”) cost rate.
$28,081 total. The University of Wyoming assesses Indirect Costs for on-campus organized
research at a rate of 41.5% on all budget items such as salaries, fringe benefits, materials and
supplies, services, travel, subgrants, and subcontracts up to $25,000. Items for which indirect
costs are not assessed include graduate student tuition, fees and health insurance, rental costs,
individual equipment items with a cost in excess of $5,000, and subcontracts in excess of
$25,000 (initial $25,000 is assessed indirect costs).
20
BUDGET JUSTIFICATION - Entire Project
Project Title: Produced Water Treatment with Smart Materials for Reuse in Energy
Exploration
Salaries and Wages. Provide compensation proposed for each individual. (Tuition remission
and other forms of compensation paid as or in lieu of wages to students performing necessary
work are allowable provided that the tuition or other payments are reasonable compensation for
the work performed and are conditioned explicitly upon the performance of necessary work.)
1. Dongmei Li, Ph.D. The principle investigator at the University of Wyoming is an
Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering and will supervise project progress,
provide guidance on atomic layer deposition process as well as single-cell testing of
hybrid membranes. Dr. Li’s salary was calculated using procedures that are established
by the University of Wyoming. Summer salary is requested for the PI (Dr. Dongmei Li:
= $9,077 per year. Also, an equivalent UW match.
2. Graduate Research Assistant (12 CM): One graduate student will be supported under
this project to carry out experiments, go to conferences and lead efforts on journal
publication.
Fringe Benefits. Provide the overall fringe benefit rate applicable to each category of
employee proposed in the project.
Fringe benefit rate for the PI: 45.56%
Fringe benefit rate for the graduate student: 1%
Supplies. Indicate separately the amounts proposed for office, laboratory, computing, and field
supplies.
$450,000 total for three years of supplies, including chemicals for manufacturing the hybrid
membranes, such as commercial polymeric membranes, titanium precursors for TiO2
nanoparticle deposition as well as laboratory consumables.
Equipment. Identify non-expendable personal property having a useful life of more than one
(1) year and an acquisition cost of more than $5,000 per unit. If fabrication of equipment is
proposed, list parts and materials required for each, and show costs separately from the other
items:
N/A
Services or Consultants. Identify the specific tasks for which these services would be used.
Estimate amount of time required and the hourly or daily rate.
N/A
Travel. Provide purpose and estimated costs for all travel.
$2000/year is requested for attendance at one technical conference for one project personnel to
present findings of studies.
Other Direct Costs. Itemize costs not included elsewhere.
21
We are requesting annual tuition and fees plus health insurance of $6525 for the Ph.D. student.
No indirect costs are assessed on tuition, fees or health insurance.
Indirect Costs. Provide negotiated indirect (“Facilities and Administration”) cost rate.
$84,243 total. The University of Wyoming assesses Indirect Costs for on-campus organized
research at a rate of 41.5% on all budget items such as salaries, fringe benefits, materials and
supplies, services, travel, subgrants, and subcontracts up to $25,000. Items for which indirect
costs are not assessed include graduate student tuition, fees and health insurance, rental costs,
individual equipment items with a cost in excess of $5,000, and subcontracts in excess of
$25,000 (initial $25,000 is assessed indirect costs).
22