
Spring 2008 Cleaning Up Wastewater IPRT Company Assistance helped organize and fund a project that looked at ways to reduce nitrogen in wastewater in an economical manner for cash-strapped wastewater treatment plants. The work was done with Siemens Water Technologies Inc. of Ames, Iowa, and an Iowa State University researcher. IPRT's part of the project was led by Kim Bentley, program lead in IPRT's Technology Commercialization Group. Rohan Wikramanayake, director of process technology of General Filter and Microfloc products at Siemens Water, says his company came to Iowa State for technical expertise and laboratory assistance. Say Kee Ong, a professor of environmental engineering at Iowa State, was the principal investigator. The technology was pilot tested at a municipal plant for the City of Boone, Iowa. Rohan Wikramanayake of Siemens Water Technologies Corp. in Ames inspects new filtration technology being tested at the City of Boone’s municipal water plant. The process uses an existing filter to promote biological growth to enhance denitrification. Nitrates are converted to nitrogen gas biologically with the use of a carbon source as the substrate. Initial results show that the process removes more than 200 pounds of nitrates per cubic foot of media per day, reducing total nitrogen to well below 3 mg/L, which is the most stringent regulatory limit in the United States. Wikramanayake and Ong co-authored and presented a paper on the effort at a prestigious conference held in San Diego. Siemens will soon be implementing the technology on a full-scale installation. Both Wikramanayake and Ong cite the help of Bentley as essential in the project. “She got the project moving fast and got me to the right people and helped complete the paperwork,” says Wikramanayake. Ong adds, “Without her assistance and working with Siemens, it will not be possible to develop this collaboration.” See full article. IPRT Company Assistance Focus of Legislative Breakfast More than 50 Iowa representatives and senators learned how IPRT helps Iowa companies at the annual Legislative Breakfast held Feb. 7 at the state Capitol. IPRT Company Assistance receives an annual appropriation from the State of Iowa to assist Iowa companies. As in the past, IPRT’s story was told by representatives from Iowa companies that have benefited from IPRT’s assistance. The companies were Groschopp, Inc, Sioux Center, Iowa; Reference, LLC, Elkader, Iowa; Nutra-Flo Protein and Biotech Products, Sioux City, Iowa; Johnson Manufacturing, Princeton, Iowa; and EndoMetric, Ames, Iowa. Loren Kamstra (left), an engineer with Groschopp, Inc., of Sioux Center, Iowa, discusses how his company received assistance from IPRT with state Rep. Clel Baudler of Greenfield, Iowa. IPRT personnel were also on hand to show on an Iowa map the more than 750 Iowa organizations assisted by IPRT in the last five years. They also shared that IPRT Company Assistance has an estimated $17.3 million per year economic impact on the state of Iowa and that most organizations assisted by IPRT were small businesses of less than 100 employees. IPRT staff also explained how the number of projects IPRT has been able to handle in a year was reduced by a budget cut in 2001. IPRT participants included George Kraus, Cheryl Sansgaard, Stacy Joiner, Dave Utrata, Rick Lopez, Paul Berge, Kim Bentley, Brian Muff, Lynne Mumm, Steve Karsjen, Deb Samuelson and Robert Mills. IPRT	Spark Your Thinking at ETC08 The Emerging Technologies Conference for 2008 “is all about the emerging relationships that spark entrepreneurial thinking and make new technologies possible,” according to IPRT’s Virtual Reality Applications Center. VRAC, its Human Computer Interaction program and the CyberInnovation Institute are conference sponsors. The event will be held April 3 and 4 at Iowa State University’s Howe Hall and is free and open to the public. Continuing the tradition, the conference will feature an acclaimed keynote speaker. He is Michael Schrage, a widely published columnist on innovation and the author of several books on innovation and collaboration. During the conference, students in the HCI program will give technical demonstrations, poster presentations and talks about their research. Another feature of the conference will be “Ignite IT,” a night of networking and idea-sharing. Ignite IT will be held on April 3, while the conference, “Designing Interaction,” will take place on April 4. IPRT Backs Solar Decathlon Team The U.S. Department of Energy has selected Iowa State as one of 20 teams to compete in the Solar Decathlon in 2009 in Washington, D.C. Teams design, build and operate attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered homes. See Iowa State news release. IPRT Director on Iowa State Energy Committee President Gregory Geoffroy envisions Iowa State University as a model of energy efficiency. He has created an advisory committee, including IPRT Director George Kraus, to help him pursue that vision. See Iowa State news release. Covering the State IPRT worked on over 170 projects with 120 Iowa companies and organizations in 61 cities and towns in fiscal year 2007. See the new Google map of IPRT interactions.
Berge Certified as Welding Inspector Paul Berge, a metallurgist in the materials group of IPRT Company Assistance, has been certified as a welding inspector by the American Welding Society. Berge says his certification will be useful in helping Iowa companies. “I’m able to use the knowledge I gained in the course work to better evaluate a company’s welding program and procedures. Also, the visual inspection techniques I have learned will be useful in guiding a company to improve its welding operations.” In addition, Berge will be able to act as an independent inspector of welds made by Ames Laboratory machine shop welders. The certification means that Berge can head a welding program by ensuring that welding equipment, consumables and personnel are compliant with established welding procedures. “I visually inspect all welding work to make sure the welding is done according to the engineering drawings and welding procedures,” he says. Berge will also see that the work is performed by qualified personnel, and when applicable, confirm that the welding program meets code requirements. “I am also responsible for maintaining the records of the welding program,” he adds. Berge attended a six-day course that included a structural steel welding code clinic and a weld inspection technology and visual inspection workshop. Following the course work, he took a six-hour certification exam. IPRT Paul Berge, a metallurgist in IPRT Company Assistance's materials group, inspects a weld in Ames Laboratory's machine shop. Interact with IPRT Join the “Change a Light” Campaign Gearing up for Earth Day? IPRT employees can join the “Change a Light, Change the World” campaign sponsored by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency. The effort aims to save energy by replacing one light bulb in your home with a qualified ENERGY STAR® bulb (such as a compact fluorescent light bulb). Sign up to take the ENERGY STAR® Change a Light pledge. Select “Institute for Physical Research and Technology” from the “Which organization referred you here” pull-down menu, and IPRT will get credit for your pledge. More info. IPRT
About IPRT News The Institute for Physical Research and Technology is a network of scientific research centers at Iowa State University. In addition to performing world-class scientific research, IPRT provides technical assistance and contract research services to Iowa companies and offers education programs for students from middle through graduate school. This monthly email newsletter is produced by IPRT Public Affairs for IPRT employees and all interested parties. • Subscribe: Robert Mills, IPRT Public Affairs, rmills@iastate.edu, 515-294-1113. • Contribute news: Robert Mills, IPRT Public Affairs, rmills@iastate.edu, 515-294-1113. • View a Web version here. Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran. Inquiries can be directed to the Director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, 3210 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.

Spring 2008

Cleaning Up Wastewater

IPRT Company Assistance helped organize and fund a project that looked at ways to reduce nitrogen in wastewater in an economical manner for cash-strapped wastewater treatment plants. The work was done with Siemens Water Technologies Inc. of Ames, Iowa, and an Iowa State University researcher. IPRT's part of the project was led by Kim Bentley, program lead in IPRT's Technology Commercialization Group.

Rohan Wikramanayake, director of process technology of General Filter and Microfloc products at Siemens Water, says his company came to Iowa State for technical expertise and laboratory assistance. Say Kee Ong, a professor of environmental engineering at Iowa State, was the principal investigator. The technology was pilot tested at a municipal plant for the City of Boone, Iowa.

[PHOTO: Rohan Wikramanayake of Siemens Water Technologies Corp.] Rohan Wikramanayake of Siemens Water Technologies Corp. in Ames inspects new filtration technology being tested at the City of Boone’s municipal water plant.

The process uses an existing filter to promote biological growth to enhance denitrification. Nitrates are converted to nitrogen gas biologically with the use of a carbon source as the substrate. Initial results show that the process removes more than 200 pounds of nitrates per cubic foot of media per day, reducing total nitrogen to well below 3 mg/L, which is the most stringent regulatory limit in the United States.

Wikramanayake and Ong co-authored and presented a paper on the effort at a prestigious conference held in San Diego. Siemens will soon be implementing the technology on a full-scale installation.

Both Wikramanayake and Ong cite the help of Bentley as essential in the project. “She got the project moving fast and got me to the right people and helped complete the paperwork,” says Wikramanayake. Ong adds, “Without her assistance and working with Siemens, it will not be possible to develop this collaboration.” See full article. IPRT

Company Assistance Focus of Legislative Breakfast

More than 50 Iowa representatives and senators learned how IPRT helps Iowa companies at the annual Legislative Breakfast held Feb. 7 at the state Capitol. IPRT Company Assistance receives an annual appropriation from the State of Iowa to assist Iowa companies.

As in the past, IPRT’s story was told by representatives from Iowa companies that have benefited from IPRT’s assistance. The companies were Groschopp, Inc, Sioux Center, Iowa; Reference, LLC, Elkader, Iowa; Nutra-Flo Protein and Biotech Products, Sioux City, Iowa; Johnson Manufacturing, Princeton, Iowa; and EndoMetric, Ames, Iowa.

Loren Kamstra (left), an engineer with Groschopp, Inc., of Sioux Center, Iowa, discusses how his company received assistance from IPRT with state Rep. Clel Baudler of Greenfield, Iowa.

IPRT personnel were also on hand to show on an Iowa map the more than 750 Iowa organizations assisted by IPRT in the last five years. They also shared that IPRT Company Assistance has an estimated $17.3 million per year economic impact on the state of Iowa and that most organizations assisted by IPRT were small businesses of less than 100 employees. IPRT staff also explained how the number of projects IPRT has been able to handle in a year was reduced by a budget cut in 2001.

IPRT participants included George Kraus, Cheryl Sansgaard, Stacy Joiner, Dave Utrata, Rick Lopez, Paul Berge, Kim Bentley, Brian Muff, Lynne Mumm, Steve Karsjen, Deb Samuelson and Robert Mills. IPRT

Spark Your
Thinking at ETC08

The Emerging Technologies Conference for 2008 “is all about the emerging relationships that spark entrepreneurial thinking and make new technologies possible,” according to IPRT’s Virtual Reality Applications Center. VRAC, its Human Computer Interaction program and the CyberInnovation Institute are conference sponsors. The event will be held April 3 and 4 at Iowa State University’s Howe Hall and is free and open to the public.

Continuing the tradition, the conference will feature an acclaimed keynote speaker. He is Michael Schrage, a widely published columnist on innovation and the author of several books on innovation and collaboration. During the conference, students in the HCI program will give technical demonstrations, poster presentations and talks about their research. Another feature of the conference will be “Ignite IT,” a night of networking and idea-sharing. Ignite IT will be held on April 3, while the conference, “Designing Interaction,” will take place on April 4.

IPRT Backs Solar
Decathlon Team

The U.S. Department of Energy has selected Iowa State as one of 20 teams to compete in the Solar Decathlon in 2009 in Washington, D.C. Teams design, build and operate attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered homes. See Iowa State news release.

IPRT Director on Iowa State
Energy Committee

President Gregory Geoffroy envisions Iowa State University as a model of energy efficiency. He has created an advisory committee, including IPRT Director George Kraus, to help him pursue that vision. See Iowa State news release.

Covering the State

IPRT worked on over 170 projects with 120 Iowa companies and organizations in 61 cities and towns in fiscal year 2007. See the new Google map of IPRT interactions.

Berge Certified as Welding Inspector

Paul Berge, a metallurgist in the materials group of IPRT Company Assistance, has been certified as a welding inspector by the American Welding Society. Berge says his certification will be useful in helping Iowa companies. “I’m able to use the knowledge I gained in the course work to better evaluate a company’s welding program and procedures. Also, the visual inspection techniques I have learned will be useful in guiding a company to improve its welding operations.”

In addition, Berge will be able to act as an independent inspector of welds made by Ames Laboratory machine shop welders. The certification means that Berge can head a welding program by ensuring that welding equipment, consumables and personnel are compliant with established welding procedures. “I visually inspect all welding work to make sure the welding is done according to the engineering drawings and welding procedures,” he says. Berge will also see that the work is performed by qualified personnel, and when applicable, confirm that the welding program meets code requirements. “I am also responsible for maintaining the records of the welding program,” he adds.

Berge attended a six-day course that included a structural steel welding code clinic and a weld inspection technology and visual inspection workshop. Following the course work, he took a six-hour certification exam. IPRT

Paul Berge, a metallurgist in IPRT Company Assistance's materials group, inspects a weld in Ames Laboratory's machine shop.

Interact with IPRT

Join the “Change a Light” Campaign

Gearing up for Earth Day? IPRT employees can join the “Change a Light, Change the World” campaign sponsored by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency. The effort aims to save energy by replacing one light bulb in your home with a qualified ENERGY STAR® bulb (such as a compact fluorescent light bulb). Sign up to take the ENERGY STAR® Change a Light pledge. Select “Institute for Physical Research and Technology” from the “Which organization referred you here” pull-down menu, and IPRT will get credit for your pledge. More info. IPRT

About IPRT News

The Institute for Physical Research and Technology is a network of scientific research centers at Iowa State University. In addition to performing world-class scientific research, IPRT provides technical assistance and contract research services to Iowa companies and offers education programs for students from middle through graduate school.

This monthly email newsletter is produced by IPRT Public Affairs for IPRT employees and all interested parties.
• Subscribe: Robert Mills, IPRT Public Affairs, rmills@iastate.edu, 515-294-1113.
• Contribute news: Robert Mills, IPRT Public Affairs, rmills@iastate.edu, 515-294-1113.
• View a Web version here.

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran. Inquiries can be directed to the Director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, 3210 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.