The Duke Center for WaSH-AID partners with research, industry, and non-profit organizations around the world to advance water and sanitation technology development and commercialization.
With expertise in engineering, chemistry, and materials science, our team works in a 2100-sq. ft. customized laboratory space designed specifically for flexibility that can accommodate a variety of chemical and biological protocols.
Our experience ranges from fundamental R&D to third-party wastewater prototype testing. If you are interested in learning more about working with us, please email washaid@duke.edu.
Recent Projects
Fundamental R&D
- Exploration of novel sorbents to isolate and concentrate PFAS for removal funded by Oldcastle Infrastructure.
- Development and pilot testing of sorbents for targeted nitrate removal from stormwater, funded by Oldcastle Infrastructure.
- Validation and testing support of an advanced electrodialysis system to provide selective ion separation and recovery from wastewater (supported by a NSF SBIR) for Triangle Environmental.
- Exploration of innovative nutrient removal strategies from blackwater, with particular focus on phosphate removal and activated membrane development, supported in part by the Gates Foundation.
- Laboratory analysis of stool biomarkers to demonstrate the analytical integrity of a specimen obtained from a smart toilet technology for Coprata.
Third-Party Wastewater Prototype Testing
- Testing and evaluation of the Georgia Tech Reinvented Toilet as part of the G2RT initiative funded by the Gates Foundation. The G2RT is an innovative human waste cleaning technology that neutralizes waste at the source, killing pathogens and turning feces into harmless, odorless ash. The technology does not require a water supply or connection to a sewage system.
- Development and testing of a fully automated, self-contained Foss Toilets waste treatment system that uses rapid digestion bioprocess to degrade toilet wastewater while using simultaneous distillation to generate clean, clear, reusable toilet flushing water.
- Testing and validation of a pilot scale greywater treatment system designed by Triangle Environmental that is currently installed in the Duke Smart Home. The treatment system uses a combination of filtration, sorption, and disinfection to provide water that can be used for non-potable onsite reuse, reducing reliance on potable water.