We fund research that contributes to the knowledge base of a large number of industrial manufacturing processes and also to some natural processes that involve the transformation and transport of matter and energy. The transformation processes may be chemical, biological, physical, or a combination of these. The industrial processes involve a wide range of technological pursuits and are found in such industries or areas as aerospace, electronics, chemicals, recovery of natural resources, the environment, petroleum, biochemicals, materials, food, power generation, and allied activities. CTS supports research that involves the development of fundamental engineering principles, process control and optimization strategies, mathematical models, and experimental techniques, with an emphasis on projects that have the potential for innovation and broad application in areas such as the environment, materials, and chemical processing. These principles are also applied to naturally occurring systems such as rivers and lakes, coastline areas, and the atmosphere, especially in populated areas.
Special emphasis is on environmentally benign chemical and material processing .
Research in these areas supports various aspects of engineering technology, with the major focus on chemical and material processing and bioprocess engineering. Research conducted in this program also contributes to the division's emphasis on the impact of basic knowledge on physicochemical hazardous waste treatment and avoidance. The program provides support for new theories and approaches that determine the thermodynamic properties of fluids and fluid mixtures in biological and other fluids with complex molecules. Separations research is directed at many areas, with a special emphasis on bioprocessing and all forms of chromatographic, membrane, and special affinity separations. Fluid and Particle Processes Supports fundamental and applied research on mechanisms and phenomena that govern single and multiphase fluid flow, particle formation and transport, various multiphase processes, nanostructures, and fluid and solid system interaction.