Modeling biodegradation kinetics using matLab®

A major objective of the Junior/Senior Engineering Clinics at Rowan University is to introduce students to open-ended engineering projects. All engineering students from the four engineering disciplines, namely Civil, Chemical, Electrical and Mechanical share a common engineering clinic class. This class is a major hallmark of the Rowan engineering program for all students throughout their eight semesters of study. The purpose of the clinic classes is to provide engineering students with hands-on, multidisciplinary experience throughout their college education. The junior and senior clinics emphasize multidisciplinary projects of progressive complexity. This paper focuses on the use of MATLAB for modeling biodegradation kinetics of organic compounds. A multidisciplinary team of students and faculty participated in this project. Environmental engineering students conducted experiments on biodegradation of organic pollutants and set up the model equations for determining biodegradation kinetics. Electrical and computer engineering-students assisted in using MATLAB for the mathematical modeling studies. The entire study can be also be used in various core environmental, chemical and electrical engineering classes. This type of multidisciplinary interaction is of great value not only for students but faculty too. It provides first hand experience as to how relevant skills of engineers from various disciplines can be brought together for efficient creative solutions to problems.