By Clare Danner
communication ‘19
NOV. 11 – Trine University congratulates alumna Kelli (Hogenkamp) Witter, winner of
the 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) National Students Design
Contest.
From Coldwater, Ohio, Witter was the valedictorian of Coldwater High School and graduated
from Trine University in May 2015 with a degree in chemical engineering. She works
at Michelin Tire Co. in Fort Wayne, Ind. Witter received her award Nov. 8 at the AIChE
national meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.
This contest focused on “Alternate Technology for Sour Water Stripping” and involved
investigating the possibility of removing ammonia and hydrogen sulfide from water
using natural gas. Witter’s solution included a sour water stripping tower using natural
gas, an amine treatment system to remove hydrogen sulfide from the sour gas and a
wastewater treatment system that further purified the water stream for reuse as boiler
feed. She concluded her design was both economically feasible and environmentally
advantageous.
Universities from across the nation submit entries to this contest. Witter is the
fifth National Student Design contest winner from Trine University’s McKetta Department
of Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering.
Cutline: Douglas Ludlow, Ph.D., a professor of chemical and biochemical engineering
at Missouri S & T, presents the award to Kelli (Hogenkamp) Witter.