Grant: CCI Applied Research and Development Grants

The wastewater sector is integral to urban infrastructure however, this is an industry facing significant environmental challenges and inefficiencies. Wastewater treatment, despite its importance is often troubled by the high environmental cost of sludge production. Conventional wastewater treatment processes produce considerable sludge volumes which is traditionally perceived as a waste product with limited utility, leading to negative market value and high disposal costs. To address this challenge, further exploration in optimizing wastewater treatment is necessary to rethink waste as a resource, promoting the recycling and repurposing of materials extending the life cycle which in turn can lead to consumer cost savings. Traditional wastewater treatment mechanisms typically incorporates both aerobic and anaerobic treatment processes. The total solids content of standard anaerobic digestors is usually under 10% leading to inefficiencies including process inhibition due to flocculants, harmful byproducts generation, biogas purification issues, sludge rheology. Trojan has distinguished themselves through a persistent commitment to solving complex challenges in this sector. Trojan has been working vigorously to innovate how we treat wastewater by addressing the many challenges we face and enhancing process efficiency. Trojan has partnered with Lambton College to validate and optimize the effectiveness, efficacy, and economic feasibility of Trojan's innovative technology at a pilot scale. The proposed study through a novel combination of a main anaerobic digester with a complementary evaporation system presents a unique opportunity for Trojan to spearhead industry change. Trojan's nuanced technology integrates a specialized process of recuperative thickening, coupling uniquely dewatering with anaerobic digestion. This process not only targets the reduction of sludge volume but also focuses on resource recovery. Trojan's approach lies in the decoupling of solids retention time from hydraulic retention time. The results of this project has the potential to catalyze significant economic and employment growth within Ontario’s renewable energy and sustainability sectors. Implementing this technology not only presents economic benefits but also highlights the potential to drive further investments in sustainability and renewable energy technologies, addressing some of the most formidable challenges in water and environmental management in Canada.