Grant: Strategic Projects - Group

Energy security and sustainability become a significant issue to be addressed in the near future, which drives the development and application of energy-recovering wastewater treatment in environmental science and engineering field. Methane-recovering anaerobic treatment for dilute wastewater, for example, has been extensively studied in recent years due to its energy neutrality and sustainability. However, there are two main challenges of anaerobic wastewater treatment: (1) accumulation of dissolved methane, and (2) no nitrogen control; phosphorus can be readily removed with coagulants. Mass quantities of dissolved methane discharged into water bodies have particularly strong potential to become a significant contributor to climate change. Lack of nitrogen control can pollute water bodies (e.g., eutrophication), threatening aquatic life and human health. Unfortunately, there are currently no research activities underway to address the simultaneous removal of dissolved methane and nitrogen from anaerobic wastewater treatment effluent. The proposed Strategic Project Grant aims to develop novel technologies that will control dissolved methane and nitrogen simultaneously and reduce related environmental impacts and accelerate their implementation. In an effort to swiftly advance sustainable, cost-effective, and energy-efficient anaerobic wastewater treatment systems, the near term goals of the project are to develop and prototype technologies of removing dissolved methane and nitrogen for application in new or existing sewage treatment plants in collaborations with AMEC. In the longer-term, the aim is to extend these technologies to a broader range of engineering systems (sludge, animal manure, and food waste) and further enhance mitigation of discharging dissolved methane and nitrogen. Energy-recovering anaerobic wastewater treatment will substantially increase in Canada and other developed countries in the next 5-10 years. Over the next three years, this project will inject key technology, knowledge, and experts needed to achieve sustainable, economical wastewater treatment, while ensuring environmental protection and public health in Canada.