Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

The Water Research and Resource Recovery (WR3) Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), led by Dr. Hamza and co-applicants Drs. Suehring, Mehrvar, and Hashemi, seeks funding for an Integrated Biological Activity and Gas Chromatography Analyzer System (IBAGC-AS). This equipment is essential for research on wastewater treatment (WWT), greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction, and process optimization in environmental engineering, chemistry, and green aviation. The IBAGC-AS integrates a respirometer, gas flow analyzer, and gas chromatograph for real-time monitoring of biological processes and emissions, including methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and carbon dioxide (CO2), gases critical due to their global warming potential, with N2O being 298 times more potent than CO2. TMU currently lacks equipment for real-time data on biological activity and GHG emissions in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), which are major GHG sources, particularly during biological nutrient removal (BNR) and anaerobic digestion (AD). The IBAGC-AS will enable precise monitoring of oxygen uptake rates (OUR), carbon dioxide production rates (CPR), and direct gas emissions, providing essential insights for optimizing processes, reducing emissions, and improving treatment efficiency. Without it, researchers must rely on manual, indirect methods like chemical oxygen demand tests, nutrient sampling, DO probes, which are time-consuming, prone to errors, and limit process optimization. The IBAGC-AS will provide synchronized, real-time data linking microbial activity to gas production, ensuring precision and efficiency. The system will support projects on biofilms for WWT, nitrogen removal via anammox and partial denitrification, and PFAS and plastic additives removal with hybrid technologies. It will contribute to algal-bacterial systems for nutrient removal, GHG mitigation, green aviation research on hybrid-electric propulsion systems (HEPS) and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). This equipment is critical to advancing research on water and air quality challenges, supporting Canada's goal of reducing emissions by 45% by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2050. The IBAGC-AS will also provide hands-on training for 20 MSc and 15 PhD students, 10 postdoctoral fellows, and 20 undergraduates, equipping them with skills in environmental analysis, biological monitoring, and GHG assessment, preparing them for careers in WWT, resource recovery, and environmental sustainability. This system is vital for advancing TMU's research in WWT, material science, green aviation, and GHG reduction. It will deliver real-time data, enabling applicants to optimize processes, reduce emissions, and develop sustainable solutions. Supporting research in BNR, biofilms, PFAS removal, and hybrid-electric propulsion, the IBAGC-AS will drive cross-sector innovation. Without it, progress in emissions reduction and treatment efficiency will be significantly hindered, making this equipment essential for impactful research.