Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Phosphorus Removal and Recovery From Municipal Wastewater Using Nano-Enhanced Media
EPA Contract Number: EPD14010Title: Phosphorus Removal and Recovery From Municipal Wastewater Using Nano-Enhanced Media
Investigators: Sengupta, Dr. Suvankar
Small Business: MetaMateria Technologies, LLC
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: May 1, 2014 through April 30, 2015
Project Amount: $100,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2014) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , SBIR - Nanomaterials , SBIR - Wastewater, Stormwater, and Water Reuse
Description:
This Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project focused on the capture and recovery of phosphorus in wastewater from publically owned treatment works (POTW), typically processing near or under 1 million gallons of wastewater per day (MGD). An innovative nanostructured absorption media was used. Nutrients, such as phosphorus, cause pollution in streams and lakes and this degrades water. Phosphorus also is a valuable resource, and methods for recovering it are desirable.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
The feasibility of using the nanostructured PO4 media was demonstrated using water collected from five nearby POTW and one private facility. Wastewater was from different sources of waste influents, including different amounts of domestic and industrial wastewater constituents. Several facilities currently use biological and chemical treatment to reduce effluent phosphorus to below 1 mg/L, their permitted discharge level. Information collected during the program shows a great need to develop for meeting lower effluent levels of 0.1 mg/L in the next 5–10 years, and this creates a more difficult task for smaller waste treatment facilities, which represent some 70 percent of the POTW facilities. A passive filter system that can be regenerated offers a simpler approach for smaller facilities and the nanomodified PO4 media has the potential to be economically competitive with more complex approaches used today and inherently less expensive than membrane systems. The ability to recover phosphorus in a form that can be used commercially is attractive and will meet an increasing demand being brought on by scarcity of existing sources. It also will lower carbon footprint and contribute to long-term societal goals.
Conclusions:
The Phase I results clearly indicate that the MetaMaterias nanomodified media can be effectively used to remove phosphorous in wastewater from reclamation facilities. The potential was successfully demonstrated by testing actual water collected from five POTW and one private facility. Water from five facilities was evaluated using column testing (along with isotherm studies) at Michigan State University. Wastewater collected from the City of Union facility was tested at MetaMateria in a simulated lagoon and sand filter. Encouraging results were obtained in all tests. It also was demonstrated that the phosphorous captured in the media can be removed and the media can be reused. Testing with water containing low concentration of phosphorous (~ 1 mg/L and less) demonstrated that media is capable of removing phosphorous down to very low levels (0.1-0.2 mg/L), which is difficult to achieve with conventional chemicals and/or biological processes.
Supplemental Keywords:
wastewater reclamation, phosphorus, nanomaterial, eutrophicationThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.