Grantee Research Project Results
Wetland and peroxide treated harmful algal blooms
EPA Grant Number: SU839870Title: Wetland and peroxide treated harmful algal blooms
Investigators: Vela, Jeseth Delgado
Institution: Howard University
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020 (Extended to September 30, 2021)
Project Amount: $25,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2019) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources
Description:
This research will focus on designing and testing a pollution control strategy for nonpoint sources. We hypothesize the proposed strategy will reduce nutrient emissions that lead to Cyanobacteria Harmful Algal Blooms (CHABs) and will provide a continuous release of hydrogen peroxide that will provide targeted control of toxin producing cyanobacteria. This type of targeted control provides multiple benefits to the watershed and is a completely innovative way to manage nonpoint nutrient emissions. The outcomes of this research will lead to an improved strategy for reducing the proliferation of CHAB and eliminating toxin production.
Approach:
This research will result in the demonstration of a combined wetland and bioelectrical peroxide production (WetPerox) system to mitigate CHABs. The WetPerox system has two unit-processes, the first process is a bioelectrochemical peroxide producing reactor which passively converts the organic matter present in agricultural runoff to hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide servs as an algaecide that degrades in the environment. The second process is a constructed wetland which will reduce the emissions of nitrogen and phosphorus. In addition, the students will engage in outreach and demonstration of research results in the DC-Maryland-Virginia area through Howard University's Ambassadors program.
Expected Results:
The student team participating in the P3 Expo will show that the WetPerox system will effectively kill cyanobacteria at a reduced cost. By combining the well-established constructed wetland technology with the BES system, we will develop an innovative way to reduce nutrient loading and mitigating CHAB. The results of the project will be presented by Howard University students in student design competitions at the national level through the both the EPA and the Water Environment Association. Additionally, the results of the research will be translated to an educational module for undergraduate courses in Civil Engineering and will be shared with faculty across campus to incorporate into a wide variety of courses
Relevant Websites:
Water, chemicals, effluent, bacteria, ecosystem, aquatic, clean technologies, innovative technology, remediationrestoration, cost-benefit, socio-economic, biology, social science, engineering
Progress and Final Reports:
The 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.