BIOLOGICAL NUTRIENT REMOVAL

Shortcut Nitrogen Removal; Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal; Mainstream Deammonification

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Anthropogenic inputs of nutrients, like phosphorus and nitrogen, are harmful to many natural environments due to excess eutrophication. These nutrients are found in high concentrations in wastewater, and can be potentially recovered as valuable renewable fertilizers. 

We are exploring various energy-efficient biological processes for removing and recovering nutrients from wastewater.   Projects in this area currently focus on:

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(1) Short-cut nitrogen removal in activated sludge

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(2) Novel polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) in enhanced biological phosphorus removing systems

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(3) Aerobic granular sludge for simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal

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