Algal Filtrate Treatment Enhanced Reactor On-site Pilot Experiment (AFTER), 2013 (in cooperation with ETF and OUHK)

The project aims to enhance wastewater treatment performance and efficiency in wastewater treatment plant by using "Algal Technology". Microalgae cultures offer an elegant solution to remove inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus in wastewater for their growth and also, for their capacity to capture carbon dioxide, as well as the production of algal biomass. Therefore, it is a "Win-win-win" approach for enhancing the quality of effluent. Although wastewater is treated up to the regulatory standard for direct discharge, significant costs are required for treating the sludge dewatering liquor or sludge liquor. The sludge liquor has high nitrogen content, which can typically be ~15% of the total nitrogen-loading of wastewater treatment plants. In order to reduce the operational cost and increase efficiency, it is of particular interest to study the feasibility of employing algal based technology for the treatment of sludge liquor. The main strategy employed in this research is to investigate the best possible conditions for algal bioreactors for sludge liquor treatment in pilot scale. The long-term goal of this project is to develop a cost-effective and energy-efficient mass algal cultivation system that can enhance wastewater treatment as well as algal biofuel production.

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