Novel Activated Carbon Nanofiber Biofilm Support for Enhanced Wastewater Treatment

美国和世界各地本已缺水地区日益严重的干旱正随着人口的增加和气候变化而加剧。随着这些地区淡水资源的减少，我们被迫转向非传统水源，如再生废水。目前的废水再利用策略涉及使用昂贵且能源密集型的膜技术。然而，这些膜系统成本高昂，需要大量能源，从而导致二氧化碳排放，从而进一步加剧气候变化。可能还有其他能源密集度较低的选择，可以与这些技术结合使用，或替代这些技术。该项目旨在通过纳入纳米技术对废水处理的可持续性产生深远影响。通过在导电基质上使用固定的生电生物膜，废水中的有机污染物可以被厌氧降解。建议的工作考虑使用活性碳纳米纤维非织造布(ACNFN)作为一种新型的生物膜基质，因为它将促进厌氧降解过程中生物膜中的电子转移，从而提高处理效率。评价这种废水处理方法的典型平台是微生物燃料电池(MFC)。然而，这个项目并不是为了最大限度地提高MFC系统的发电量，而是专注于阐明厌氧生物处理过程中生物膜基质结构、表面积、导电性和表面功能对废水处理效率的影响，在这里测量的是化学需氧量(COD)的减少。这些由聚合物纳米纤维前驱体热处理而成的新型材料比现有的导电生物膜基板具有许多优点。该项目将一种新型纳米材料独特地结合到废水处理平台中。结合材料科学、纳米技术、生物技术和化学工程，合作研究团队将使用多学科方法来整合这些不同的技术。碳基基质用于MFC处理系统是很常见的，但以前从来没有纳米纤维非织造碳材料被认为是生物膜基质。通过使用这种具有优异电性能和极高比表面积的非凡材料，这项新兴技术的废水处理效率可以大大提高。考虑到目前给予这种做法的大量能源分配(占美国总能源使用量的3%)，能源中性(或可能是净能源正值)废水处理的社会影响将是显著的。通过大幅减少甚至取消这一能源需求，我们将提高废水处理的可持续性，同时减少加剧气候变化的二氧化碳排放。这项技术还可能为发展中国家提供一种低能耗的治疗选择，因为在发展中国家，偏远地区并不总是可以获得电力。要想让直接便携重用被接受，对公众进行各种重用技术的教育是必不可少的。PI和共同PI都是环境科学与工程中心的正式附属机构，该中心是一个研究中心，旨在促进环境科学、工程、政策和可持续发展方面的多学科研究、教育和推广。通过这一实体，国际和平协会和联合国际将开展一系列教育方案，包括工程2000和达芬奇项目。这两个项目分别针对大哈特福德地区的高中生和教师，并使PI和Co-PI有机会传播有关当前和新兴水处理技术的信息。将特别鼓励代表性不足的群体通过大学项目利用可持续的工程教育和研究机会，如康涅狄格大学的科学工程与健康职业合作研讨会和当地社区大学的环境问题研讨会

0933553McCutcheonIncreasing aridity in already water scarce regions in the United States and around the world is being exacerbated with increased population combined with climate change. With dwindling freshwater resources in these areas, we are forced to turn to non-traditional water sources, such as reclaimed wastewater. Current wastewater reuse strategies involve the use of expensive and energy intensive membrane technology. These membrane systems, however, are cost prohibitive and require large amounts of energy thereby leading to carbon dioxide emissions which can further exacerbate climate change. There may be other, less energy intensive options that can be used in combination with, or in lieu of, these technologies. This project aims to have a profound impact on the sustainability of wastewater treatment through the incorporation of nanotechnology. By using a fixed electrogenic biofilm on an electrically conductive substrate, organic contaminants in wastewater can be anaerobically degraded. The proposed work considers the use of an activated carbon nanofiber nonwoven (ACNFN) as a novel biofilm substrate as it will facilitate the transfer of electrons from the biofilm during anaerobic degradation, increasing treatment efficiency. A typical platform for evaluating this method of wastewater treatment is the microbial fuel cell (MFC). This project, however, is not intended to maximize power production of the MFC system but instead focuses on elucidating the influence of biofilm substrate architecture, surface area, conductivity, and surface functionality on wastewater treatment efficiency during anaerobic biological treatment, here measured as a reduction in chemical oxygen demand (COD). These novel materials, constructed from thermal treatment of polymeric nanofiber precursors offer many advantages over existing conductive biofilm substrates. This project uniquely combines a novel nanomaterial into a wastewater treatment platform. Combining materials science, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and chemical engineering, the collaborative research team will use a multidisciplinary approach to integrating these disparate technologies. Carbon-based substrates for MFC treatment systems are common, but never before has a nanofibrous nonwoven carbon material been considered as a biofilm substrate. By using this extraordinary material with excellent electrical properties and an exceptionally high specific surface area, wastewater treatment efficiency of this emerging technology could vastly improve. The societal impacts of energy neutral (or possibly net energy positive) wastewater treatment would be significant given the significant energy allocation currently given to the practice (3% of total energy use in the U.S.). By greatly reducing, or even eliminating this energy requirement, we would improve the sustainability of wastewater treatment while simultaneously reducing carbon dioxide emissions which exacerbate climate change. This technology may also provide a low energy treatment option for the developing world, where electricity is not always available in remote areas. For direct potable reuse ever to be accepted, educating the public about various reuse technologies is essential. Both the PI and co-PI are full affiliates of the Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, a research center which promotes multidisciplinary research, education, and outreach in environmental science, engineering, policy, and sustainability. Through this entity, The PI and co-PI will conduct a series of education programs, including Engineering 2000 and the da Vinci Project. Both programs specifically target high school students and teachers, respectively, from the Greater Hartford Area and give the PI and co-PI an opportunity to disseminate information about current and emerging water treatment technologies. Underrepresented groups will be specifically encouraged to take advantage of sustainable engineering education and research opportunities through university programs like the Science Engineering & Health Professions Collaborative Symposium at the University of Connecticut and an Environmental Issues Seminar at a local community college