Novel live biomass sensor for improved microbial monitoring, wastewater reactor management and processing, allowing significant energy, carbon emissions, and chemical reduction.

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

This grant will support validation of a novel sensing platform and proprietary algorithms to continuously measure live biomass in sewage and industrial waste activated sludge plants. This delivers unique ability to calculate critical biological process parameters in real time, delivering improved processing and environmental impact and high precision aeration control, significantly reducing energy, chemicals, and carbon emissions.Current methods are either lab-based or measure total biomass (live, dead and inorganics) meaning that real-time process calculations and aeration are inaccurate. Plants are generally over-aerated with energy and carbon emissions implications.The proposal is supported by the leading sensor manufacturer and expert wastewater engineers.The proposal will allow experimental work to prove efficacy and commercial viability of the technology, and research potential secondary outcomes in other complex, multi-organism environments.Background:Activated sludge plants (ASP's) treat sewage/industrial effluent by mixing it with air and microorganisms, which reduces organic content so it can be discharged to watercourses. Energy usage and Carbon Emissions are key drivers.Activated sludge aeration represents 60% of energy costs in sewage treatment. Across Europe aeration of ASP's contributes a staggering 1-2% of net electricity usage at country level. Experts predict energy input can be reduced by 20% by improving process control and optimised aeration.Although activated sludge processes rely on critical microbial flora, there are no technologies that can precisely measure live biomass in real-time to accurately determine the amount of oxygen, biomass, and time required for process completion.Total addressable municipal market = £270m of CAPEX and £31M of OPEX/year. Industrial sites add an additional 5%.There are 68,800 WWTPs in EU + EFTA. 15,000 have suitable automatic control systems. USA has 3,400 suitable treatment plants plus 1,000 in China, similarly ROW.ROI is predicted to be 12-24 months (pre-Ukraine war) for medium sized plants but may be as low as 4 months with current energy pricing.Successful market entry will be facilitated by collaboration with large commercial partners who deliver credibility, existing customers, and sales engines.