Phosphorus and nitrogen removal and recovery technologies; innovation in waste treatment process streams, for resource recovery.

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Three interrelated topics are being researched, on the overall theme of "resource recovery from waste streams". (a) Phosphorus and Nitrogen Removal and Recovery Technology: The objective is to continue and expand on research into a relatively new topic for this applicant, phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) removal and recovery from nutrient - rich wastes. Facilities include lab-scale, pilot scale and commercial-scale up flow reactor systems, installed at UBC, the Dairy Education Research Centre (DERC) at Agassiz, B.C., and at the new Annacis Wastewater Centre (AWC), Metro Vancouver Annacis, WWTP. The focus is on "struvite" fertilizer formation, pelletization and optimized reactor conditions. (b) Advanced Waste-Water Sludge Treatment: The objective is to advance waste-water sludge treatment, with an emphasis on thermophilic treatment, as well as peroxide-microwave (PM) treatment - toward the ultimate goal of zero-sludge production. Facilities include an advanced biological nutrient removal (BNR) pilot plant, a pilot scale PM system and a thermophilic sludge treatment facility (TAD) in Salmon Arm, B.C. Current research is focused on treatment of combined sludges, recovery of P from digester supernatant, production of volatile fatty acids (VFA) from TAD systems, sludge destruction and enhanced methane production for energy generation. (c) Treatment of High Nitrogen Wastes: The objective is to expand/scale-up research on "optimization" of biological processes (fixed media, Anammox process) chosen for treatment of N-laden wastwaters and a new IP-protected "ammonia cracker" technology, using struvite (fertilizer) pellets for roasting and recycling. The emphasis continues to be on nutrient-recovery, energy production, and toxicity reduction of final effluent discharges.