Innovative system and process for optimization of wastewater treatment

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Charlottetown Pollution Control Plant (CPCP) is transforming into the Resource Recovery Facility. The goal is to create integrated sustainable systems to address energy needs and produce valuable products with the long-term financial, environmental and social benefits. CPCP treats approximately 7 million cubic meters of wastewater annually producing roughly 3700 tonnes of bio-solids. The wastewater treatment plant consists of primary and secondary treatment; the sludge is anaerobically digested for producing biogas and class-A biosolids. Wastewater treatment is an energy intensive process. The consumption is mainly attributed to the pumps and air blowers for moving wastewater and air to the aeration tanks, respectively. Air blowers account for 70% of the total electricity consumption in wastewater treatment plants. The supply of air promotes microbial growth, which feeds on organic matter. The process produces a flock, which settles to the bottom of the tank. The overall objective of the proposed research is to develop a sustainable system and process for improving the efficiency of the municipal wastewater treatment in terms of energy use and value recovery. The proposed research is divided into the following objectives: a) Develop robust, sensitive and consistent real-time in-line bacteria-based BOD biosensors; b) Characterize the impacts of using a separation column and an array of single semi-specific bacteria strain on the specificity of current bacteria-based biosensors; c) Identify the impact of biochar type, size and loading on the performance of the aeration tank through characterizing the impact of biochar on the settleability of sludge, air requirement, and treatment; d) Identify the impact of biochar type, size and loading on the performance of anaerobic digestion through characterizing the impact on rate of gas production, total gas yield and composition, and the quality of biosolids. The outcomes of the proposed research will support CPCP initiatives for reducing their carbon footprint and meeting their sustainability objectives.