Drinking Water Biofiltration: Addressing 21st Century Challenges

饮用水生物过滤：应对 21 世纪的挑战

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-03750
• 负责人: Huck, Peter
• 金额: $ 2.62万
• 依托单位: University of Waterloo
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=748820
• 关键词: Drinking; Water; Biofiltration; Addressing; 21st

Biofiltration has become an important process in drinking water treatment. The process uses a granular media filter (usually sand, anthracite or granular activated carbon) in which a biofilm is encouraged to develop. Biofiltration can remove biodegradable substances, including specific contaminants, as well as remove particles. The long-term goal of this research program is to increase the fundamental understanding of biological filtration (biofiltration) in drinking water treatment. Facilitating its use contributes to greener and more sustainable treatment processes. Understanding and improving biofiltration has been a major focus of the applicant's research for a number of years, including his most recent Discovery Grant. Drinking water treatment, including biofiltration, faces new challenges. The proposed research will focus on three of them for the next five years: cyanotoxins, microplastics/nanoplastics, and pretreatment for reverse osmosis desalination. The following specific objectives will be addressed in this granting period: Objective 1: To further develop our understanding of the role of the biofilm community in a biofilter's ability to remove cyanotoxins (specifically microcystin-LR) during an algal/cyanotoxin bloom) Objective 2: To understand the ability of biofiltration to remove micro- and nanoplastics Objective 3: To understand and improve the ability of biofiltration to provide greener pretreatment for reverse osmosis membranes used in desalination The cyanotoxin microcystin-LR is a regulated parameter in Canada. Cyanotoxins can be removed by biofiltration, however this is not immediate during a bloom, because acclimation is required. It is important to develop a mechanistic understanding of the factors that impact a biofilter's response to a cyanobacterial bloom, and the impact on the removals achieved. Drinking water is a potential route of human exposure to microplastics/nanoplastics. Although biofiltration can contribute to microplastics/nanoplastics removal, it is crucial to understand the mechanisms of removal (likely physical rather than biodegradation, because of the short contact time). The biofilm may enhance removals, compared to conventional filtration processes. This research has unique aspects because it focuses on a biofilter's physical particle removal, rather than its function as a "bioreactor". The third objective builds on previous proof-of-concept work conducted by the applicant in Singapore. That pilot scale research demonstrated the potential of biofiltration to be a greener pretreatment for reverse osmosis desalination, however much further investigation is required so that this approach might ultimately be broadly adopted. This research will provide understanding that will contribute to the provision of safe drinking water in Canada. The students conducting the research will gain valuable knowledge and experience that will help them to obtain good positions in the drinking water sector.

生物过滤已成为饮用水处理中的重要过程。该过程使用颗粒状培养基过滤器（通常是沙子，无烟煤或颗粒状活性炭），其中鼓励生物膜开发。生物过滤可以去除可生物降解的物质，包括特定的污染物以及去除颗粒。该研究计划的长期目标是提高对饮用水处理中生物过滤（生物过滤）的基本理解。促进其使用有助于更绿色，更可持续的治疗过程。多年来，了解和改善生物过滤一直是申请人研究的重点，包括他的最新发现赠款。包括生物过滤在内的饮用水处理面临新的挑战。拟议的研究将在接下来的五年中关注其中三个：蓝毒素，微塑料/纳米塑料和用于反渗透淡化的预处理。在此授予期间将解决以下具体目标：目标1：进一步发展我们对生物滤光片在生物滤器中去除藻类毒素（特别是微藻蛋白蛋白酶LR）的能力的理解，目标2：了解生物层面的能力和NANOPIST的能力3：for Bioftration的能力3：for Biof和Nanap的能力3：用于海水淡化的逆渗透膜的预处理。氰毒素微囊藻蛋白LR是加拿大的调节参数。可以通过生物过滤去除蓝毒素，但是在开花过程中，这不是立即的，因为需要适应。重要的是要对影响生物滤器对蓝细菌的反应的因素进行机械理解，以及对所实现的去除的影响。饮用水是人类接触微塑料/纳米塑料的潜在途径。尽管生物过滤可能有助于微塑料/纳米塑料去除，但要了解去除的机制至关重要（由于接触时间短，可能是物理上的而不是生物降解的机制）。与常规的过滤过程相比，生物膜可以增强去除。这项研究具有独特的方面，因为它专注于生物滤器的物理颗粒去除，而不是其作为“生物反应器”的功能。第三个目标是基于申请人在新加坡进行的概念验证工作。该试验量表的研究表明，生物过滤的潜力是对反渗透脱盐的绿色预处理，但是需要进行更多的进一步研究，以最终可以广泛采用这种方法。这项研究将提供理解，这将有助于在加拿大提供安全的饮用水。进行研究的学生将获得宝贵的知识和经验，这将有助于他们在饮用水领域获得良好的职位。