Contributing to the circular economy: biological coagulant recovery in water and wastewater treatment

该项目旨在确定操作生物反应器从水和废水处理污泥中回收铁和磷的可行性。这项工作主要是在克兰菲尔德大学的实验室进行的，并对每个赞助的供水公司进行取样，以获取各种类型的污泥，以确定生物反应器的可行性。学生将致力于理解Fe和P转化的基本途径，建立关键反应堆设计和操作标准，并提出概念原型验证的设计。业务影响，包括生物反应器在循环经济中的作用以及水务设施的整体环境足迹将构成可行性评估的一部分。交付这项工作所需的多种技能将通过实践培训、选修模块和指导来开发，具体取决于候选人的第一学位和毕业后抱负。

This project aims to determine the feasibility of operating a biological reactor to recover iron and phosphorus from water and wastewater treatment sludge.The work is primarily laboratory-based at Cranfield University, with sampling trips to each of the sponsoring water utilities to source various types of sludge to determine the feasibility of the bioreactor. The student will work on understanding the fundamental pathways for Fe and P transformations, establish the critical reactor design and operation criteria, and propose the designs for a proof of concept prototype. The business implications including the role of the bioreactor in the contribution to the circular economy and the overall environmental footprint of the water utilities will form part of the feasibility assessment. The multiple skills needed to deliver this work will be developed through hands-on training, elective modules and mentoring, depending on the candidate's first degree and post-graduation ambitions.