Tackling the challenge of emerging pollutants in wastewater in the Prairies: a novel granular sludge-dynamic membrane bioreactor system

需要新的废水处理技术来解决现有技术的弱点，并确保未来废水处理的可持续性。在循环经济的背景下，由于能源需求高、污泥产量大、温室气体(GHG)排放、无法去除新出现的污染物(如微塑料和抗生素)以及较差的低温性能，传统的废水处理技术已不再适用。另一方面，如果有技术可以经济高效地提取水资源、营养物质和其中所含的能量，废水可能是一种宝贵的资源。认识到废水方面的挑战和机遇，里贾纳市一直在寻求能够带来共同利益的、面向未来的废水管理战略。在这个项目中，我们将开发一种新型的颗粒污泥-动态膜生物反应器(GS-DMBR)系统，用于加拿大草原气候下的废水处理。将优化清除具有代表性的新兴污染物(如微塑料)；还将探索资源回收(如清洁水资源)。将通过使用数字和统计工具来建立对管理机制的见解。根据污水水质和季节性变化，完善系统配置和运行方案。我们认为，在加拿大的情况下，新型GS-DMBR技术将消耗更少的能源，产生更少的污泥，排放更少的温室气体，并更有效地去除新出现的污染物。这些结果不仅将使合作伙伴里贾纳市和QuantWave Technologies Inc.受益，还将有助于了解加拿大和国际上的可持续废水管理。

Novel wastewater treatment technologies are needed to address the weaknesses of current techniques, and ensure the sustainability of wastewater treatment in the future. In the context of circular economy, conventional wastewater treatment technologies are no longer adequate because of high energy demand, large sludge production, green-house gas (GHG) emissions, inability to remove emerging pollutants (such as microplastics and antibiotics), and poor cold-temperature performance. On the other hand, wastewater can be a valuable resource if technologies were available to cost-effectively extract the water resources, nutrients, and energy contained in it. In recognition of the challenges and opportunities in wastewater, the City of Regina has been seeking future-ready wastewater management strategies that can bring co-benefits. In this project, we will develop a novel granular sludge-dynamic membrane bioreactor (GS-DMBR) system for wastewater treatment in the Canadian Prairies climate. The removal of representative emerging pollutants (such as microplastics) will be optimized; resource recovery (such as clean water resources) will also be explored. Insights in the governing mechanisms will be established by using numerical and statistical tools. The system configuration and operating scheme will be improved based on the wastewater quality and seasonality variations. We think the novel GS-DMBR technology will consume less energy, produce less sludge, emit less GHGs, and remove emerging pollutants more effectively in the Canadian context. The outcomes will not only benefit the partners, the City of Regina and QuantWave Technologies Inc., but also shed light onto sustainable wastewater management in Canada and internationally.