Process enhancement for conversion of municipal wastewater residuals into effective sorbents

Municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) generate a large amount of sewage sludge which requires tremendous operating costs for handling and treatment, and the final disposal of biosolids for land applications becomes less feasible because of the potential hazards (e.g., heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants) in the biosolids. In addition, some emerging contaminants have caused growing concerns as indicated by and outlined in the in the Canadian Water Network March 2018 National Expert Panel Report Canada’s Challenges and Opportunities to Address Contaminants in Wastewater. This research proposes an innovative solution to these two problems. The general objective is to synthesize sewage sludge-based activated carbon (SBAC) for effectively removing contaminants of emerging concerns from WWTP effluent. The SBAC will be synthesized by pyrolysis at 400-500ºC for 1-2 hours using different starting materials including thickened secondary sludge, biosolids, and mixed primary and secondary sludge. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Loretta Li

Student:

Partner:

Kerr Wood Leidal Associates Ltd

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: