UH Mānoa tackles wastewater emissions with $2M grant – Maui Now

Developing Innovative Technology to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Wastewater Treatment Facilities

Introduction

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is undertaking a new project focused on developing innovative technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment facilities. The research team, consisting of Zhiyue Wang and Tao Yan, aims to investigate a new process that can significantly decrease the environmental impact of traditional nitrogen removal methods in wastewater treatment. This is crucial as excess nitrogen can cause harmful algae blooms in lakes and oceans, while conventional treatment processes release a significant amount of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

Project Details

The project is supported by a $1,994,225 grant from the US Department of Energy, awarded to Kennedy Jenks, a water and environmental engineering and environmental sciences firm. The University of Hawaiʻi team will collaborate with Jenks and the City and County of Honolulu to conduct pilot-scale testing at the Waiʻanae wastewater treatment facility, starting in 2025.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This research aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. By developing technology that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment and potentially increase energy recovery, the project contributes to SDG 13: Climate Action. Furthermore, it addresses the unique environmental challenges faced by Hawaiʻi and works towards SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, by improving the efficiency and sustainability of wastewater treatment processes.

The CANDO Process

The heart of this project is the development of the Coupled Aerobic-anoxic Nitrous Decomposition Operation (CANDO) process. This approach focuses on converting ammonia, a common component in wastewater, into nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide can then be burned alongside biogas, improving overall energy efficiency at treatment facilities. Additionally, the recovery of nitrous oxide, which is 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide, can greatly reduce its release into the atmosphere.

Project Goals

The researchers aim to achieve an 80% nitrogen removal rate and a 60% nitrous oxide conversion rate through the CANDO process. If successful, this technology could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from nitrogen removal processes by 50% or more. This aligns with the goals of the US Department of Energy for decarbonization in the water treatment sector.

Addressing Co-digestion Challenges

The project also addresses challenges associated with co-digestion, a common practice in wastewater treatment where additional organic waste is added to improve biogas production. While beneficial, co-digestion can lead to increased ammonia levels, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. The CANDO process offers a potential solution by converting this excess ammonia into a usable energy source.

Integration and Benefits

The researchers believe that this technology could be integrated into existing wastewater treatment facilities, providing both environmental and economic benefits. Implementing the CANDO process could increase energy generation from co-digestion by 5% through nitrous oxide recovery, resulting in greater energy independence for island communities. This aligns with SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
   • Indicator 6.3.2: Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality.

2. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption.

3. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
   • Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning into primary, secondary and tertiary curricula.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Analysis

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to the following SDGs:

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
2. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
3. SDG 13: Climate Action

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets under these SDGs can be identified as:

1. Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
2. Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
3. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

The article mentions or implies the following indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Indicator 6.3.2: Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality.
• Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption.
• Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning into primary, secondary and tertiary curricula.

The article discusses the research team’s aim to investigate a new process that could significantly decrease the environmental impact of traditional nitrogen removal methods in wastewater treatment. This aligns with SDG 6, specifically Target 6.3, which focuses on improving water quality and reducing pollution in wastewater. The indicator mentioned, 6.3.2, measures the proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality, which can be used to assess the progress towards this target.

The article also mentions that the research team aims to develop technology that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment and potentially increase energy recovery. This connects to SDG 7, particularly Target 7.2, which aims to increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The indicator mentioned, 7.2.1, measures the renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption, which can be used to track progress towards this target.

Furthermore, the article highlights that the project aligns with the US Department of Energy’s goals for decarbonization in the water treatment sector, addressing climate change concerns. This relates to SDG 13, specifically Target 13.2, which focuses on integrating climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. The indicator mentioned, 13.2.1, measures the number of countries that have integrated climate change measures into their education curricula, which can be used to monitor progress towards this target.

Source: mauinow.com