GOALI: Understanding granulation using microbial resource management for the broader application of granular technology

目标：利用微生物资源管理了解颗粒化，以实现颗粒技术的更广泛应用

• 批准号: 2227366
• 负责人: Ramesh Goel
• 金额: $ 52.61万
• 依托单位: University of Utah
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2024-01-01 至 2026-12-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2227366&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: GOALI; Understanding; granulation; using; microbial

The aerobic granular sludge (AGS) process has emerged as a promising biological wastewater treatment technology that is energy and carbon-efficient with a smaller footprint requirement compared to conventional activated sludge systems. Despite these advantages, the implementation of the AGS process has been slow, especially in the United States, due to several critical engineering challenges including the lack of robust operational data and fundamental knowledge on how to integrate the AGS process into flow-through reactor systems. In this GOALI project, the lead academic institution (University of Utah) and the industrial partner (DC Water) will combine and integrate their expertise, experience, and resources to address these critical challenges. To advance this goal, the academic partner will focus on the fundamental science of reactor operation, bacterial community analysis in different granular reactors, and kinetic analysis and modeling. The industrial partner will provide guidance and input in the design of the kinetic experiments, kinetic data analysis, student training and internship, and the translation of the research results to guide the design of full/pilot-scale systems. The successful completion of this project will benefit society through the generation of new fundamental knowledge to advance the design and implementation of granular activated sludge technology in flow-through reactor systems. Additional benefits to society will be achieved through student education and training including the mentoring of two graduate students and two undergraduate students at the University of Utah.Unlike the loose bacterial flocs of conventional activated sludge systems used in most large-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), aerobic granular sludge (AGS) reactors rely on fast-settling, round, compact biofilms called granules that circumvent the need to have separate aerobic-anoxic-anaerobic zones. In addition, they do not require a secondary gravity settler for a follow-up clarification step. However, the implementation of flow through AGS reactors and their integration into large-scale WWTPs has remained elusive due to a lack of robust operational data and fundamental engineering knowledge. To address these critical knowledge gaps, this GOALI project will generate validated kinetic data in sequencing batch and flow through AGS systems as a function of two critical operational parameters including temperature and food to microorganisms (F/M) ratio. The specific objectives of the research are to 1) investigate and characterize the granulation process as a function of F/M ratio and temperature in sequencing batch reactors; 2) investigate the process of granulation in a continuous flow-through reactor using optimal temperatures and F/M ratios that are selected following the completion of Objective 1; 3) construct functional gene networks existing in both granules and flocs under steady-state conditions and external perturbations and connect these networks with reactor performance using theoretical ecology and; 4) integrate findings into process design and operational protocols for the optimal operation and maintenance of flow-through AGS reactors in close collaboration with D.C. water. To implement the educational and training goals of this GOALI project, the Principal Investigator (PI) proposes to leverage existing programs at the University of Utah College of Engineering Diversity Office to recruit and mentor undergraduate students from underrepresented groups to work on this GOALI project. In addition, the PI plans to 1) integrate the research findings into existing undergraduate and graduate courses in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Utah and 2) develop and deliver outreach activities based on computer animations to demonstrate, for example, how contaminated water affects water quality in receiving water bodies.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

与常规的活性污泥系统相比，有前途的生物废水处理技术已成为一种有前途的生物废水处理技术，具有能源和碳效率较小，占地面积较小，具有较小的足迹。 尽管有这些优势，但由于几个关键的工程挑战，包括缺乏强大的操作数据以及如何将AGS流程集成到流通反应堆系统中，因此AGS流程的实施仍然很慢，尤其是在美国。在这个目标项目中，主要学术机构（犹他大学）和工业合作伙伴（DC Water）将结合并整合他们的专业知识，经验和资源，以应对这些关键挑战。为了促进这一目标，学术伙伴将专注于反应堆操作的基本科学，不同粒状反应堆中的细菌群落分析以及动力学分析和建模。工业合作伙伴将在动力学实验，动力学数据分析，学生培训和实习以及研究结果的翻译方面提供指导和投入，以指导完整/试验性系统的设计。该项目的成功完成将通过产生新的基本知识来使社会受益，从而推进流动反应堆系统中颗粒状活性污泥技术的设计和实施。将通过学生的教育和培训来实现社会的其他好处有氧毒素 - 障碍区。此外，他们不需要次级重力定居者进行后续澄清步骤。但是，由于缺乏强大的操作数据和基本的工程知识，通过AGS反应堆的流量及其整合到大规模WWTP中仍然难以捉摸。为了解决这些关键的知识差距，该守门员项目将在测序批处理和流过AGS系统的测序数据中生成验证的动力学数据，这是两个关键操作参数的函数，包括温度和食物与微生物（F/M）的比率。研究的特定目标是1）调查并表征肉芽过程是测序批处理反应器中F/M比和温度的函数； 2）研究完成目标1后选择的最佳温度和F/M比，研究连续流动反应器中的颗粒过程； 3）在稳态条件和外部扰动下构建在颗粒和泡沫中存在的功能基因网络，并使用理论生态学将这些网络与反应堆性能联系起来； 4）将调查结果整合到过程设计和操作方案中，以与DC Water密切合作，以最佳的操作和维护流通AGS反应堆。为了实施该目标项目的教育和培训目标，首席调查员（PI）建议利用犹他大学工程多样性办公室的现有计划，以招募来自代表性不足的小组的招募和导师的本科生，以从事这个守门员项目。此外，PI计划1）将研究结果整合到犹他大学的民用和环境工程系中现有的本科和研究生课程中，以及2）2）2）2）基于计算机动画开发和提供外展活动，以证明污染的水如何在接受水中的水上授予NSF的基础上，以表现出NSF的基础奖励。影响审查标准。