Development of Sequencing Batch Reactor Combined with Photocatalytic Reactor (SBR-PCR) for Removal of Organics, Nutrients (NH4+-N, PO43−-P) and Emerging Contaminants from Greywater and Sewage Wastewater

In this research project, sequencing batch reactor (SBR) using aerobic/anoxic process was coupled to a photocatalytic reactor (PCR) for wastewater (Grey water and sewage waste water) treatment. SBR-PCR, a biological and photocatalytic system combination, seems to be a very appealing treatment option (complete mineralization, relatively inexpensive). Biological process such as sequencing batch reactor (SBR) has been widely investigated treatment method with various advantages such as operational flexibility, smaller footprint, low installation and maintenance and controlled sludge production. Adsorption in SBR combined with anoxic processes may increase the effectiveness of nitrogen and phosphorus removal. Moreover, oxidation processes (AOP) such photocatalysis for the treatment of sewage wastewater and greywater. For this, highly efficient visible light active nanostructured photocatalytic materials will be locally synthesized and their optical, structural and morphological properties will be studies to qualify the material, and this material will be used in photocatalytic reactor (PCR) by attaching it to the SBR system. With this dual functional SBR-PCR wastewater treatment setup, the system will be tested for their efficacy in the degradation and demineralization of environmental pollutants from wastewater. The wastewater effluent from SBR (operated at the optimal condition: 6.0 h hydraulic retention time (HRT), 0.9 Volumetric exchange ratio (VER) and 4 d solids retention time (SRT) will be fed to the PCR (operated at optimal conditions: pH – 3, H2O2 dosage – 1 g/L, catalyst dosage – 5 g/L). The removal efficiency as high as 90% and ∼99.9% can be achieved for both chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC) in SBR and SBR-PCR, respectively. After SBR treatment, average total nitrogen (TN) removal expected to be 85% and this TN removal can be increased to 99% by the dual operation of SBR-PCR. Previous photocatalytic studies mainly employed slurry-based catalyst rather than supported catalyst, which makes the post-treatment separation difficult. The PCR with appropriate functional catalyst could be a more sustainable option for greywater treatment. The goal of this project is to promote interdisciplinary research in the field of wastewater (Greywater and sewage wastewater) treatment. This project will also serve as a training platform for graduate and undergraduate students in the fields of water and wastewater treatment technologies. As this research project is highly interdisciplinary the collaboration of an interdisciplinary team containing environmental scientists, chemists, physics, and chemical engineers will also help in developing a highly efficient hybrid BR-PCR system for the treatment of wastewater. Publications in High Impact Q1 ranked journals and IP disclosures/patents are anticipated from this highly interdisciplinary research project.