Search the EPA Research Database
Project Search Result
Project Code [2024-HE-1267]
This information is correct as of today and is updated from time to time by the EPA to reflect changes in the management of the project. Please check back regularly for updates.
Project title
Nano-AGS: Development of Energy-Efficient, Low-Maintenance Nanobubble-Assisted Aerobic Granular Sludge for On-Site Domestic Wastewater Treatment System
Primary Funding Agency
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Co-Funding Organisation(s)
n/a
Lead Organisation
University of Dublin, Trinity College (TCD)
Lead Applicant
Muhammad Ali
Project Abstract
Untreated or partially treated wastewater presents significant environmental and public health hazards, contributing to pollution and global warming by releasing nitrous oxide, methane, and carbon dioxide during the treatment process. Septic tanks, commonly utilized for on-site domestic wastewater treatment systems (DWWTS), exhibit limitations in areas with high percolation values (PV) and may compromise microbial safety and the ecological balance of receiving aquatic ecosystems if faulty or poorly maintained. Globally, a quarter of the world’s population relies on septic tanks for wastewater treatment due to lack of access to a public sewer system and centralized or decentralized wastewater treatment plants. Given their widespread adoption, septic tanks, a prevalent on-site DWWTS, are deemed a crucial component of the sanitation system. While DWWTS offers essential sanitation services, improper construction or operation or lack of maintenance can lead to environmental contamination. In Ireland, one-third of the population utilizes DWWTS for treating wastewater from premises not connected to a public sewer system. Much of this wastewater is treated by various types of DWWTS designed to treat it on-site. Proper installation and operation of DWWTS are imperative to safeguard both human health and the environment. Recently, the Irish EPA found that over half of inspected DWWTS fail, with more than one-quarter posing a risk to human health or the environment. In response to these challenges, we propose a three-pronged research project: developing innovative low-energy and low-maintenance solution for DWWTS, monitoring known and emerging pollutant releases from DWWTS, and creating novel machine learning models capable of predicting DWWTS failures and generating early warnings specific to the Irish context. This research will establish a low-energy, low-maintenance secondary treatment solution for DWWTS utilizing novel nano-AGS technology, which integrates nanobubble aeration into Aerobic Granular Sludge (AGS), offering operational advantages such as reduced energy consumption, sludge production (low maintenance), and greenhouse gas emissions. The project will evaluate nano-AGS performance, comparing treatment efficacy with conventional technologies (AGS, conventional activated sludge (CAS), and septic tank), retrofitting into existing systems, and assessing microbial and chemical safety of treated effluent. Throughout the project, a series of laboratory-scale and field experiments will be conducted on various DWWTS. These experiments will encompass microbial ecology analysis, nutrient removal assessment, and the evaluation of treated effluent safety concerning both microbes (including indicators like E. coli, pathogenic bacteria, adenovirus, and antimicrobial resistance genes) and chemicals (such as emerging contaminants like microplastics, antibiotics, and per- and poly-fluoroalkylated substances). Additionally, the project team will develop data-driven machine learning models capable of predicting failures and generating early warnings for DWWTS. These models will utilize advanced machine learning algorithms integrated with microbial growth kinetics modelling to enhance predictive accuracy. Easily measurable parameters, such as influent and effluent nutrient concentrations, will be employed by the models to forecast performance and identify potential DWWTS failures. The proposed research holds groundbreaking implications for safeguarding public health and the environment from faulty or poorly maintained DWWTS in Ireland, the EU, and beyond.
Grant Approved
€659,475.00
Research Hub
Delivering a Healthy Environment
Research Theme
Towards Zero Pollution
Initial Projected Completion Date
30/03/2029