ALEXANDRIA, VA, Dec. 19, 2014 -- The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) has announced that it is expanding its research with three new projects that examine wastewater as a resource. Two of the projects seek to show that materials in wastewater can be commoditized, and the third one explores a new method to reduce phosphorus in wastewater.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will explore the "Production of Bioisoprene from Wastewater" (WERF project # NTRY6R14). The research team will convert biomass from wastewater treatment facilities into isoprene (used in production of rubber components of automotive tires), as well as renewable biofuel (methane) using an engineered microbe.
Greeley and Hansen is also conducting research on "A Multi-Platform Approach to Recovering High Value Carbon Products from Wastestreams" (WERF project # NTRY4R14). This study will develop technological and economic platforms for the conversion of organic carbon compounds to commercially attractive chemicals and commodities. The research team will consider generation of substrates for biodiesel production, precursors to biodegradable plastics, and alternative vehicle fuels from water resource recovery facilities.
Finally, Northeastern University will investigate a promising new sidestream enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) process. This pioneering research entitled "Investigate the Mechanism for Optimization and Design of Sidestream EBPR Process as a Sustainable Approach for Achieving Stable and Efficient Phosphorus Removal" (WERF project #U1R13) could help transform our understanding and ability to protect and preserve water resources in a sustainable and cost-effective manner.
See also:
"WERF awards UC Berkeley, Stanford University contract to study nutrient removal from urban runoff"
"WEF/WERF seeking innovative wastewater technologies at resource recovery intensification forum"
About WERF
The Water Environment Research Foundation is America's leading independent scientific research organization dedicated to wastewater and stormwater questions. LIFT is moving innovation into practice by allowing providers to introduce their emerging, pre-commercial, and newly commercialized technologies to funders, advisors, and end users. For more information, visit www.werf.org.
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