Integrating Biomimicry Technology for Sustaining Utilities...

Integrating Biomimicry Technology for

SustainingUtilities of the Future

25th Annual CSWEAEducation Seminar

Art Umble, PhD, PE, BCEE, F.WEFGlobal Wastewater Practice Leader

April 7, 2020

I will insert animage representingsome cool design

concept

An Ontology for Managing Our Resources – Biomimicry

Sources: “Using Biomimicry to Inform Urban Infrastructure Design that Addresses 21st Century Needs”Kenny, J, et al.; 1st Annual Conf. on Urban Sustainability and Resilience; London, UK (2012)“The Art of Imitating life: The Potential Contribution of Biomimicry in Shaping the Future of Our Cities”Buck, T., White Rose University Consortium; University of Leeds, Sheffield and York (2015)

“Biomimetic Reinvention of the Construction Industry”Oguntona, O., Aigbavboa, C., Energy Procedia 142 (2017)

…extracting design principlesfrom nature to apply to

human challenges.

Problem Solution

Problem Solution

Bricks Alive!! – Building Materials from BacteriaSolution Problems

Solution Problem

Eastgate CenterHarare, Zimbabwe

Solution Problem

Biomimicry – Ontology for Managing Our ResourcesSolution Problem

Proactive!

Outline1. WRRF of tomorrow2. Role of Biomimicry in

Technology Integration• Microalgae• PHA Production• BES

PreliminaryTreatmentRaw

Wastewater

Solids Treatment & Resource Recovery

Biosolids Handling & Market Resources

PrimaryTreatment

SecondaryTreatment

AdvancedTreatment

TertiaryTreatment

Disinfection

Outfall

Receiving Water Body

ENERGYFACTORY

NUTRIENTFACTORY

WATERFACTORY

Waste Streams Value Streams

PRODUCTFACTORY

Resource Recovery at WRRFs Connects with BiomimicryOpportunity

Resources Available for Recovery at WRRFs: Biomimicry is a Solution

Source: “Urban Biocycles”; Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2017)

MetalsCommercialProducts

Construction industry

Opportunity

Biomimicry as Solution for Resource Recovery: Microalgae

• Advantages of Microalgae• Lower energy demand than conventional• Remove nutrients• Recycles nutrients via biomass• Biomass can be converted into energy, raw

chemicals or bio-products

Solution:Microalgae

Solution:Microalgae

• Supply of N & P influences their relative concentrations in the microalgal biomass

• P varies when N is high; narrows when N is low

• High N supply necessary to ensure effective P removal

• Biomass yield not affected by N & P supply variation

• Carbon accumulation enhanced by low N & P

Must Redfield’s Ratio (106:16:1) always control?

Biomimicry: Microalgae as Driver for Resource Recovery Opportunities: Selecting Functionality

Source: “Nitrogen availability influences phosphorus removal in microalgae-based wastewater treatment”Beuckels, A., et al., Water Research 77 (2015)

Wastewater??

Solution:Microalgae

Sources:“Microalgae Recycling Improves Recovery from Wastewater Treatment HRAPs”Gutierrez, R., et al. Water Research 106 (2016)“EBP2R – An Innovative EBPR Recovery to Produce Growth Medium for Green Microalgae” Valverde-Perez, B., et al. Water Research 68 (2015)

NitrifyingReactor

Biomimicry: Microalgae as Driver to Resource Recovery Opportunities: Bundling Technologies

WAS

If: Pr < Pmax algae MAP

If: Nr < Nmax algae SidestreamNitrifyingReactor

3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6SRT, (d)

3

50

40

30

20

0

10

Qp

(% o

f Inf

luen

t) 50

40

30

20

60

10

P-recovered (%)

PAOWashout

PAO activitylimited

Low SRT

PBR

MAP

ControlsN:P ratio

2%-10%Recycle

Modified EBPR Process

Solution:Microalgae

Economic favorability as a biofuel when:• Rapid growth rates• >70% lipid content

LandApplication

Biomimicry: Microalgae as Driver for Resource Recovery: Bundling with Proven Technologies

Adapted from: “Combination of microalgae cultivation with membrane processes for the treatment of municipal wastewater”Chen, L., et al. Water Science & Technology 68 (2013)“The impacts of microalgae pretreatment for improved anaerobic digestion: thermal; thermal hydrolysis, ultrasound, enzymatic”Ometto, F., et al. Water Research 65 (2014)

• Microalgae cell wall composition affects degradability; can reduce methane production

• Need both cell wall breakage and solubilization for maximum CH4 production

?

Solution:Microalgae

LandApplication

Enzymatic Hydrolysis

PS +

Biomimicry: Microalgae as Driver for Resource Recovery: Bundling with Proven Technologies

Adapted from: “Combination of microalgae cultivation with membrane processes for the treatment of municipal wastewater”Chen, L., et al. Water Science & Technology 68 (2013)“The impacts of microalgae pretreatment for improved anaerobic digestion: thermal; thermal hydrolysis, ultrasound, enzymatic”Ometto, F., et al. Water Research 65 (2014)

Microalgae

Biomimicry: Microalgae Removal of Contaminants of Emerging Concern

Sources: “Removal of pharmaceuticals in urban wastewater: HRAP-basedtechnologies as an alternative to AS-based processes”Villar-Narro, E., et al. Water Research 139 (2018)

Biomimicry as Solution for Nutrients and Resource Recovery: Microalgae

South Davis Sewer District, UT

Credit: CLEARAS Water Recovery, Inc.

14

Microalgae

Biomimicry: PHA Production from Municipal Wastewater StreamsSolution:

Biodegradable Products

Max PHAProduction

t

Aerobic Anoxic Aerobic

NFRTC

0.8 - 2 hr

Electrons efficientlymanaged for growth

F:F = 0.2

30-minpulse

Adapted from:“Synthesis of PHA in municipal wastewater treatment”; Coats, E., et al. WER 72 (2007)“PHA synthesis by MMC cultured on fermented dairy manure”; Coats, E., Water Research 106 (2016)

Energy VFAProduction

PHA bacteria enrichment

PHAaccumulation

Fermentation

F/F w/ N

C w/o N

Biomimicry: PHA Production in WRRFs

Source: “Synthesis of PHA in municipal wastewater treatment”; Coats, E., et al. WER 72 (2007)

Solution:Biodegradable Products

Single or Dual SBRConfigurations

DewateringRecycleStream

AD

Much better control of CODPHA/NO2 improvesefficiency of nitrogen removal (80%) and PHA consumption during denitritation

PHA Yield = 0.4 g CODPHA/g of CODVFA (>2x)

PHA Composition:3HB = 50-60%

3HV = 40%O O

OOm n


Source: “Development of a novel process integrating the treatmentof sludge reject water and the production of PHAs”Frison, H., et al. Environmental Scient & Technology 49 (2015)

Biomimicry: PHA Production Coupled with N-removal from Concentrated Reject Streams


MethaneDigested Sludge(mixed cultures) Centrate

VFACake

AD

MethanotrophsCultivation

PHAAccumulation

To PHAextraction

for biopolymerrecovery

Source: “Development of methane-utilizing mixed cultures for the production of PHAs from anaerobic digester sludge”Fergala, A., et al. Environmental Science & Technology 52 (2018)

• Nitrogen is key in Type II methanotroph selection• Digested sludge good seed for Type II selection• Centrate needs dilution to minimize inhibition• VFA as co-substrate under nitrogen-limitation

synthesizes numerous PHA biopolymers

NH4+

Feast

NH4+

Famine(48 hr)

Biomimicry: PHA Production Coupled with Concentrated Anaerobic Digestion Streams

Enrichment in10 days

Dilution

Biomimicry as Solution: Producing Sustainable Energy from WasteSolution:

Energy Recovery and Production

• 1000 km3 of wastewater generated annually in worldTotal energy(1) available is up to 4.4x1012 MJ/yr

• Combusting 104 million tons of oil in a power station• 24,000 wind turbines

• 6.2 million metric DT sludge produced annually in US• If all WRRFs applied AD, up to 4940 GWh could be saved

annually(2)

(1)Does not include energy in industrial and agricultural wastes(2)1 kg CH4 can be harvested from 4 kg COD; energy content of

CH4 is 50.4 MJ/kg; energy conversion to electricity is 35% (IC)

Source: “Wastewater treatment in Microbial Fuel Cells – An overview”Gude, V., Journal of Cleaner Production 122 (2016)“CO2 and organic waste valorization by microbial electrosynthesis and electro-fermentation”Jiang, Y., et al. Water Research 149 (2019)

What is nature telling us about energy?

Biomimicry as Solution: Bioelectrochemical Systems (BES)Solution:

Energy Recovery and Production

Microbial Fuel Cell

• Clean energy production directly from organic matter

• High energy conversion efficiency – 80%• Efficient operation at ambient temperatures• Low- & medium-strength wastewaters

Source: “Wastewater treatment in Microbial Fuel Cells – An overview”Gude, V., Journal of Cleaner Production 122 (2016)

Galvanic mode

• Produces direct energy products (H2, CH4, H2O2, etc.)

• Phototrophs can be applied as biocathodes• Consumes 10% of energy required by CAS• Biomass yields are 5 times less than CAS

Treatment Energy Production Products

WastewaterO2

O2

H2O

Microbial Electrochemical CellElectrolytic mode

Wastewater

2H++2e-

H2

Power SupplyB

iotic

Abio

tic

Biomimicry as Solution: Bioelectrochemical Systems (BES)

Adapted from: “Electro-microbiology as a promising approach towards renewable energy and environmental sustainability”Ali, J., et al., Energies 11 (2018)

Interacts with electrodevia extracellular electrontransfer (EET)

DET

Organic waste is idealsubstrate / nutrient for EAB

Solution:Energy Recovery and Production

S IDET


Biomimicry as Solution: BES has Economic Viability Challenges

Sources: “Wastewater treatment in Microbial Fuel Cells – An overview”Gude, V., Journal of Cleaner Production 122 (2016)“Third generation in BES research – A systematic review onmechanisms for recovery of valuable byproducts from wastewater”Jadhav, D., et al. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 76 (2017)

3rd Generation

OrganicRemoval

Products

2nd Generation

OrganicRemoval

ElectricalEnergy Out

1st Generation

OrganicRemoval

Cost currently 30x > CASfor domestic wastewater

ElectricalEnergy In

$0.50/m3 is current thresholdfor economic viability of BES,assuming COD removal at 5-10 kg/m3/day

• Low power densities when treating wastewater

• Low degradation rates• High cost of materials

(electrodes, membranes, catalysts)

Biomimicry as Solution: But MEC has Economic Favorability

Source: “Wastewater treatment in Microbial Fuel Cells – An overview”Gude, V., Journal of Cleaner Production 122 (2016)“Simultaneous wastewater treatment and biological electricity generation”Logan, B., Water Science & Technology 52;1 (2005)


Sources: “Bioelectrochemical systems for transforming waste to energy”Khan, N., et al.; Modern Age Environmental Problems & Their Remediation; Ch 7;Springer International Publishing AG (2018)“Advances in MFCs for wastewater treatment”He, L., et al.; Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 71 (2018)

SecondaryEffluent

• COD >99%• N > 87% (MA @ 75%)• P > 70% (MA @ 93%)

Power density• 0.07 W/m2

Biomass Inoculation• 3.5 g/L

Biomass Yield• 0.6 g/L

Removals:

Biomimicry as Solution: Integrating Microalgae with MFC for Nutrients and Energy

Microalgae can also be utilized in cathode chamber to produce the oxygen necessary for electron transfer


For low-strength wastewater:Tertiary Nutrient polishing

Solution:System Monitoring for Decision-making

A = 6 hours of bypass event significantly upstreamB = 9.5 hours after bypass first SENTRY alertC = 12.5 hours after bypass second SENTRY alert and start

of turbidity spikes

METSensor

Biomimicry as Solution: UsingBES to Make Process Decisions

Solution:Chemical Recovery and Production

2

2

Source: “Interfacing anaerobic digestion with BES: Potentials and Challenges”Vrieze, J., et al.; Water Research 146 (2018);

Biomimicry as Solution: Integrating MEC with Conventional AD for Product Valorization

High TSS detrimentalto MEC performance

VFA toxicity control:Increased CH4production

Solution:Chemical Production

Biomimicry as Solution: Utilizing MEC for Product Valorization: Electrofermentation

Most thermodynamicallyfavorable product

Source: “CO2 and organic waste valorization by microbial electrosynthesis and electro-fermentation”Jiang, Y., et al. Water Research 149 (2019)

Autolithotrophic

(ele

ctro

n do

nor)

(electron acceptor)

Mixed cultures perform at higher ratesthan pure cultures… but still poor incomparison to anaerobic digestion

MixedproductsUtilization of electrons

as the reducing power

Model for the Future

Biomimicry as a Model and Mentor for the Utility of the Future: Proactive

Observation New Ideas

BiomimicryIntegration is Our Future

Summary

• Biomimicry is our model, our measure and our mentor

• Biomimetic principles are at the core of resource recovery

• Biomimicry poses the opportunity for adoption of disruptive technology

• Microalgae is the tip-of-the-spear for integrating biomimetic principles into conventional treatment schemes

• PHA production is proving biomimicry can be an economically viable enterprise

• BES may be the core technology approach linking a spectrum of biomimetic solutions resulting in a sustainable future

Is Biomimicrythe magic bullet?

avoid working at making things simplyLESS bad!!

29

…accelerate our work on making the RIGHT things good…

…maybe…

Integrating Biomimicry Technology for Sustaining Utilities...

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