물환경조사협회(WERF)가 폐수를 자원으로 활용하는 조사를 3가지 새로운 프로젝트로 확대한다고 밝혔다. 그 중 2가지는 상품화될 수 있는 폐수의 성분을 찾는 것이고, 세 번째 프로젝트는 폐수에서 인을 줄이기 위한 새로운 물질을 탐색하는 것이다.

 

Nebraska-Lincoln 대학교에서는 바이오이소플린(Bioisoprene) 제조 방법을 찾고 있다. 연구팀은 폐수 처리 공장에서 생물량을 자동차 타이어 고무 성분을 만드는 데 쓰이는 이소프렌뿐만 아니라 메탄과 같은 재생 가능한 바이오 연료로도 변환시킬 것이다.

 

 

 

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.

 

[출처 = Water World / 2014년 12월 19일]