Description
Phosphorus removal from Polish wastewater is essential to improve the Baltic Sea environment. Coagulation is an efficient and robust process to remove phosphates, thus will become more popular in Poland. The cost of coagulants and the chemical sludge are major drawbacks of the coagulation. The University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences are investigating innovative methods to address these issues to make the coagulation process more cost-efficient. A comparative study on conventional and electrocoagulation, a real-time chemical dosing control system together with novel sensors will be studied in the project. The world’s mineral phosphate reserves are rapidly depleting and phosphates in wastewater sludge is an important resource. The project will study the methods to increase the plant availability of phosphates in coagulated sludge. The results are anticipated to be valuable for WWTPs, environmental authorities and research communities. The two main problems addressed by the are priorities for both Poland and Norway, where the knowledge and experience can be shared for mutual benefit and synergy.
Summary of project results
Phosphate removal is a less focused area in Poland while the rest of the EU are quite engaged in it. Thus it is anticipated the incorporation of phosphate removal in Polish WWTPs. Demonstrates the feasible solutions were needed. Increase the efficiency and economic feasibility of wastewater treatment with coagulation, especially focusing on phosphates (P) removal is the first objective of the project. Increase the quality and the reusability of P from wastewater sludge is the second objectives. The both objectives were successfully achieved and will be disseminated further through publications, webpages and also via graduate teaching. Documentation of the feasibility of electrocoagulation, development of a flock sensor, dosing control system for coagulants and polymers for wastewater sludge; improved plant availability of P after coagulation are the main deliverables. Operational instructions with anticipated treatment efficiencies for electrocoagulation, concept of the flock sensor was validated, feasibility of coagulant dosing control in a simultaneous coagulation in SBP was demonstrated, a dosing control system for polymers in sludge processes presented and a concept to increase the plant availability of P presented. The Reszel WWTP in Poland, was the main beneficiary representing the WWTPs. They have received a significant improvement of facilities and understanding on online surveillance and insight to the improved removal of P using coagulation. They visited WWTPs in Norway to see the modern concepts on P removal and process control. The Donor partnership addressed an initiative to bring synergy and motivation for intensive collaboration among two research groups. The collaboration resulted in further development and demonstration of modern concepts suitable for polish wastewater industry. It also contribute to a new Erasmus+ project on Capacity building in Education with a budget of 1.3 million Euro.
Summary of bilateral results
The partnership brought two research group together creating a synergy: the Polish research group with good understanding in chemistry and the needs of the wastewater industry in Poland, and a Norwegian research group with insight and interest in modern surveillance and process control. The collaboration resulted in further development and demonstration of modern concepts suitable for polish wastewater industry. Seminars and workshops arranged by the donor have given a valuable possibility for project partners to hare their views with other project partners and disseminate the results. The Polish partner has strengthened its position as a university preparing graduates to the wastewater industry in Poland, while the Norwegian partner has received an opportunity to further develop innovative concepts which are useful both in Norway and Poland. The project has not only strengthened the scientific collaboration among the two research groups led by Prof Lech Smoczyński and Prof Harsha Ratnaweera but also promoted new areas of collaboration. From the Polish side, electrocoagulation, SEM sludge analysis, modified CST tools and from the Norwegian side: image analysis, online surveillance and control and Aluminium-phosphate chemistry are new areas initiated and contribute din strengthening partners activities. Partners participated in two international conferences organised by the International Water Association in Sapporo (2014) and Gdansk (2015) and plan to participate in two conferences organised by IWA and EWA in Norway (20016). Partner have also started to work with Innovation Norway to promote the results through industrial fairs like VodKan, Poland.