Events Calendar

Astani CEE Department Seminar

Speaker: Adam Smith, University of Michigan

Talk Title: Low-Temperature Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor for Energy Recovery from Domestic Wastewater

Abstract: Resource recovery from used water or wastewater is a key strategy to improve the sustainability of water management. Anaerobic biotechnologies such as anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) are emerging as one option to recover energy during domestic wastewater treatment. In comparison to conventional treatment, AnMBR treatment generates biogas directly from wastewater, does not require energy intensive aeration, and produces a fraction of the residuals. However, AnMBR technology is still in development and widespread implementation requires improvements in treatment performance at low temperatures, low-energy membrane fouling control, and recovery of effluent dissolved methane. This presentation will show how AnMBR treatment at low temperatures can be improved through promotion of a biologically active membrane biofilm. The presentation will further demonstrate that life cycle evaluation of AnMBRs with consideration for fouling control energy demands and global warming potential associated with effluent dissolved methane can be used to set future design and operational targets for implementation of AnMBRs in domestic wastewater treatment.

Biography: Adam Smith is a Ph.D. candidate co-advised by Lutgarde Raskin and Steven Skerlos in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Michigan. He received his M.S.E. from the University of Michigan and B.S. from Marquette University. His research interests include resource recovery during wastewater treatment, microbial syntrophy in anaerobic systems, and implications of low-temperatures on anaerobic microbial communities. Adam’s research efforts at the University of Michigan have incorporated process engineering, microbial ecology, and sustainability assessment to study the performance of anaerobic membrane bioreactors for domestic wastewater treatment at psychrophilic temperatures.

Host: Astani CEE Department

Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Cassie Cremeans