UAI Engineering student awarded for research on wastewater management

During the “V Meeting of Students and Postdoctoral Researchers CRHIAM”, carried out at the University of Concepción, Zeinab Morhell, student of the Master of Science in Faculty of Engineering and Sciences UAI (FIC), received for the presentation of his thesis: Pathogen removal kinetics in digested sludgethe Fernando Concha Arcil award, maximum recognition of the instance.

UAI Communications.- This prize, which was awarded for the first time at CRHIAM, also means that Zeinab has the opportunity to present her work at the Water Congress 2023.

“The recognition validates the relevance of my work in the field of scientific development, as it highlights the importance of addressing issues associated with challenges related to water scarcity within the framework of a circular economy, which is increasingly important for improve people’s quality of life”says Zeinab Morhell.

The research, which is part of the Fondecyt Regular project “Rethinking the configuration of the WWTPs sludge line: A further step towards resources recovery from sewage”, studied the kinetics of elimination of pathogenic microorganisms present in the sludge generated in a sewage treatment plant. wastewater and was carried out with the support of the professors FIC UAI, Jose Luis Campos and Daphne Crutchik.

“It is an important recognition, since it validates the research work that we are carrying out with Master’s students, which makes it known and could get more students motivated to carry out research on these topics”the teachers emphasize.

The contribution of research to wastewater management

The focus of the study was focused on determining the elimination kinetics of pathogens present in the anaerobic sludge through an acidification process, contrary to wastewater treatment processes that usually contemplate the separation of sludge and its subsequent anaerobic digestion (AD). ) to stabilize them, reduce their volume and generate biogas.

“In conventional wastewater treatment, the sludge is generally disposed of in sanitary landfills as the final destination. However, it presents characteristics to be applied to agricultural soils, which can occur if current regulations are complied with. For this, it is necessary to apply pathogen elimination treatments, which will have an associated cost. Thus, it is essential to develop studies that allow the reduction of these pathogens while reducing their operating costs”says Zeinab.

As a result of this work, a mathematical expression was obtained that describes the kinetics of pathogen reduction as a function of time when they are exposed to the studied biocide, allowing the elimination of pathogens present in the sludge. This strategy would make it possible to comply with the regulations and obtain pathogen-free sludge that could be used as fertilizers in agricultural soils.

“Sludge management is one of the highest operating costs in the wastewater treatment plant. The sludge, which until now is considered a waste that must be disposed of in a sanitary landfill, with the consequent associated management cost, could be valued, reducing the current environmental and economic impact associated with its management.the teachers conclude.