Theme 7: (CEG)
'Energy reduction in waste treatment'
Research Team:
- CEG (NCL) : Professor David Graham
- ECNU : Professor Xie Bing
- UHK : Dr Tong Zhang
Objective: Wastes are treated around the world using aerobic and anaerobic processes. From an energy perspective, anaerobic processes are favoured because they produce combustible biogas. However, they also more readily transmit resistant bacteria (AR) relative to aerobic processes. Existing collaborations with ECNU and new work with UHK will be employed to study new hybrid treatment processes, which combine anaerobic (energy producing) and aerobic (AR suppressing) steps. Such technologies will reduce energy used in waste treatment and verify they do not promote AR transmission.
Engagement: Mutual visits will occur from both sides. SWAN will travel to UHK and ECNU to coordinate joint work and collect initial wastewater samples. Sample processing will be done in China and DNA shared among partners for complimentary analyses. Hybrid reactors will be operated by SWAN for three months, and resulting data and DNA shared among partners. ECNU and UHK will then visit SWAN to generate journal papers, provide lectures, and generate a joint proposal.
Additional Existing Resources:
- CEG (NCL) : 1 PGRA (Dr Zia Shaikh)
Milestones & Deliverables:
- Quarterly progress report
- End of project roadmap report
- 5 year engagement plan
- 2 journal papers will be produced based on joint studies
- A proposal generated to continue the collaboration.