Abstract
This technology is available for sale and
distribution by a UCF licensee. For more information, please contact Andrea Adkins.
Researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed an efficient and easier means of removing phosphorous, nitrates, and bacteria from domestic wastewater and stormwater runoff. The sorption and filtration media makes use of chemical, mechanical and biological means to remove or reduce the levels of various nutrients and bacteria. Levels of nitrates, ammonia, and other pollutants in drinking water are strictly enforced by the EPA and must be kept to a minimum. Current methods to remove these nutrients often require expensive treatment or removal systems, land availability and regular maintenance. These current methods are costly to implement and in some cases have provided limited improvement on the water quality.
Technical Details
Using UCF's proprietary media compositions, methods and systems, contaminated wastewater and stormwater can be treated for beneficial uses. The sorption and filtration media makes use of chemical, mechanical and biological means to remove or reduce the levels of various nutrients and bacteria. Several different mixtures of sorption media were found to reduce high levels (5ppm or higher) of nitrate, nitrite, and phosphates by over 90% after a suitable retention time. By proper utilization of vegetation in retention ponds the quality of water can be improved upon further by remediation and filtration.
The creation of green roofs is another embodiment of this technology, where a roof is designed with sorption media as well as vegetation to reduce runoff and increase water remediation. The water would then be collected from the roof into a cistern and reused for irrigating the roof plants or ground level landscapes. This green roof technology has proven to not only reduce nutrient and contaminant concentration but also neutralize the pH of polluted water. These media and processes require limited electrical energy, minimal maintenance, are both efficient and inexpensive and have a long life expectancy.
Benefit
Material mixes remove nitrogen and phosphorus, are inexpensive and have an extended lifetimeSystems are passive, requiring little to no energy for operation and minimal maintenanceEfficient means of removing nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, fecal coliforms and other bacteria from wastewaterGreen roof systems that include vegetation to cool buildings and reuse filtered runoff waterCustomized filtration media mixes are registered under the Bold & Gold© markMarket Application
Reduce and remove pollutants from wastewater for reintroduction into the aquifer or other water systemsOn-site wastewater treatment systems:Septic systems and green roofsNutrient reduction in wastewater streams
Brochure
