Progress 01/01/24 to 12/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audience for result communication are foremost farm owners and operators representing the populations most involved in agricultural irrigation; relevant federal, state and local governmental agencies that have interests in water reclamation technologies; and water treatment industry. The broad research and academic community of water reuse, such as USDA ARS and universities, are a secondary audience. And the general public including college students is a tertiary audience Changes/Problems:Changes/Problems Due to a delayed hiring of the postdoctoral associate, the project experienced a slight delay in progress. We will accelerate the implementation of planned tasks to ensure the project is brought back on schedule. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In the next phase, the following activities are planned: Execution of Process-Intensified Treatment Tests: We will carry out continuous-flow treatment experiments using the optimized process-intensified reactor. Treated water quality will be evaluated against established irrigation water standards. Key operational parameters--such as hydraulic retention time and chemical dosing--will be systematically assessed to optimize treatment performance. Assessment of Soil and Crop Health: Treated wastewater produced under optimal conditions will be sent to the co-PI's laboratory for comprehensive evaluation of its impacts on soil properties and crop health. This phase will help determine the suitability of ferrate-treated effluent for agricultural reuse.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We continued to advance the laboratory work through following key activities: Design and Setup of Continuous-Flow, Process-Intensified Reactors: A small-scale continuous-flow reactor system was designed to support process-intensified water reclamation. Hydraulic flow conditions were primairlyevaluated using food-grade dye to visualize and optimize flow patterns. Construction and Optimization of a Larger Reactor: Building on the initial findings, a larger-scale continuous-flow reactor was designed and constructed in the PI's laboratory. The initial treatment tests focused on evaluating the settling behavior of iron flocs generated during Fe(VI)/Fe(III) treatment. The system underwent multiple rounds of revision and reconstruction to improve coagulation and sedimentation performance. Initiation of Optimized Treatment Testing: We recently launched treatment experiments using the optimized continuous-flow reactor to assess real-time treatment performance under steady-state conditions. Review of Large-Scale Ferrate(VI) Synthesis Systems: A comprehensive review starated from the last yearwas completed on large-scale ferrate(VI) synthesis methods, with a particular focus on their applicability to agricultural water reuse. The review evaluated both technical feasibility and operational scalability. Effluent Treatment and Soil Health Collaboration: Secondary effluent was treated under optimized Fe(VI)/Fe(III) operational conditions. The treated water was then transferred to the co-PI's laboratory for planned soil health assessments. Special attention was given to the potential impacts of toxic substances--such as heavy metals--commonly found in municipal wastewater on soil quality and plant health. The experiments were still ongoing.
Publications
|
Progress 01/01/23 to 12/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audience for result communication are foremost farm owners and operators representing the populations most involved in agricultural irrigation; relevant federal, state and local governmental agencies that have interests in water reclamation technologies; and water treatment industry. The broad research and academic community of water reuse, such as USDA ARS and universities, are a secondary audience. And the general public including college students is a tertiary audience Changes/Problems:Due to a delayed hiring of the postdoctoral associate, the project experienced a slight delay in progress. We will accelerate the implementation of planned tasks to ensure the project is brought back on schedule. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two postdoctoral associates led the laboratory work at the PI's and co-PI's institutions. Additionally, one Ph.D. student received summer research training through the project. All participants completed laboratory safety training and received professional instruction on key analytical instruments used in the study. Montclair's postdoc also had training in professional communication at conferences. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Presentations were delivered at the AEESP Conference in St. Louis to share major project findings, highlighting key experimental results, technological advancements, and preliminary implications for water treatment and reuse. a) Deng, Yand Y. Chen (2023) "Using Non-traditional Waters for Climate-Adaptive Water Supply in Agriculture," Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) 2023 Conference, Boston, MA, USA, June 2023. b) Tang, Z., Z. He, andY. Deng(2023) "Fe(VI)/Fe(III) Treatment of Municipal Wastewater for Agricultural Irrigation Reuse," Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) 2023 Conference, Boston, MA, USA, June 2023. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In the next phase, we will complete our literature review on large-scale ferrate(VI) generation systems and initiate continuous-flow treatment experiments.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
A set of planned experiments has been successfully conducted in the PIs' laboratories, comprising the following activities: Laboratory-Scale Treatment Tests: Bench-scale experiments were carried out to evaluate the performance and mechanisms of Fe(VI)/Fe(III) treatment applied to secondary effluent. The analysis focused on a comprehensive suite of water quality indicators, including chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total coliforms, E. coli, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), various toxic metals and metalloids, and selected emerging contaminants such as sulfamethoxazole (SMX). Key factors such as the ratio of Fe(VI) to Fe(III) were assessed. Technology Review and Living Document Development: A thorough literature review was conducted to compile and analyze prior and ongoing pilot- and full-scale ferrate(VI) generation systems. A living document was created to track technological advancements, with particular emphasis on two primary generation methods: wet chemistry and electrochemical synthesis. Plant Seeding Experiments: Seeding trials for corn and lettuce were conducted using both Fe(VI)/Fe(III)-treated and untreated wastewater as irrigation sources. These tests aimed to explore the potential agronomic and environmental impacts of ferrate-based water reuse. 3. Presentations were delivered to report major project findings, highlighting key experimental results, technical advancements, and preliminary implications for water treatment and reuse. a) Deng, Y and Y. Chen (2023) "Using Non-traditional Waters for Climate-Adaptive Water Supply in Agriculture," Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) 2023 Conference, Boston, MA, USA, June 2023. b) Tang, Z., Z. He, and Y. Deng (2023) "Fe(VI)/Fe(III) Treatment of Municipal Wastewater for Agricultural Irrigation Reuse," Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) 2023 Conference, Boston, MA, USA, June 2023.
Publications
|
Progress 01/01/22 to 12/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audience during this reporting period is primarily farm owners and operators. We have contacted them ina few small farms in New Jersey and shared the proposed research technology with them. Changes/Problems:It took a long time to recruit an appropriate postdoctoral associate for this project. We are now implementing the tasks as planned. No changes in the project plan or budget. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?A female postdoctoral associate has been recruited for this project. Training activities include lab safety training courses at Montclair State University and the utilization of different major instruments, such as LC/MS, IC, and ICP/MS, for water analysis in Environmental Resilience, Innovation and Sustainability Engineering Lab. Professional activities include a seminar regarding wastewater reuse for agricultural irrigation at New Jersey Institute of Technology. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We are going to: 1) assess the treatment performance for wastewater reuse for irrigation; 2)develop a standing document for ferrate(VI) manufacture primarily based on literature review; and 3) investigate characteristicsofFe(VI)/Fe(III) treatment residual for better management strategies.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Laboratory scale studies were conducted mechanistic studies of Fe(VI)/Fe(III) for treatment of secondary effluent. Specifically, we investigated the fundamentals of coagulation that is used for the removal of particulate matter (turbidity), certain dissolved pollutants, and other pollutants. Moreover, effects of different operational parameters on the treatment have also been investigated.
Publications
|