Performing Department
Earth & Environmental Studies
Non Technical Summary
The overarching objective is to develop design principles for intensified and scalable activated ferrate(VI) treatment (AFT) systems for water reuse in the agroecosystem, with an emphasis for small-scale reclamation facilities. The project teams have complementary expertise in water treatment, water and soil science, and plant nutrition to perform six tasks. Laboratory studies will be implemented to investigate performance and mechanisms of activated Fe(VI) reactions with different secondary effluent constituents (Task 1). Residuals will be characterized for guidance on management strategies, while an overview on current status and future directions in full-scale ferrate(VI) generation will be developed (Task 2). Thereafter, effects of reclaimed water on soil health (Task 3) will be assessed (Task 4), followed by greenhouse experiments to evaluate impacts on production and quality of selected crops. The results with stakeholder engagement will be input to process intensification-oriented system development to mitigate multiple contaminants, while saving nutrients within proper ranges, in one unit (Task 5). Finally, the technology will be comprehensively assessed for right irrigation applications (Task 6). This project will be concluded with a workshop to create a version for sustainable and resilient agricultural water reuse. The intensified reclamation process will produce profound environment, economic, and social impacts on the U.S. agriculture, particularly for small, remote, and/or isolated agricultural communities.
Animal Health Component
60%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
20%
Applied
60%
Developmental
20%
Goals / Objectives
Our long-term goal is to reduce reliance of agricultural irrigation on limited freshwater resources andsafeguard soil, food, and public health by technology innovations in water reclamation for resilient andsustainable agriculture. The overarching objective of this project is to develop design principles for intensifiedand scalable activated Fe(VI) treatment systemsfor water reusein the agroecosystem, with an emphasis for small-scale agricultural water reclamation facilities.
Project Methods
A four-year research agenda is proposed. In Task 1, controlled laboratory studies will be performed to investigate mechanisms and performance of AFT reactions in the removal/transformation of secondary effluent constituents of irrigation concern (e.g., TSS, boron, CECs, nutrients, EfOM, and pathogens). Task 2 will aim two aspects directly related to true AFTtreatment applications, i.e. residual characterization for guidance on residual management strategies; and review on state-of-art large-scale Fe(VI) generation technologies and products. Thereafter, the impacts of AFT reclaimed water on representative soil will be evaluated at varied irrigation conditions (Task 3). In the ensuing Task 4, greenhouse experiments will be performed to evaluate effects of reclaimed water on production and quality of selected crops. The fundamental and applied information will provide input data for process intensification-oriented AFT system design and development for agricultural water reuse (Task 5). Finally, comprehensive assessments will be made to recommend how the AFT systems are properly applied at right agricultural water reuse scenarios and compared with established technologies (Task 6). This project will be concluded with a workshop for discussion and creation of a vision for sustainable water reclamation in agricultural irrigation.