Geology Seminar Series - Dr. Jinkai Xue - Future-ready wastewater management: Microbe-based water resource recovery in the circular economy framework

Wed., Sep. 29, 2021 4:00 p.m.

Location: https://uregina-ca.zoom.us/j/92861972677?pwd=Ymk4Y2VIU0d4Q3pYbHVHeVRYdml4Zz09

Title: Future-ready wastewater management: Microbe-based water resource recovery in the circular economy framework

Speaker: Dr. Jinkai Xue, Faculty of Engineering & Applied Sciences, University of Regina

Abstract:

Climate change, environmental pollution, and resource scarcity have catalyzed the global consensus on sustainable development. Being key obstacles to sustainable development, water challenges (such as scarcity, pollution, and inequity) have motivated the recent creation of the Canada Water Agency. To address water challenges, holistic and effective wastewater management is the key. The traditional wastewater management paradigm can no longer suffice within the context of circular economy. In light of the valuable resources embedded in wastewater, wastewater treatment plants should be re-purposed for co-benefit services. Such a new paradigm is termed water resource recovery (WRR). To achieve WRR, biological treatment technologies have been widely regarded as the most cost-effective strategy. In this presentation, the presenter will introduce the traditional and state-of-the-art biological water resource recovery processes, such as membrane bioreactors and biofilm systems. Specifically, the roles of microbial communities and key microbial functions will be framed. In addition, strategies on how to enhance the activities of microbes in WRR will be discussed, particularly under cold conditions.